Princess Madeleine of Sweden gave birth to a daughter at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York at 10.41 p.m. local time yesterday, i.e. at 4.41 a.m. today by Swedish time.
The names of the child (and the dukedom she will probably receive) will be announced by the King in a council at the Royal Palace, but this will only take place after the weekend, it has been stated.
King Carl Gustaf has earlier decided that the child will be a Princess of Sweden and a Royal Highness, but, incredibly, it seems the royal court’s press department has not yet managed to figure out whether the newborn Princess is in line of succession. The acting director of the information and press department, Annika Sönnerberg, says to the online edition of Dagens Nyheter (external link) that the child so far is only a US citizen and not a Swedish citizen and that she therefore cannot inherit the throne. However, there is nothing whatsoever about citizenship in the Act of Succession.
A newborn member of the royal family is traditionally viewed by the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister, the Marshal of the Realm and the Mistress of the Robes shortly after its birth, which is a remnant of the older practice that a royal birth took place with witnesses present in the room or, later, in an adjacent room (a tradition abolished in Sweden in the early twentieth century). As this child was born in the USA, two doctors at the hospital where the Princess was born will confirm to King Carl Gustaf that they were present and that the baby is indeed the child of Princess Madeleine.
A 21-gun-salute was fired from Skeppsholmen in Stockholm today, while the service of thanksgiving which normally takes place immediately after a royal birth will only take place on 2 March at 2 p.m.
The child’s father, Christopher O’Neill, will meet the press at the hospital in New York at noon local time today (6 p.m. Swedish time).
UPDATE: While meeting the press, Christopher O’Neill revealed that he and Princess Madeleine have decided on five names for their daughter. However, these will only be announced by the King in council next week. The baby weighed in at 3,150 grams and 50 centimetres and looks like her mother, according to the father.
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The text of the linked article as it currently stands does not stipulate "only" with respect to the child's American citizenship. Indeed, as the child of a Swedish mother, the newborn princess is indubitably a Swedish citizen pursuant to standing legislation.
ReplyDeleteIt is likewise quite peculiar that the child's right of succession should now be undecided, given the previous comments on the subject to which you linked.
I did not say it was a quote, but that she is only an American citizen and not a Swedish is, from the context, obviously what Sönnerberg means. There is no provision against American citizens inheriting the Swedish throne. But then again, there is no constitutional requirement for Swedish citizenship in order to be in line of succession and this cannot be changed by the King's private decision or by a telephone conversation between the court and a newspaper, so Sönnerberg is clearly misinformed. By current law the child is fifth in the order of succession.
DeleteI did not say it was a quote, but that she is only an American citizen and not a Swedish is, from the context, obviously what Sönnerberg means.
DeleteAs you comprehend Swedish and I do not, I shall defer to your understanding. Consequently, it is rather disappointing that Sönnerberg is misinformed with respect to the nationality legislation of her own nation.
Sadly it is not the first time the information and press department makes a mess...
DeleteI would be very surprised in a country with gender equality that a woman cannot pass her citizenship to her children. Moreover, Chris is also a British national. wonder how they will fill out the birth certificate at the hospital. No box for titles :)
ReplyDeleteIf I understand the information and press department correctly, it seems that the child is at present only a US citizen, but that the intention is that she will acquire Swedish citizenship too.
DeleteI would be very surprised in a country with gender equality that a woman cannot pass her citizenship to her children.
ReplyDeleteIndeed. The dubious assertions of the information and press department notwithstanding, the child is indubitably a Swedish citizen, cf. the website of the Swedish Migration Board.
What if the parents were just visiting America at the time of her birth ? My Lord in heaven...Does it really matter where someone is born ? Very trivial indeed..IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE... PEOPLE WHO ARGUE THAT FACT HAVE SOMETHING TO GAIN.....Betty A Roth...
ReplyDeleteI think you may need to check your eyesight, as I did not say that it mattered where someone is born. But for your information that does in some countries matter for the question of citizenship. And please note that writing in capital letters is considered as shouting, so please behave yourself.
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