Princess Estelle may only be 14, but she’s already perfected one of the trickiest royal requirements – performing a curtsy.
The young royal, who is the eldest child of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, joined guests on the Lejonbacken Terrace of the Royal Palace of Stockholm for an Armed Forces Salute and Air Force Flyover on Thursday.
In a video clip shared on Swedish news channel SVT, which can be watched above, Estelle performed a perfect curtsy for Queen Sonja of Norway, who was accompanied by her husband, King Harald.
She also curtsied to Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, the country’s former Queen, making for the ultimate sign of respect and following of royal protocol.
The move, which involves the bending of the knees and slight bowing of the head, was so flawless that it would likely even have impressed the Queen of the Curtsy, the Princess of Wales.
Europe’s Kings and Queens have jetted to Stockholm for the 80th birthday celebrations of King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden, Estelle’s grandfather, with King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark among those in attendance.
Ahead of the celebrations, Estelle presented her grandfather with a special gift for his birthday, a map described by the royal house as “a joint journey to the Duchy”.
Extravagant celebrations
It is rare to see so many royals together in one place, but the European monarchies have pulled out all the stops for King Carl Gustaf.
The day began with a Te Deum mass at 10.30am, followed by a military guard of honour. After a series of concerts and an official luncheon, the festivities are culminating in a formal state banquet to honour the monarch, who has reigned over Sweden since 1973.
© Getty ImagesRoyal attendees from Sweden include King Carl and his wife, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria and her husband, Prince Daniel. Their children, Estelle and her younger brother Prince Oscar, 10, are also attending. King Carl Gustaf’s second child, Princess Madeleine, and her husband Christopher O’Neill, were joined by their daughters, Princess Leonore and Princess Adrienne of Sweden. Prince Carl Philip and Sofia have brought their four children, Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel, Prince Julian, and baby Princess Ines, to the celebrations.
Outside of Sweden, King Frederik and Queen Mary led the royal attendees, which included representatives from Thailand, Serbia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Romania.
Future preparations
Princess Estelle is looking more and more like her mother, Crown Princess Victoria, as she grows up! Though she is only 14, she is second in line to the throne, meaning she will one day be queen.
© Michael Campanella/Getty ImagesEstelle of Sweden, Duchess of Östergötland, was born on 23 February 2012 in Solna, Stockholm.
Her father, Prince Daniel, once called being with one’s children “the best thing in the world.” While discussing his desire for his kids to experience life as he did before he married into the Swedish royal family, the dad of two told Dagens Nyheter in 2017: “Being with your children is the best thing in the world.”
Daniel married Crown Princess Victoria at Stockholm Cathedral in June 2010, with royals attending from around the world, including Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward.
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