Prince marks Swedish birth

The Prince of Wales has congratulated Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria on the birth of her daughter, as she made her first official appearance since becoming a mother.

Charles and Camilla were guests of honour at a lunch hosted by the King and Queen of Sweden at the royal palace in Stockholm.

The prince told the guests of the close ties between the two nations, saying: “I need hardly say that it is the greatest pleasure to return to Sweden after what seems to have been far too long an interval and for what my staff tell me is my first official visit.”

Addressing the crown princess, who gave birth a month ago, he added: “Needless to say, my wife and I could not be more thrilled to join you in also celebrating the birth of Princess Estelle to Crown Princess Victoria.”

The baby, to be baptised in May, is a first grandchild for Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf.