Watch a video clip of the official announcement, it was the moment royal watchers had been waiting for - the first close look at Crown Princess Victoria's engagement ring. And there was no mistaking the Swedish royal's happiness as she showed off the sparkler on Tuesday with fiancé Daniel Westling at her side.
Earlier the 31-year-old crown princess paid tribute to her gym-owner love in an official announcement, a video clip of which was released on the Royal Court website. "With Daniel by my side I feel secure," she said. "You have probably noticed that in recent years I have seemed stronger and happier. And now the time has come for us to begin building something together and starting a family."
For his part Daniel described how he was nervous when proposing, going down on one knee in the grounds of Drottningholm Palace on a beautiful sunny day. "I was hoping for a 'yes' but I wasn't entirely sure," he revealed. The happy couple were joined by Victoria's parents Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf, who relayed the happy news. "It is of course a special day for us, but it is also a special day for Sweden," he said. "In the past years we have got to know Daniel and have discovered he is a young man who works hard and takes life seriously."
Queen Silvia was equally as complimentary about her future son-in-law. "We welcome Daniel into our family with open arms. I view him as a man who is humble yet decisive, as well as judicious and wise. You are full of energy, considerate, and will make a wonderful husband for Victoria," she said to 31-year-old Daniel, who has been in a relationship with the future queen since 2002.
The Queen then turned to her daughter. "We have full confidence in you and your choice, Victoria, and I will do everything to support you. A new chapter is now being written and I am very pleased," she said. Victoria and her long term partner will tie the knot in the early summer of 2010. Following the ceremony, Daniel, who moved to the royal family's residence outside Stockholm in July, will assume the title of Prince Daniel, Duke of Vastergotland.
