The wedding dress is a bride's best-kept secret. When Princess Madeleine of Sweden walks down the aisle on 8 June to marry Chris O'Neill, the world will be watching to see which bridal gown she has chosen for her big day.With so many designers, and styles, to chose from, speculation is at an all-time high as to what they royal bride will wear — will she opt for a full-skirt, or something more fitted? What kind of neckline will she have? Will she chose to wear a traditional veil?
They are all questions Madeleine herself will have considered in the search for her perfect gown. This week, she was spotted in Paris, the home of some of the world's greatest fashion designers, sparking reports she was there for a fitting.It lends credence to the idea that Madeleine has decided to chose a foreign designer, as her mother before her did — Queen Silvia wed in a creation by Dior — rather than a Swedish couturier like her sister Crown Princess Victoria, who married Daniel Westling in a dress created by Pär Engsheden.Of course Paris is home to a number of notable designers. Lebanese-designer Elie Saab is based in the French capital alongside native heavyweights including, Dior, Chanel and Jean Paul Gaultier, all of which offer designs fit for a princess.If Madeleine does decide to wear a French designer, it is perhaps in honour of Sweden's royal house, the House of Bernadotte, which was founded by the French marshall Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, who later became King Charles John of Sweden and Norway.With just two months to go until the royal wedding, preparations are of course well underway. It has been confirmed that the invites were sent out to guests on Monday 1 April. White in colour, and similar to those issued for Victoria and Daniel's wedding, they bear details of the big day, which is taking place on Saturday 6 June at 16.00 in the Royal Palace's chapel in Stockholm, with a banquet taking place in the palace afterwards.
The Palace has also confirmed that Stefano Catenacci will be preparing the Drottningholm Palace feast — he was also head chef at Princess Victoria's wedding in 2010, but says guests shouldn't expect the same fare. "It's won't be the same food, but I can't tell you any more unfortunately," he told a Swedish newspaper before confirming that the June wedding will showcase Swedish produce. "The tradition is to honour the country himself, you really want to show what the country's got. It's important," he said. "All eyes will be on us, so we'll have to really show off what's on offer. "Despite his considerable experience, the chef did admit to a few butterflies ahead of the celebration. "You're obviously always a little nervous when you're doing there kinds of events. It would be strange and quite insensitive if I wasn't nervous," he said.