Following their breathtakingly beautiful nuptials in Stockholm's Royal Chapel on Saturday afternoon, Princess Madeleine and her husband Chris O'Neill made their way through Gamla Stan, the charming medieval old town, in an horse-drawn carriage.The newlyweds looked elated as they were driven through the sunny city streets to rapturous applause and a sea of blue and yellow flags waved by well-wishers.
The Princess looked picture-perfect for her fairytale wedding, radiant in a stunning Valentino creation.
Husband and wife smiled and waved enthusiastically to the gathered crowds as they made their way to the harbour where they boarded a royal vessel on a tiny islet, Riddarholmen, to take them across the water to Drottningholm Palace.
Much pomp and ceremony surrounded the royal procession, with dozens of fabulous horses making up the cortège. Troops from the Army, Air Force and Navy were positioned along the route.
The moving spectacle travelled through Slottsbacken, Skeppsbron, Strömbron, Strömgatan, Norrbro, Slottskajen, Myntgatan and Wrangelska Backen to Evert Taubes Terrass to reach the dock.
The partygoers travelled on the spectacular 1930s Art Deco style S/S Stockholm.
From there, the bride and groom and their invitees travelled by boat to the palace to dance the night away at the banquet hosted by the King and Queen of Sweden.
To enable as many people as possible to see the newly-weds, the carriage is drawn by four steeds à la d'Aumont, which means there is a driver mounted on one of the horses, thus giving them maximum exposure.
They rode in a Parade Barouche which was made by L.V. Nylund's coach factory in Stockholm at around the turn of the last century. It is the same barouche that was used by the King and Queen at their wedding.
The end of their truly magical day will come in the form of a glamorous dinner dance for the King and Queen's youngest daughter in the Palace's White Sea Hall, which will be attended by no fewer than 350 guests.
The best Swedish culinary delights will be served at the Palace's gala dinner – one of the largest palaces in Europe decorated in baroque style – with a menu created by Swedish Michelin-starred chef Mathias Dahlgren.
The Palace has particular significance for Madeleine, also titled the Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland, because it's where she made her entrance into the world. "It means a lot to me, because I was born and raised there," she said ahead of the big day.
