prince oscar4© Photo: Getty Images

Is this Prince Oscar of Sweden's most surprising christening gift?

May 19, 2016

Next week Prince Oscar of Sweden will be christened in the royal chapel of Stockholm, in front of his doting mum and dad Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel and members of the royal family. The baby boy will be showered with gifts at the baptism, but one present is already in the making.

According to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, there are plans to build a playground named after Prince Oscar.

The playground will be located in the Söderåsen National Park in the southernmost region of Skåne, of which Oscar is the duke.

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Prince Oscar will be baptised on Friday 27 May

Governor Margaret Palsson came up with the idea and wrote a letter to 33 municipalities in Skåne and the Skåne region, asking them to be involved in the project.

"We are expected to deliver a gift from Skåne associated with the baptism and I want us to do something really good," she wrote. "My idea is to create something lasting that promotes good health among children and young people, which I know that the Crown Princess thinks is important."

© Photo: Getty Images

Baby Oscar with his parents Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel and big sister Estelle

The governor decided on Prince Oscar's playground, which will be made only of natural materials and be open to children of all ages.

It reportedly costs around £82,000 to build and because it won't be ready in time for the christening, the young Prince will be presented with a painting of the proposed structure instead.

Because of the expense, if the funds are not raised then Oscar will "receive a traditional gift," said Margaret.

A playground is being built in Oscar's honour in his duchy

The baby boy is third-in-line to the Swedish throne, after his mother Victoria and his four-year-old sister Estelle. He was born on 2 March, weighing eight pounds and measuring 22 inches long. Oscar was styled as the Duke of Skåne at birth.

His christening on Friday 27 May will be a traditional affair. Oscar will be baptised in the royal palace's chapel and be dressed in the same gown that his mother, sister, aunt Princess Madeleine, uncle Prince Carl Philip and cousins Leonore and Nicolas wore at their christenings.

He will also be baptised using water from the island of Öland, as is customary in the Swedish royal family.

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