Princess Madeleine of Sweden and husband Chris O’Neill have announced the name of their daughter.
The world’s newest royal and fifth-in-line to the Swedish throne is called Leonore Lilian Maria, Duchess of Gotland.
Leonore is an unusual choice for a Swedish Royal and is an uncommon name in the country generally. National statistics show that only 128 women in Sweden have the name.
“There aren’t many Swedish girls called Leonore,” Royal expert Roger Lundgren told the Aftonbladet newspaper. “It’s definitely something new.”
The name is shared by another child Royal, eight-year-old Infanta Leonor of Spain, who is second in the line to the Spanish throne after her father Felipe, Prince of Asturias.
The name Lilian may be in honour of the late Princess Lilian of Sweden who passed away aged 97 in March last year and Maria may be after Chris’ mother, Eva Maria.
In keeping with tradition, King Carl XVI Gustaf announced the news at a meeting of the Cabinet Council.
The King Carl and Queen Silvia with Princess Leonore
The King and Queen Silvia flew to New York to meet the baby grand-daughter after their daughter, Princess Madeleine, gave birth in the city she calls home.
