Swedish Royal Wedding to Defy Tradition, Gender Equality
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden will marry Daniel Westling in an elaborate, public wedding in Stockholm on June 19. The wedding will feature all the usual pomp and ceremony of royal nuptials: a knockout dress, a horse and carriage, and visiting dignitaries from around the world. The $2.5 million price tag, paid by the Swedish government, certainly has raised many eyebrows, not to mention complaints, but it is the princess's request to break from Swedish tradition during the actual ceremony that has caused the most controversy. The woman who will be queen wants to be given away by her father, King Carl XVI Gustav.
What's so controversial about that, you might ask? Well, in Sweden, it is tradition for the bride and groom, both commoner and royal alike, to walk down the aisle together, signifiying each spouse's equality in the marriage. Many Swedes feel that a father "giving away" his daughter at her wedding is an American tradition that has been popularized around the world by Hollywood. This departure from established tradition has created an odd alliance between feminists and traditionalists, both of whom are criticizing Victoria's decision. Even Archbishop Anders Wejryd, who will perform the ceremony in Saint Nicolaus Church, has come out publicly against it. "Giving away the bride is a fairly new phenomenon that occasionally happens in the Swedish Church," he told reporters. "I generally advise against it, since our wedding ritual is so clear when it comes to the equality of husband and wife."
As of yet, there has been no resolution to the controversy. Some have suggested that Westling's mother should give him away in order to reflect his lesser official status. Everyone will have to wait until the actual ceremony later this month to see how this drama plays out.
Upon the death of her father, Victoria will ascend to the throne, and Westling, a commoner, will be her consort. After the marriage, Westling will be styled His Royal Highness Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland. Victoria will be only the fourth queen regnant in Swedish history. The royal couple will live at Haga Palace (right) in Stockholm.