Sweden's National Day was as tradition has it celebrated with the entire royal family at Skansen, this year reinforced with the coming weekend's groom, Mr. Christopher O'Neill. Watch the entire program at SVT Play - Nationaldagen

(More on June 6, Sweden's National Day: Nationaldagen)

Sweden’s National Day also meant the Royal Palace opened its doors to the audience free of charge. This is called “Öppet Slott”. This year, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, and Princess Estelle opened the doors to the palace at ten in the morning. In the inner courtyard, there were food and sales from Slottsboden, and staff from Hovstallet showed off a float and a Daimler from the 1950’s. There was also musical entertainment from Försvarsmusiken and Stockholms Studentsångare. But most importantly, there was a little princess running around in a Swedish folk costume.

The King’s tribute to love
In his National Day’s speech at Skansen in Stockholm, Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf got personal and a bit sentimental. “To see you, our daughter, getting married fills us with joy and memories,” he said, looking at Princess Madeleine. June 6th was a beautiful summer evening in Stockholm, and the royal cortège proceeded from the palace to Skansen on Djurgården and the traditional National Day celebrations there. The king and the queen, as well as Princess Madeleine and Chris O’Neill sat in the first of the two carriages, with Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, and Prince Carl Philip following in the second. “Summer may be a time of falling in love, a time to perhaps find the great love. It is also a time when many decide to get married. And one of them is our youngest daughter Princess Madeleine who will in just two days marry her fiancé Christopher O’Neill,” said the king, pointing to where the royals were seated, while being greeted with applause. “We are happy that you have found love and someone with whom to build your future. The memories we have experienced with you, from seeing you the very first time and your first laughter, to the person you are today.”

Skansen, first open air museum and zoo in Sweden; for more info, see www.skansen.se