Post date: Jun 08, 2013 1:56:52 PM
People gather outside the Royal Palace hoping to catch a glimpse of Swedish Princess Madeleine as she marries Christopher O'Neill.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN (JUNE 8, 2013) (REUTERS) - People gathered outside the Royal Palace in Stockholm on Saturday (June 8) to catch a glimpse of Princess Madeleine as she marries New York banker Christopher O'Neill.
Some of them had been waiting since early morning. Throughout the day, more and more people gathered outside the palace in the Old Town where the wedding, attended by European royals and socialites from across the Atlantic, will take place at 1600 local time (1400 GMT).Exchange student Juliane Redinger from the United States was sitting with her friends on a wall to get a better view.
She said she had come to see the wedding because it was "cool".
"Because it's cool I guess. She's the princess of Sweden and she's getting married, that's cool. And to an American, that's the best part," she said.
The 30-year-old Princess Madeleine, who earned a reputation for partying in her 20s, will marry Christopher O'Neill, 38, who was born and raised in Britain but also has United States (U.S.) citizenship.
Friends Elisabeth Nesheim and Inger-Elise Kolsto had a whole day of celebrations planned.
"Our day started with a champagne breakfast and then we came here to take our positions to be able to see the newlyweds come out and kiss on the stairs and then this evening we've book a table," she said, with Kolsto chipping in: "At the Grand Hotel".
The Grand Hotel is located close to the palace and is where many of the wedding guests are staying.
Nesheim said she had always liked Madeleine.
"Madeleine has been a great girl since she was very little and we felt so sorry for her when she was betrayed by (ex-fiance) Jonas (Bergstrom) so it's so great that she's found love now," she said.
The princess, fourth in line to the throne, won sympathy among Swedes after her engagement with a long-term boyfriend ended in 2010 after reports he was found cheating on her.
Many of the onlookers had travelled from Germany.
Nathalie Kerstin and Katja Friehs came from Heidelberg - the birth place ofSweden's Queen Silvia.
"We hope, of course that we'll see the married couple first and foremost. And then we want to see as many guests as possible," Kerstin said.
Students Sara Ericson and Emelie Kjallqvist from Stockholm hoped to see a beautiful dress and bride.
The monarchy enjoys fairly wide support among the public in otherwise egalitarianSweden. Madeleine will continue to live in New York where she works at a children's charity founded by her mother.
Some 600 guests will attend the wedding at the Royal Palace.
After the ceremony and a 21-gun salute, a horse and carriage will take the couple to a banquet hosted by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.