Crown Princess Victoria Engaged!

At last, the big news has been announced!

After seven years of dating, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria is engaged to marry gym owner Daniel Westling.

“Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel are engaged and are due to be married in the early summer of 2010,” a court spokeswoman said. “Daniel will have the title of Prince Daniel, Duke of Vastergotland.”

The couple first began dating in 2002, after the 31 year old future Queen started to attend one of Westling’s Stockholm gyms.

Rumors of a wedding have been rampant for years. Last year, speculations increased when 35 year old Daniel moved into the royal palace.

On the Swedish royal court’s official website, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia joined the newly engaged couple for an online announcement.

“Dear Swedes, at home and abroad. Yes, this is how I tend to begin my speeches on radio and TV when there is something I wish to convey. And, as you may have guessed, there is something very special I would like to convey: namely, the public announcement today of the engagement of Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling,” said the King, while exchanging glances with his smiling daughter.

Crown Princes Victoria said in the film that she was proud to represent Sweden but that it was easier with help from her fiancé.

“With Daniel by my side I feel secure. You have probably noticed in recent years that I have seemed stronger and happier. And now the time has come to begin preparations for starting something of our own and creating a family,” sad Victoria, while looking at at her future husband.

Queen Silvia was full of praise for Westling.

“We welcome Daniel into our family with open arms. I view him as a man who is humble yet decisive, as well as judicious and wise. You are full of energy, considerate and will make a wonderful husband for Victoria.”

The Queen then turned to her daughter.

“We have full confidence in you and your choice, Victoria, and I will do everything to support you. A new chapter is now being written and I am very pleased,” she said.

Daniel Westling, who appeared moved by the occasion, looked straight into the camera and said:

“The Crown Princess and I have found each other and our love has grown strong over the years. I want to thank the King and I want to thank the Queen,” said the future Prince.

Royal expert Jenny Alexandersson, who has reported on the crown princess for celebrity magazine Svensk Damtidning since 2003, said the wedding would be “fantastic” for Sweden, especially considering the current economic crisis.

“The fact that Sweden’s heir to the throne will marry will give echoes around the world. It will be a great big wedding with more than 1,000 guests, including representatives from all big royal families,” Alexandersson said.

She also said the wedding would be important for the Swedish monarchy.

“We have seen in our neighboring countries Norway and Denmark that the popularity of the monarchy has risen at times of royal weddings,” she said.

And Andersson didn’t expect the current financial crisis to put a crimp on the celebrations.

“I don’t think we’re going to see a low budget wedding because of the financial crisis. This has been expected for a few years now and there is already money set aside in the budget,” she said.

“When it comes to Swedes and money, I’m not afraid that we will spend too much.”

Next year marks the Bernadotte dynasty’s 200 years as the Swedish royal family.

So, with a wedding and a bicentennial celebration, 2010 will be a festive time for Sweden!

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Click here to watch the couple and the King and Queen speak about the engagement (but its in Swedish)