The guests have arrived, along with 2300 journalists, 2000 policemen and numerous tourists. In other words, Stockholm is ready to host the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling. 

When? The ceremony will take place 3.30 pm, Swedish time. An hour later, at 4.30 pm, the newlyweds will go in a parade through Stockholm and show themselves to the masses. At 6.00 pm, the couple will do the classical wave to the people from Lejonbacken and hopefully say a few lovey dovey thank you-words. The official wedding dinner kicks off at 7.30 pm at the Royal Palace – everything will be broadcast live.

Who?  The official guest list includes figures from the worlds of showbiz, royalty, politics, diplomacy and of course some of Victoria and Daniels personal friends. Amonst the royalities (kungligheter), look out for King Albert and Queen Paola of the Belgians,  King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, Queen Margarethe of Denmark and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Prince Harry and Prince William of England decided to go to South Africa and the World Cup instead, which some find “rude” and “inappropriate” and others “totally understandable, I would have done the same”. Anyway, forty members of foreign royal families will stay at the Royal Palace as guests of the King, and from what I read yesterday, I definitely think he should have hosted a few more. The Royal Palace has 1 200 rooms… Amongst the non royal guests we have the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, Social Democrat leader Mona Sahlin, the opera singer Malena Ernman, who represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest last year, the singer Peter Jöback and his partner Oscar Nilsson and Roxette’s Per Gessle, with wife Åsa.  All foreign ambassadors in Stockholm have been invited and the expected presence of ambassadors from North Korea and Eritrea has sparked a raging debate. Also, the left party leader and republican Lars Ohly has turned down the invitation on principle.

How? Well, nothing will really be reviled until it’s showtime, but we do know that Victoria  have chosen not to have any bridesmaids (brudtärnor). Instead she has chosen ten children as little bridesmaids, (brudnäbbar); eight children of royal families and Daniel’s two nieces Hedvig and Vera. And regarding the weather forecast… well, let’s put it this way. It doesn’t look bright.

Where? If you are extremely into this, Sveriges Television are brodcasting live from 8.00 am Swedish time until midnight! 

So, anyone more than me up for a royal Saturday? Does anyone care about this – in our eyes – big event where you are in the world?