by Susan Flantzer
Princess Leonore, Duchess of Gotland was born on February 20, 2014, at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, New York in the United States. She is the first child of Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O’Neill. Before her birth, the Swedish Royal Court announced that Princess Madeleine’s children would have the style Royal Highness and the title Prince/Princess and be in the line of succession to the throne. To be eligible to ascend the throne, Princess Madeleine’s children must be brought up in Sweden and be members of the Church of Sweden (Lutheran). The infant princess was named Leonore Lilian Maria:
- Leonore: a name her parents liked
- Lilian: for Princess Lilian, Duchess of Halland who had died in 2013
- Maria: for her paternal grandmother
On October 7, 2019, the Swedish Royal Court announced that King Carl XVI Gustaf had decided to make changes regarding the children of his son Prince Carl Philip and his daughter Princess Madeleine. Their children would no longer be members of The Royal House but would continue to be members of The Royal Family. Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel, Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas, and Princess Adrienne would no longer enjoy the style of Royal Highness but they would retain their titles of Duke and Duchess previously granted by King Carl XVI Gustaf. They will remain in the line of succession to the Swedish throne. In the future, they will not be expected to perform any royal duties. As a result, Leonore will be styled Princess Leonore, Duchess of Gotland.
In mid-April 2014, Princess Estelle of Sweden met her new cousin, Princess Leonore, during a trip to the United States with her mother Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.
Princess Leonore was christened on June 8, 2014, her parent’s first wedding anniversary. The Church of Sweden (Lutheran) christening was held at the Royal Chapel at Drottningholm Palace near Stockholm. Her godparents were:
- Crown Princess Victoria, her maternal aunt
- Tatjana d’Abo, her paternal aunt
- Count Ernst Abensperg und Traun, her paternal uncle by marriage
- Patrick Sommerlath, her maternal first cousin once removed
- Alice Bamford, a friend of her parents
- Louise Gottlieb, a friend of her parents
At her christening, Princess Leonore received the Royal Order of the Seraphim from her grandfather, King Carl XVI Gustaf.
Leonore became a big sister when her brother Prince Nicolas, Duke of Ångermanland was born on June 15, 2015, and again when her sister Princess Adrienne, Duchess of Blekinge was born on March 9, 2018.
In 2018, Princess Leonore’s family moved to Florida in the United States. Early in 2020, the Swedish Royal Court confirmed, “Princess Madeleine resides in Florida. Right now and for the near future, they will remain in Florida. This means that the children will also attend school in Florida.” It is expected that Leonore will start school in Florida during the fall of 2020.