The royal couple

Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist first set eyes on each other several years ago during a lunch with mutual friends, and while at first they were shy around each other, Sofia called the meeting "love at first sight."  

  • Prince Carl Philip with girlfriend Sofia Hellqvist early in their relationship.

  • The glamorous, affectionate couple confirmed their romance in the summer of 2010. "The first thing I noticed about Carl Philip was that he seemed very humble," Sofia told Swedish channel TV 4 in a recent interview. "When I got to know him, I saw that he was incredibly natural, very intelligent and very humble."

  • Prince Carl Philip and his fiancee Sofia Hellqvist (shown here with their official monogram) announced on May 12 their new Prinsparets stiftelse (Prince Couple's Foundation), a charity that promotes and supports children and youth, in anticipation of their wedding on June 13, 2015. Gift givers are encouraged to donate to the foundation. Photo: Kungahuset.se

  • The two are known for their sporty lifestyle and are keen on projecting an image of themselves as being modern and open royals — they are often seen running errands in town or picking up pizza in one of Stockholm's chic neighborhoods.

  • Sofia Hellvist at the time of her engagement to her prince. Photo: Erika Gerdemark, Kungahuset.se

  • Born in Taby, Sweden, in 1984, Sofia is the middle of three daughters. Now 30, the beautiful blue-eyed brunette, known for her infectious gap-toothed smile, grew up to be a TV star-turned-charity-fundraiser-turned-princess. After being a model in men’s magazines and starring in Sweden’s version of the U.S. beach-based reality television show "Paradise Hotel" in 2005, Sofia relocated to New York where she studied accounting and business development at the Institute of English and Business. She also became a yoga instructor.

  • A royal photo of HRH Prince Carl Philip. Photo: Erika Gerdemark, Kungahuset.se

  • In the last few years, Sofia has worked as a volunteer and aid worker in South Africa, Senegal and Ghana. She currently serves as the honorary chairman of Project Playground, a charity she co-founded in 2010 that offers free after-school activities. She and Carl Philip set up a charitable foundation to promote and support children and youth in care and education; in lieu of wedding gifts, they have requested that well-wishers make a donation to it, the Prince Couple's Foundation, established specifically for this occasion.

  • The Prince couple poses with their families following the Banns of Marriage (Lysning) on May 17, 2015. Seated (L-R): The Queen and King, Sofia Hellqvist, Prince Carl Philip, Sofia's parents Marie Hellqvist and Erik Hellqvist. Standing (L-R): Jonas Frejd, Lina Hellqvist, Crown Princess Victoria with Princess Estelle, Prince Daniel, Princess Madeleine with Princess Leonore, Christopher O’Neill, Sara Hellqvist, Oskar Bergman. Photo: Kungahuset.se

  • His surprise stag weekend
    Prince Carl Philip didn't plan on being in Greece a week before his wedding, but the Swedish royal, whose bags had been secretly packed by his future wife, was “kidnapped” by a group of friends who took him to Stockholm's Arlanda Airport and flew to Athens. According to local media, it was Crown Princess Victoria who planned her younger brother's surprise party, much like he did for her before she tied the knot with Prince Daniel in 2010.


  • On board the plane, the party was met by enthusiastic flight attendants and the prince was given several special gifts. The royal and his friends enjoyed a boat trip to the paradise island of Aegina, and in the evening had dinner at an upscale restaurant near the port of Piraeus. The next day, they were spotted in a complex close to the beach — wearing matching swimming trunks. That evening at a club on the outskirts of Athens, they were again all dressed similarly — in jackets, dark trousers and shirts. After three days away, the prince’s final surprise was to sit in the cockpit with the pilots for part of the flight back to Stockholm.

  • Her hen weekend
    Sofia's hen weekend was a bit more low-key than her fiancé's. With her two sisters, close friends, and future sister in-law Crown Princess Victoria at her side, Sofia spent a weekend away at a lavish mansion on the banks of Lake Mälaren, located about an hour west of Stockholm.

  • Sofia will have another job after all the wedding festivities: that of officially becoming HRH Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland, a role she has been preparing for. "I've spoken with people who have gone through a similar experience," Sofia said in an interview. "Of course there's been a process. I don't know what people refer to when they talk about 'princess school' but if they mean acquiring knowledge and experiences about the future as a prince's wife, I've definitely been prepared."

  • Carl Philip, 36, who is third in line to the throne, feels his bride already fits right in. He adores his fiancée. "I don't think I knew the magic of love before I met Sofia," he said recently. "But ever since I met her, I've seen how love can change a person."

  • Sofia agrees. "Carl Philip is definitely the right person for me. He's my best friend."

  • And as to whether they'll be hearing the pitter-patter of small feet soon, the couple has confirmed they want to start a family — eventually. Carl Philip was heard saying, "Children are great, but we're taking things one step at a time."