Sweden`s Princess Madeleine gives birth to baby girl in New York

USPA News - Swedish Princess Madeleine, who is fourth in line to the throne, has given birth to a daughter at a New York hospital, the royal palace announced on Friday, less than a year after she married New York banker Christopher O`Neill. Both mother and daughter are said to be doing well.

Princess Madeleine gave birth to a daughter at 10:41 p.m. local time on Thursday at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in Manhattan while supported by her husband. "Both mother and child are in good health," said Realm Marshal Svante Lindqvist, the highest official in Sweden`s Royal Court. Members of the royal family expressed their joy at the birth, among them King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. "Today is a day of great happiness and thankfulness. We are filled with great joy," they said in a joint statement. "We now hope that Princess Madeleine and Christopher will be able to enjoy this unique time with their young daughter in peace and quiet." O`Neill`s mother, Eva-Maria, said she was excited to meet her granddaughter and congratulated the couple. "I am thrilled and very excited to have a new granddaughter and I can`t wait to meet her! I wish her all that is good and wonderful in this life," she said. "I send my son Christopher and Princess Madeleine all my love and and my heartfelt congratulations to their first child." Crown Princess Victoria, her husband Prince Daniel and Prince Carl Philip also expressed their happiness in a joint statement. "We are all delighted that Madeleine and Christopher have become parents. We look forward to meeting the new little family, and Estelle in particular is very curious about her new cousin," the statement said, referring to Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel`s only child. Princess Madeleine and Christopher O`Neill did not immediately comment on the birth of their first child, who will be fifth in line to the Swedish crown. A cabinet meeting is expected to take place early next week during which King Carl XVI Gustaf will announce the child`s title, name, and given name. Madeleine and O`Neill, who met in New York City, announced their engagement in October 2012 and married on June 8, 2013, in the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. She is currently fourth in line to the Swedish throne after the birth of her niece Princess Estelle in February 2012. Sweden is a constitutional monarchy in which the royals carry out a largely ceremonial and representative role. King Carl XVI Gustaf has served as the country`s head of state since September 1973, and his eldest child, 36-year-old Crown Princess Victoria, is due to succeed him.