Royal Guests and Relatives gathered from around Europe to celebrate the Civil Wedding of Princess Birgitta of Sweden and Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern at the Royal Palace of Stockholm on this day in 1961, 65 years ago, ahead of a Catholic Ceremony at Schloss Sigmaringen!
Princess Birgitta of Sweden, daughter of Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, married Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern, son of the Prince of Hohenzollern and Princess Margarete Karola of Saxony, in a ceremony performed by Stockholm Mayor Yngve Kristensson the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, followed by a carriage ride through the streets of Stockholm.
As Princess Birgitta was a Lutheran and Prince Johann Georg was a Roman Catholic, Pope John XXIII originally forbade a mixed religious ceremony in Sweden. Consequently, the couple chose a secular civil union under German law—the only legally binding portion of their marriage—followed by a religious ceremony five days later in Germany.
Princess Birgitta wore the iconic Swedish Cameo Tiara.
In the evening, King Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise held a Ball at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.
Five days later, Prince Johann Georg and Princess Birgitta had a Catholic Ceremony at Schloss Sigmaringen, the seat of the Hohenzollern Family.
