Princesses in pink! Birthday girl Victoria of Sweden celebrates her 40th with her picture-perfect family in Stockholm (but it's her playful niece Leonore who steals the show)
- Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden celebrates her 40th birthday today
- She marked the occasion with a thanksgiving service attended by her family
- The mother-of-two looked radiant in a white dress with butterfly detailing
- Her niece Princess Leonore, three, stole the show with her playful antics
As the birthday girl, Princess Victoria of Sweden might have expected to be the centre of attention.
But the mother-of-two, who turns 40 today, was overshadowed by her playful niece Princess Leonore as the royal family gathered to kick off the festivities in Stockholm.
Three-year-old Leonore, the daughter of Victoria's sister Princess Madeleine, 35, was photographed scampering around the courtyard outside the Royal Palace after the family attended a Te Deum Thanksgiving service at the Royal Chapel.
![Birthday girl: Princess Victoria with husband Daniel and their children Estelle and Oscar](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/15/4253D8C100000578-4695996-image-m-39_1500044341615.jpg)
Birthday girl: Princess Victoria with husband Daniel and their children Estelle and Oscar
![Wait for me! Princess Leonora, three, the daughter of Princess Madeleine, pictured, and Princess Victoria's niece, was photographed skipping across the courtyard at the palace](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/16/4255A12200000578-4695996-image-m-48_1500044409327.jpg)
Wait for me! Princess Leonora, three, the daughter of Princess Madeleine, pictured, and Princess Victoria's niece, was photographed skipping across the courtyard at the palace
![Delighted: Sticking her tongue out, the playful toddler ran towards her waiting mother](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/15/4255AEEA00000578-4695996-image-a-40_1500044359488.jpg)
Delighted: Sticking her tongue out, the playful toddler ran towards her waiting mother
![Time for a rest: Leonore, who wore a white dress with dusty pink detailing, crouches down](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/16/4255AAC000000578-4695996-image-a-49_1500044424668.jpg)
Time for a rest: Leonore, who wore a white dress with dusty pink detailing, crouches down
![Family portrait (l-r) Princess Madeleine, her husband Christopher O'Neill, Queen Silvia, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle (in front), Crown Princess Victoria (with Prince Oscar in arms), King Carl Gustaf, Princess Sofia, Prince Carl Philip (with Prince Alexander in arms)](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/16/4254F5A400000578-4695996-image-a-56_1500045226429.jpg)
Family portrait (l-r) Princess Madeleine, her husband Christopher O'Neill, Queen Silvia, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle (in front), Crown Princess Victoria (with Prince Oscar in arms), King Carl Gustaf, Princess Sofia, Prince Carl Philip (with Prince Alexander in arms)
Sticking her tongue out in glee, the toddler ran towards her mother, Princess Madeleine, before crouching down at her feet.
Leonore was also spotted horse-playing with her younger brother, Prince Nicolas, two, as the royal family gathered for a reception to mark the milestone.
The young princess looked lovely in an off-white dress with dusty rose detailing, which her parents teamed with a pair of patent buckle shoes.
![Cuddle: Princess Estelle leans in for a hug from her mother, birthday girl Princess Victoria](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/16/4254F52800000578-4695996-image-a-60_1500045399420.jpg)
Cuddle: Princess Estelle leans in for a hug from her mother, birthday girl Princess Victoria
![Best behaviour: Estelle waves alongside her mother as they make their way in a horse-drawn carriage](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/16/42545FB300000578-4695996-image-a-58_1500045339586.jpg)
Best behaviour: Estelle waves alongside her mother as they make their way in a horse-drawn carriage
![Well-wishers: Crowds lined the streets to see the royal family as they left the Royal Palace](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/16/4254430D00000578-4695996-image-m-62_1500045442130.jpg)
Well-wishers: Crowds lined the streets to see the royal family as they left the Royal Palace
![Procession: Princess Victoria's family is escorted from the Royal Palace to the Royal Stables](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/16/42545BFF00000578-4695996-image-a-63_1500045476956.jpg)
Procession: Princess Victoria's family is escorted from the Royal Palace to the Royal Stables
Meanwhile Victoria's own daughter, Princess Estelle, five, and son, Prince Oscar, one, remained on their best behaviour as they posed for photographs with their parents.
Estelle was also seen waving to well-wishers as the family took a horse drawn carriage from the Royal Palace to the Royal Stables through the streets of the city.
The birthday girl looked radiant in a white fit-and-flare dress, which was covered in butterflies embroidered and appliqued in shades of pink and gold.
![Thanksgiving service: Princess Estelle, Prince Daniel, Princess Victoria and Prince Oscar](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/16/425378D700000578-4695996-image-m-65_1500045521029.jpg)
Thanksgiving service: Princess Estelle, Prince Daniel, Princess Victoria and Prince Oscar
![Hands-on: Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill carry their children through the chapel](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/16/4253787300000578-4695996-image-m-67_1500045569966.jpg)
Hands-on: Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill carry their children through the chapel
![Playtime! Princess Leonore and her brother Princess Nicolas play at the royal reception today](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/16/425503F700000578-4695996-image-a-68_1500045603680.jpg)
Playtime! Princess Leonore and her brother Princess Nicolas play at the royal reception today
She finished the look with white heeled pumps and a nude clutch bag.
The service was also attended by her brother, Prince Carl Philip, 38, his pregnant wife Princess Sofia, 32, and their one-year-old son, Prince Alexander.
Princess Sofia looked sensational in a knee-length blush pink and black dress, which she teamed with a white-and-black hat with a bow.
![Picture-perfect family: Princess Victoria attended the service with her husband Prince Daniel and their children, Princess Estelle, five, and one-year-old Prince Oscar](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/10/4253332F00000578-4695996-image-m-2_1500024313944.jpg)
Picture-perfect family: Princess Victoria attended the service with her husband Prince Daniel and their children, Princess Estelle, five, and one-year-old Prince Oscar
![Princess Victoria today](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/10/42534C6300000578-4695996-image-a-14_1500024526656.jpg)
![Mummy's girl: Princess Estelle wore butterfly hair pins to match her mother's pretty pink dress](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/10/4253358900000578-4695996-image-m-16_1500024532931.jpg)
Mummy's girl: Princess Estelle wore butterfly hair pins to match her mother's pretty pink dress
In keeping with the royal family's pastel theme, Princess Madeleine opted for a floaty powder blue floral frock, with a matching hat and heeled pumps.
Her husband, Christopher O'Neill, looked dashing in a blue suit while their son Nicolas wore a blue vest and shorts in a very similar shade to his cousin Oscar's outfit.
Meanwhile Queen Silvia, 73, donned a teal skirt suit and matching hat as she arrived for the service with her husband, King Carl Gustaf, 71.
![Quick change! Victoria later swapped her embellished frock for the Swedish National dress](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/18/425842F500000578-4695996-image-m-95_1500053255964.jpg)
Quick change! Victoria later swapped her embellished frock for the Swedish National dress
![All smiles: She wore the traditional dress as her birthday celebrations continued at Borgholm](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/18/4258433E00000578-4695996-image-a-105_1500053398145.jpg)
![All smiles: She wore the traditional dress as her birthday celebrations continued at Borgholm](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/18/425842C000000578-4695996-image-m-104_1500053388946.jpg)
All smiles: She wore the traditional dress as her birthday celebrations continued at Borgholm
![Beaming: Victoria certainly looked to be in high spirits, flashing a wide smile](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/18/425843E300000578-4695996-image-m-106_1500053455132.jpg)
Beaming: Victoria certainly looked to be in high spirits, flashing a wide smile
![Family day: She was again accompanied by daughter Estelle and husband Daniel](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/18/4258436E00000578-4695996-image-m-108_1500053494961.jpg)
Family day: She was again accompanied by daughter Estelle and husband Daniel
![Pretty in pastels: Estelle covered up her printed dress with a peach coat](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/18/4258443000000578-4695996-image-m-110_1500053552454.jpg)
Pretty in pastels: Estelle covered up her printed dress with a peach coat
Princess Victoria looked in excellent spirits as she posed for photographs on the steps with her children, who were both dressed in pastel ensembles for the occasion.
Princess Estelle wore a white dress in a similar style to her mother's and a pair of pink buckled ballet shoes. She braided hair was accessorised with her very own butterfly pins.
Prince Oscar, who was carried in his father's arms, looked adorable in white shorts and a powder blue and white sailor-style top.
![Victoria's husband Prince Daniel carried their son Prince Oscar into the Royal Palace](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/10/42533CD100000578-4695996-image-m-20_1500024579308.jpg)
![Princess Sofia looked radiant in pale pink and black](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/10/425340BD00000578-4695996-image-m-22_1500024607088.jpg)
Family affair: Victoria's husband Prince Daniel carried their son Prince Oscar into the Royal Palace, left. Her pregnant sister-in-law Princess Sofia looked radiant in pale pink and black
![Perfectly co-ordinated: Princess Victoria, her husband and children all made a special effort](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/11/42534CE700000578-4695996-Perfectly_co_ordinated_Princess_Victoria_her_husband_and_childre-a-69_1500029739268.jpg)
Perfectly co-ordinated: Princess Victoria, her husband and children all made a special effort
![Family affair: Queen Silvia, 73, donned a teal skirt suit and matching hat as she arrived for the service with her husband, King Carl Gustaf, 71](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/11/42533C6300000578-4695996-Family_affair_Queen_Silvia_73_donned_a_teal_skirt_suit_and_match-a-68_1500029738868.jpg)
Family affair: Queen Silvia, 73, donned a teal skirt suit and matching hat as she arrived for the service with her husband, King Carl Gustaf, 71
![Prince Carl Philip, 38, his pregnant wife Princess Sofia, 32, and their son Prince Alexander](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/11/425337A300000578-4695996-Prince_Carl_Philip_38_his_pregnant_wife_Princess_Sofia_32_and_th-a-70_1500029739335.jpg)
Prince Carl Philip, 38, his pregnant wife Princess Sofia, 32, and their son Prince Alexander
![Sofia changed into another frock later on in the day](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/18/4258435E00000578-4695996-image-m-114_1500053704553.jpg)
![Princess Madeleine also opted for a floral number](http://web.archive.org./web/20170715155148/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/14/18/4258435600000578-4695996-image-m-116_1500053718924.jpg)
Blooming lovely! Sofia (left) changed into another frock later on in the day; while Princess Madeleine (right) also opted for a floral number
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