Princess Madeleine of Sweden delighted royal followers on Thursday with a touching photo celebrating her daughter Princess Leonore’s 11th birthday.
Shared on Instagram, the photo captured a beaming Leonore posing alongside her cherished pet horse, Haidi. The young princess held the reins while Haidi affectionately leaned toward her.
Leonore looked adorable in navy jodhpurs and a black zip-up fleece, with her blonde hair tied in a ponytail parted at the center.
In her caption, Madeleine, 42, wrote a heartfelt tribute: “Happiest 11th birthday, Leonore! It warms my heart to see your love and passion for horses, especially for Haidi! The two of you share such a special bond.”
Fans quickly flooded the comments with birthday wishes. One wrote, “Congratulations Princess Leonore! What a nice-looking horse!” Another added, “Happy birthday, what a beautiful picture of you and Haidi,” while a third chimed in with, “Such a sweet birthday photo!”
Leonore has clearly inherited her family’s passion for horses. Queen Silvia once shared with Equnews that the royal family’s equestrian love spans generations.
“My father-in-law was the best rider among the Swedish royals. I believe Princess Madeleine inherited his talent and love for horses,” she said, adding that “Leonore had incredible confidence around horses even at age two.”
Haidi was gifted to Leonore at her Christening in 2014, and she first met her horse two years later during a visit to Gotland with her parents, Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill. The photos from that visit show little Leonore excitedly holding a riding helmet and grooming brush.
Madeleine and her husband Christopher, a financier, are also parents to Prince Nicolas, nine, and Princess Adrienne, six. The family of five recently relocated back to Stockholm after spending several years living in Florida, USA.
Originally planning their move in 2023, the family postponed it to allow more time for preparation. Reports indicate they sold their seven-bedroom Florida mansion for nearly $7 million before their return to Sweden.
