Swedish palace: crown princess about to give birth

STOCKHOLM — The Swedish Royal Court says Crown Princess Victoria has been admitted to a hospital for the birth of her first child, who would be a future heir to the throne.

Court spokesman David Lofvendahl told The Associated Press that Victoria and her husband, Prince Daniel, went to the Karolinska Hospital at around 12:30 a.m. Thursday (1130 GMT Wednesday).

Victoria married Daniel, a commoner and her former personal trainer, in June 2010. In August last year, the Royal Court announced that Victoria was pregnant and expected to give birth in early 2012.

Victoria, 34, is next in line to the throne held by her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf, since 1973. The Swedish monarch is primarily a figurehead, representing the country as the head of state but without political power.