Chris O'Neill breaks formal dress code at state banquet

Chris O'Neill, husband of Princess Madeleine of Sweden, committed an etiquette faux pas during a recent state banquet hosted by King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia. While attending the reception for Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his wife, Jane Yumiko Ittogi, O'Neill wore a Rolex wristwatch with his white tie attire.

According to traditional etiquette rules reported by Svensk Damtidning, wearing a wristwatch is considered inappropriate when dressed in formal evening wear such as a tailcoat. This is not the first instance of such an occurrence; O'Neill previously wore a watch during the 2025 Nobel Banquet, a detail noted by commentators during the live broadcast.

O'Neill is known to be a passionate collector of exclusive timepieces, with a collection estimated to be worth several million Swedish kronor. He reportedly wears his watches on his left wrist during both formal royal events and private outings.