Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria gave birth early Thursday to a baby girl second in line to the throne, the newborn's father Prince Daniel announced at a press conference at a Stockholm hospital.

"This morning at 4:26 am (0326 GMT), a 51-centimetre (20-inch) long and 3.280 kilogram (7.23-pound) very sweet little princess was born," the prince said.

"My feelings are all over the place right now," he said, adding that both mother and child were doing well.

The couple had arrived at Karolinska Hospital just before 1:00 am (0000 GMT).

A 21-gun salute was expected to be fired at midday, while the baby's name was due to be announced in the coming days.

Victoria and Daniel, her former personal trainer and gym owner, married in a fairytale wedding on June 19, 2010.

The crown princess, who is first in line to the throne and who will one day become Sweden's third regent queen, is wildly popular in Sweden.

Several surveys in the past year have shown a majority of Swedes would prefer her to her father King Carl XVI Gustaf, who was embroiled in several scandals last year, as head of state.

The baby is the king and queen's first grandchild.