Category Archives: Current Monarchies

Breaking News: A second daughter for Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi; Credit – The Royal Family Facebook Page

Buckingham Palace has announced that Princess Beatrice gave birth to her second child, a daughter, a week ago. Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi was born on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 12:57 PM at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London. The baby was several weeks premature and weighed 4 pounds and 5 ounces, but is said to be healthy and doing well. Athena has an elder sister Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi, born September 18,  2021.

Princess Beatrice, the elder of the two daughters of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson, is ninth in the line of succession to the British throne, followed by her elder daughter Sienna (tenth in line) and her younger daughter Athena (eleventh in line).

On September 26, 2019, Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Princess Beatrice to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Beatrice and Edoardo’s wedding, scheduled for May 29, 2020, was postponed due to the Covid Pandemic. Beatrice and Edoardo were married in a private ceremony at the Royal Chapel of All Saints, on the grounds of Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park, on July 17, 2020.

Eric of Pomerania – Eric III, King of Norway, Eric VII, King of Denmark, Eric XIII, King of Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

Eric of Pomerania, King of Norway, Denmark, and Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Eric of Pomerania was King of the three Scandinavian kingdoms as King Eric III of Norway (1389 – 1442), King Eric VII of Denmark (1396 – 1439), and King Eric XIII of Sweden (1396 – 1434, 1436 – 1439). However, he was deposed in all three kingdoms. Eric was born in 1381 or 1382 as Bogislaw of Pomerania at Darłowo Castle in Rügenwalde, Duchy of Pomerania, now Darłowo, Poland. He was the elder of the two children and the only son of Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania and Maria of Mecklenburg. Eric’s paternal grandparents were Bogislaw V, Duke of Pomerania and Adelheid of Brunswick-Grubenhagen. Heinrich III, Duke of Mecklenburg and Ingeborg of Denmark, the eldest daughter of King Valdemar IV of Denmark, were his maternal grandparents.

Eric’s parents Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania and Maria of Mecklenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Eric had one sister:

Eric’s maternal grandmother Ingeborg of Denmark was the sister of Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark (1387 – 1412), Queen of Norway (1388 – 1412), and Queen of Sweden (1389 – 1412). Ingeborg was the only one of Margrethe’s five siblings to marry and have children. Margrethe I’s only child Olaf II, King of Denmark/Olaf IV, King of Norway (1370 – 1387), died in his teens and had no heirs. After her son’s death Margrethe was named Queen of Denmark and Queen of Norway. In 1389, Queen Margrethe I replaced the unpopular King Albert of Sweden when the Swedish noble rose against him.

Statue of Eric of Pomerania with Queen Margrethe I in Viborg, Denmark; Credit – By Oleryhlolsson – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86745447

In 1389, Margrethe I brought seven or eight-year-old Bogislaw to Denmark to be raised as a Dane. Bogislaw’s name was changed to the more Nordic-sounding Eric. When Eric came of age, he was declared co-ruler in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, however, Margarethe I remained the effective ruler of all three kingdoms for the remainder of her life. Margrethe devised the Kalmar Union, a personal union from 1397 to 1523, in which a single monarch ruled the three kingdoms of Denmark, Sweden (then including much of present-day Finland), and Norway, together with Norway’s overseas colonies (then including Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland).

Queen Philippa, painted in the in the 1590s by Cornelius Krommeny; Credit – Wikipedia

Early in his reign, King Henry IV of England tried to negotiate an alliance between England and the Kalmar Union. He suggested a marriage between two of his children, his eldest son and heir, the future King Henry V of England, and his daughter Philippa of England, with Margrethe I’s great-niece and great-nephew, Catherine of Pomerania and Eric of Pomerania. Terms for the marriages were not agreed upon at that time, however, in 1405, a marriage between Philippa and Eric of Pomerania was arranged. Eleven-year-old Philippa was married by proxy to 24-year-old Eric on November 26, 1405, at Westminster Abbey in London. Philippa was formally proclaimed Queen of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in London, England on December 8, 1405, in the presence of the Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian ambassadors.

In August 1406, Philippa left England to travel to Sweden and married Eric of Pomerania in person on October 26, 1406, at Lund Cathedral in Lund, Sweden. Documentation from the wedding indicates that Philippa wore a tunic with a cloak in white silk bordered with gray squirrel and ermine, making her the first documented princess to wear a white wedding dress. On November 1, 1406, Philippa was crowned Queen of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

On October 28, 1412, 59-year-old Queen Margrethe I died aboard her ship docked in the harbor at Flensburg, then in the Duchy of Schleswig, now in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. Several possible causes of Margrethe’s death have been discussed over the years including the bubonic plague and poisoning by her co-ruler and great-nephew Eric, who became sole King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden when Margrethe died.

In 1417, Eric made Copenhagen a royal possession assuring its status as the capital of Denmark. He also took away Copenhagen Castle from the Bishop of Roskilde, and the castle became his primary residence. During Eric’s reign, he had many conflicts with the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive network of merchant guilds and market towns in Central and Northern Europe,  the Teutonic Order, a Catholic religious institution founded as a military society, and the Schauenburg Counts of Holstein. The tax burden related to these conflicts caused discontent among Eric’s subjects, particularly in Sweden.

Eric went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem from 1423 – 1425. While he was away, his wife Philippa was regent for Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. After Eric returned from his pilgrimage, Philippa continued her commitment to the kingdoms. She resolved disputes among her subjects, and organized and successfully defended Copenhagen against attacking forces from the Hanseatic League cities.

Philippa by Reinhold Callmander on a window above her grave, 1890s; By Mariusz Paździora (photo); Reinhold Callmander (painting) – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6100584

After twenty-three years of marriage, Philippa gave birth, for the first and last time, to a stillborn boy in 1429. Her health deteriorated after the stillbirth and during a visit to Vadstena Abbey in Stockholm, Sweden, Philippa died on January 5, 1430, at the age of 35. Her death was a great loss to Eric and the monarchy. She was buried in St. Anna’s Chapel, which she had built at the Vadstena Abbey church. In Philippa’s memory, Eric gave a generous sum of money to Vadstena Abbey. In return, he demanded that the abbey employ ten priests to pray and sing psalms continually for Philippa’s soul. After Philippa’s death, Eric had a relationship and eventually, a morganatic marriage, with Cecilia, Philippa’s former lady-in-waiting,

Visborg Castle in an early 17th-century drawing; Credit – Wikipedia

With no children to succeed him, Eric named his cousin Bogislaw IX, Duke of Pomerania as his heir presumptive of his three kingdoms. However, the Danish nobility refused to ratify his choice. In response, Eric left Copenhagen and lived at Visborg Castle in Gotland, Sweden’s largest island. Between 1439 and 1441, the nobility of Eric’s three kingdoms deposed him. Christopher of Bavaria, Eric’s nephew, the only child of his sister Catherine succeeded him in all three kingdoms.

Darlowo Castle, now in Darłowo, Poland, where Erik was born and died; Credit – Wikipedia

For ten years, Eric lived in Gotland and supported himself by piracy. After Swedish attacks in 1449, he was forced to surrender Visborg Castle to Christian I, King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and return to his birthplace Rügenwalde in the Duchy of Pomerania. From 1449 to 1459, Eric ruled Pomerania-Rügenwalde, a small partition of the Duchy of Pomerania-Stolp. Erik died at his birthplace, Darłowo Castle in Rügenwalde, Duchy of Pomerania, now Darłowo, Poland, on September 24, 1459, aged 77-78, and was buried in St. Mary Church in Darłowo.

Eric’s tomb in St. Mary Church in Darłowo, Poland; Credit – Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Autoren der Wikimedia-Projekte. (2004). König der Kalmarer Union, Herzog von Pommern-Stolp. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_VII._(D%C3%A4nemark)
  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2003). Konge af Norge, Danmark og Sverige (1382-1459). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_af_Pommern
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark, Queen of Norway, and Queen of Sweden. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/margrethe-i-queen-of-denmark-norway-and-sweden-2/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2017). Philippa of England, Queen of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/philippa-of-england-queen-of-denmark-sweden-and-norway/
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Eric of Pomerania. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_of_Pomerania
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Wartislaw VII, Duke of Pomerania. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Haakon VI, King of Norway, King of Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

The royal seal of King Haakon; Credit – Wikipedia

Haakon VI was King of Norway from 1343 to 1380 and King of Sweden from 1362 to 1364, and the husband of Margrethe I, the reigning Queen of Denmark (1387 – 1412), Norway (1388 – 1412), and Sweden (1389 – 1412) after his death. Haakon’s exact birth date and place of birth are unknown. He was possibly born in mid-August 1340, most likely in Sweden. Haakon was the second of the two sons of Magnus Eriksson, King of Sweden and King of Norway and Blanche of Namur. Haakon’s father was King Magnus VII of Norway but medieval Swedish kings did not use regnal numbers as part of their title. Haakon’s paternal grandparents were the Swedish Eric, Duke of Södermanland and the Norwegian Ingeborg Haakonsdatter. His maternal grandparents were John I, Count of Namur and Marie of Artois.

Queen Blanche of Sweden, and Prince Haakon, 1877 historical painting by Finnish artist Albert Edelfelt; Credit – Wikipedia

Haakon’s mother Queen Blanche is remembered in Sweden for the song: “Rida rida ranka, hästen heter Blanka” (“Ride, ride on my knee, the horse is called Blanka”), which influenced the famous 1877 historical painting of Blanche and her son Haakon by Finnish artist Albert Edelfelt.

Haakon had one elder brother Eric Magnusson (1339 – 1359) and at least three unknown sisters who died in infancy or early childhood. Eric married Beatrix of Bavaria. The couple had no surviving children and both Erik and Beatrix died in 1359, probably from the black plague.

When Haakon was born, his father Magnus decided to divide his kingdoms between his sons. Eric was designated to succeed his father as King of Sweden, while Haakon would become King of Norway. Haakon had become a very young King of Norway in 1343. Opposition to Magnus’ rule in Norway led to an agreement between Magnus and the Norwegian nobles. Haakon would become King of Norway, with Magnus as regent during his minority. In 1344, Haakon’s five-year-old brother Eric was formally elected King of Sweden and co-reigned with his father. In 1362, three years after Eric’s death, Haakon became co-ruler of Sweden with his father. The two reigned over Sweden together until 1364, when they were deposed in favor of Magnus’ nephew Albert III, Duke of Mecklenburg by a group of exiled Swedish noblemen. Magnus and Haakon tried to retake the Swedish throne but were unsuccessful. With no throne, Magnus lived with his son Haakon in Norway. On 1 December 1, 1374, Haakon’s father Magnus, aged 58, drowned in a shipwreck in Bømlafjorden, a fjord in Norway.

Margrethe’s effigy on her tomb at Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1359, King Valdemar IV of Denmark betrothed his six-year-old daughter Margrethe of Denmark to eighteen-year-old King Haakon VI of Norway as part of an alliance treaty. Four years later, on April 9, 1363, King Haakon VI and Margrethe were married at Copenhagen Cathedral in Denmark. Haakon’s parents Magnus Eriksson and Blanche attended the wedding. Shortly after the wedding, Blanche fell ill and died. The cause of death and the place where she is buried are unknown.

Ten-year-old Margrethe, now Queen Consort of Norway and Sweden, remained in Denmark for some time after the wedding. Eventually, she moved to Norway and lived primarily at Akershus Fortress in Oslo. Margrethe was too young for the marriage to be consummated. She spent her time getting acclimated to Norway and preparing for her duties as Queen Consort.

Haakon and Margrethe’s son Olaf who was King of Denmark and King of Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

Margrethe and Haakon VI had one son, born at Akershus Fortress in Oslo, Norway:

Margrethe’s father Valdemar IV, King of Denmark died on October 24, 1375, and Margrethe was the only survivor of his six children. It was expected Albrecht IV, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the son of Ingeborg of Denmark, Valdemar IV’s eldest child who survived childhood and had children, would claim the Danish throne. However, Margrethe managed to win over the Danish royal council by offering them lucrative grants and agreements. She also won the support of the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive network of merchant guilds and market towns in central and northern Europe, which did not want the House of Mecklenburg to gain power in Denmark. On May 3, 1376, Haakon and Margrethe’s five-year-old son Olaf was proclaimed King of Denmark with his mother Margrethe acting as Regent of Denmark because of her son’s young age.

The ruins of St. Mary’s Church in Oslo where King Haakon VI was buried; Credit – By Grzegorz Wysocki Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2827853

Haakon never stopped attempting to reclaim the Swedish throne. He was exhausted by the constant warfare and the conflict with his cousin Albert of Mecklenburg who had been King of Sweden since 1364. On September 11, 1380, forty-year-old King Haakon VI of Norway died in Oslo, Norway, and was buried at St. Mary’s Church in Oslo which now lies in ruins. Haakon’s ten-year-old son Olaf, King of Denmark was now also King of Norway, and his mother Margrethe, Regent of Denmark, was also Regent of Norway. With Olaf’s accession to the throne of Norway, 434 years of a Danish-Norwegian union began.

On August 3, 1387, Haakon and Margrethe’s sixteen-year-old son Olaf II, King of Denmark/Olaf IV, King of Norway died. During her son’s reign, Margrethe had been a very capable Regent of Denmark and Norway. After her son’s death, she used all her diplomatic skills and was named Queen of Denmark on August 10, 1387, and Queen of Norway on February 2, 1388. Margrethe joined forces with the Swedish nobles who rose against the unpopular King Albert of Sweden, Haakon’s cousin who had taken the Swedish throne in 1364, when he attempted to reduce the land holdings of the Swedish nobility. At a meeting at Dalaborg Castle in Sweden in March 1388, the Swedish nobles proclaimed Margrethe to be Sweden’s “sovereign lady and rightful ruler”. Margrethe sent troops to Sweden and on February 24, 1389, they defeated King Albert of Sweden at the Battle of Åsle, something that Haakon had never been able to do.

Margrethe was now the reigning Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. She was the founder of the Kalmar Union which united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under a single monarch from 1397 – 1523. Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden was called “the first great ruling queen in European history” by Norwegian-American author, historian, and college professor Knut Gjerset. Because Queen Margrethe I had no living children, she adopted her great-nephew Eric of Pomerania. When Eric came of age, he was declared co-ruler in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, however, Margrethe remained the effective ruler of all three kingdoms for the remainder of her life. Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden survived her husband by thirty-two years, dying on October 28, 1412, aged fifty-nine. She was interred in Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsytere til Wikimedia-prosjektene. (2004). Konge av Sverige og Norge. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%A5kon_VI_Magnusson
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/margrethe-i-queen-of-denmark-norway-and-sweden-2/
  • Magnus IV of Sweden. (2023). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_IV_of_Sweden
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Blanche of Namur. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Haakon VI. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

Effigy of Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

I first came across Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden in 2011, when I visited Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark, the burial site of most Danish monarchs and their spouses. Her tomb there with its beautiful effigy and wonderful carvings is my favorite royal tomb. The founder of the Kalmar Union which united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under a single monarch from 1397 – 1523, Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden was called “the first great ruling queen in European history” by Norwegian-American author, historian, and college professor Knut Gjerset.

Margrethe held various titles at certain points during her life:

  • Queen Consort of Sweden: 1363 – 1364
  • Queen Consort of Norway: 1363 – 1380
  • Regent of Denmark (for her son): 1376 – 1387
  • Regent of Norway (for her son): 1380 – 1387
  • Sovereign Queen of Denmark: 1387 – 1412
  • Sovereign Queen of Norway: 1388 – 1412
  • Sovereign Queen of Sweden: 1389 – 1412

Margrethe’s father Valdemar IV, King of Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

The youngest of the six children and the youngest of the four daughters of Valdemar IV, King of Denmark and Helvig of Schleswig, Margrethe was born in March 1353 in Søborg Castle in Denmark.

Margrethe had five elder siblings but at the time of her birth, three siblings had died.

Margrethe’s mother Queen Helvig; Credit – Wikipedia

Margrethe grew up at her father’s court at his many castles including Copenhagen Castle, Søborg Castle, Vordingborg Castle, Kalundborg Castle, Roskilde Castle, and his hunting seat Gurre Castle. In 1355, Margrethe’s mother Queen Helvig entered Esrum Abbey as a lay sister after being replaced by her husband’s mistress Tove. Queen Helvig died circa 1374 and was buried at Esrum Abbey.

Seal of King Haakon VI of Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1359, King Valdemar IV of Denmark betrothed his six-year-old daughter Margrethe to eighteen-year-old King Haakon VI of Norway, a younger son of Magnus Eriksson, King of Norway and Sweden, as part of an alliance treaty. Margrethe and King Haakon VI were married at Copenhagen Cathedral in Denmark on April 9, 1363.

When Margrethe’s husband Haakon was born, his father Magnus Eriksson, King of Norway and Sweden decided to divide his kingdoms between his sons. The elder son Eric was designated to succeed his father as King of Sweden, while Haakon would become King of Norway. By 1343, three-year-old Haakon had become King of Norway. Opposition to Magnus’ rule in Norway led to an agreement between Magnus and the Norwegian nobles. In violation of the Norwegian laws on royal inheritance, Haakon would become King of Norway, with Magnus as regent during his minority. In 1344, five-year-old Eric was formally elected King of Sweden and co-reigned with his father. Three years after Eric died in 1359, Haakon became co-ruler of Sweden with his father. The two reigned over Sweden together until 1364, when they were deposed in favor of Magnus’ nephew, Albert III, Duke of Mecklenburg by a group of exiled Swedish noblemen. Magnus and Haakon tried to retake the Swedish throne but were unsuccessful.

Akershus Fortress in Oslo, Norway where Margrethe spent the early years of her marriage; Credit – By Ghirlandajo – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42021733

Ten-year-old Margrethe remained in Denmark for some time after the wedding. Eventually, she moved to Norway and lived primarily at Akershus Fortress in Oslo. Margrethe was too young for the marriage to be consummated. Her governess was Swedish noblewoman Merete Ulvsdatter, a daughter of Saint Birgitta of Sweden. Margrethe was raised with Merte Ulvsdatter’s daughters Ingegerd and Katrine, who became her closest friends. She spent her time getting acclimated to Norway and preparing for her duties as Queen Consort.

Margrethe and Haakon VI had one son who was born at Akershus Fortress in Oslo, Norway:

Margrethe’s son Olaf who was King of Denmark and King of Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

Margrethe’s father Valdemar IV, King of Denmark died on October 24, 1375, and Margrethe was the only survivor of his six children. It was expected that Duke Albert IV of Mecklenburg, the son of Ingeborg of Denmark, Valdemar IV’s eldest child who survived childhood and had children,  would claim the Danish throne. However, Margrethe managed to win over the Danish royal council by offering them lucrative grants and agreements. She also won the support of the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive network of merchant guilds and market towns in central and northern Europe, which did not want the House of Mecklenburg to gain power in Denmark. On May 3, 1376, Margrethe’s five-year-old son Olaf was proclaimed King of Denmark with his mother Margrethe acting as Regent of Denmark because of her son’s young age. A little more than four years later, on September 11, 1380, Margrethe’s husband King Haakon VI of Norway died. Their ten-year-old son Olaf was now also King of Norway, and his mother Margrethe was also Regent of Norway. With Olaf’s accession to the throne of Norway, 434 years of a Danish-Norwegian union began.

On August 3, 1387, Margrethe’s sixteen-year-old son Olaf II, King of Denmark/Olaf IV, King of Norway died. He was buried at Sorø Abbey, a Benedictine Abbey on the island of Zealand in Denmark, where Margrethe’s father King Valdemar IV of Denmark was buried. There were unproven rumors that Olaf was poisoned. In 2015, Jørgen Lange Thomsen, a forensic scientist, proposed a theory Olaf died from Brugada Syndrome, a genetic disorder. See Copenhagen Post: Mystery of Danish king deaths fosters new theory.

During her son’s reign, Margrethe had been a very capable Regent of Denmark and Norway. After her son’s death, she used all her diplomatic skills and was named Queen of Denmark on August 10, 1387, and Queen of Norway on February 2, 1388. Margrethe joined forces with the Swedish nobles who rose against the unpopular King Albert of Sweden, Haakon’s cousin who had taken the Swedish throne in 1364, when he attempted to reduce the land holdings of the Swedish nobility. At a meeting at Dalaborg Castle in Sweden in March 1388, the Swedish nobles proclaimed Margrethe to be Sweden’s “sovereign lady and rightful ruler”. Margrethe sent troops to Sweden and on February 24, 1389, they defeated King Albert of Sweden at the Battle of Åsle.

Statue of Queen Margrethe I and her great-nephew Eric of Pomerania in Viborg, Denmark; Credit – By Oleryhlolsson – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86745447

Because Queen Margrethe I had no living children, she adopted her great-nephew Eric of Pomerania (Unofficial Royalty article coming). When Eric came of age, he was declared co-ruler in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, however, Margarethe remained the effective ruler of all three kingdoms for the remainder of her life.

Margrethe devised the Kalmar Union, a personal union from 1397 to 1523, in which a single monarch ruled the three kingdoms of Denmark, Sweden (then including much of present-day Finland), and Norway, together with Norway’s overseas colonies (then including Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland).

Margrethe was in constant conflict with the neighboring Duchy of Schleswig. In 1412, Margrethe successfully took the border city of Flensburg, then in the Duchy of Schleswig, now in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. In October 1412, Margrethe and her co-ruler and great-nephew Eric set sail to Flensburg to have the local citizens swear an oath of loyalty to them. After attending several meetings, Margrethe boarded her ship docked in the Flensburg harbor intending to set sail back to Denmark. However, she suddenly became violently ill. Suspecting that she was dying, Margrethe ordered thirty-seven marks to be paid to a nearby monastery for perpetual Masses for her soul. On October 28, 1412, 59-year-old Margrethe died aboard her ship docked in Flensburg harbor. Several possible causes of Margrethe’s death have been discussed over the years including the bubonic plague and poisoning by her co-ruler and great-nephew Eric, who became sole King of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden when Margrethe died.

Roskilde Cathedral where Queen Margrethe I is buried; Photo Credit © Susan Flantzer

Queen Margrethe I wished to be buried at Sorø Abbey, a Benedictine abbey on the island of Zealand in Denmark where her father King Valdemar IV of Denmark and her son Olaf II, King of Denmark/Olaf IV, King of Norway were buried. In 1413, the year after she died, Peder Jensen Lodehat, Bishop of Roskilde ordered her remains to be transferred to Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark, probably to give Roskilde Cathedral greater importance. There were several earlier royal burials at Roskilde Cathedral. Harald Bluetooth, King of Denmark and Norway (died circa 985 – 986), who introduced Christianity to Denmark, was buried at the Holy Trinity Church, the wooden, first church on the site where Roskilde Cathedral now stands. His son Sweyn Forkbeard, King of Denmark, Norway, and England (963 – 1014) was first buried in England and his remains were later moved to Denmark where they were interred near his father at the Holy Trinity Church. However, their tombs have never been found. Sweyn II Ertridsen, King of Denmark (1019 – 1076) was interred in the southeastern pier of Roskilde Cathedral. A pier is similar to a column and is designed to support arches.

Tomb of Margrethe I; Photo Credit © Susan Flantzer

Queen Margrethe I was interred in a sarcophagus behind the high altar. Her beautiful sarcophagus was made by German sculptor Johannes Junge (link in German) in 1423. The sarcophagus is made of black marble. On the sarcophagus is a life-sized effigy of Queen Margrethe I made of white alabaster. The reliefs on the sides of the sarcophagus are also made of white alabaster. Margrethe left property to Roskilde Cathedral on the condition that Masses for her soul would be said regularly in the future. This was discontinued in 1536 during the Protestant Reformation although a special bell is still rung twice daily in memory of Queen Margrethe I.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Autoren der Wikimedia-Projekte. (2006). Margarethe I. (1353-1412). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margarethe_I.
  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2003). Margarete I Regent af Danmark 1375-1412. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margrete_1.
  • Flantzer, Susan. Danish Royal Burial Sites. (2012). Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/royal-burial-sites/danish-royal-burial-sites/
  • ‌Flantzer, Susan. (2025). Olaf II, King of Denmark/Olaf IV, King of Norway. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/olaf-ii-king-of-denmark-olav-iv-king-of-norway/
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2021). Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/roskilde-cathedral-in-roskilde-denmark/
  • Margaret I of Denmark. (2023). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_I_of_Denmark
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Haakon VI. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Olaf II, King of Denmark/Olav IV, King of Norway

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

Olaf II, King of Denmark/Olaf IV, King of Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

Olaf II, King of Denmark from 1376 to 1387, and also Olaf IV, King of Norway from 1380 to 1387, was the only child of two sovereigns, King Haakon VI of Norway and Sweden and the future Queen Margrethe I of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. He was born in 1370 at the Akershus Fortress in Oslo, Norway. Olaf’s paternal grandparents were Magnus Eriksson, King of Norway and Sweden and Blanche of Namur. His maternal grandparents were Valdemar IV, King of Denmark and Helvig of Schleswig.

Olaf’s very capable mother Margrethe of Denmark, later Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Olaf’s maternal grandfather Valdemar IV, King of Denmark died on October 24, 1375. Valdemar IV had two sons and four daughters but all had predeceased him except his youngest daughter Margrethe, Olaf’s mother. It was expected that Duke Albert IV of Mecklenburg, the son of Valdemar IV’s eldest child (who survived childhood and had children) Ingeborg of Denmark would claim the Danish throne. However, Margrethe managed to win over the Danish royal council by offering them lucrative grants and agreements. She also won the support of the Hanseatic League, a commercial and defensive network of merchant guilds and market towns in central and northern Europe, which did not want the House of Mecklenburg to gain power in Denmark. On May 3, 1376, five-year-old Olaf was proclaimed King of Denmark with his mother Margrethe acting as Regent of Denmark because of her son’s young age from May 3, 1376, until his early death on August 3, 1387.

A little more than four years later, on September 11, 1380, Olaf’s father King Haakon VI of Norway died. Ten-year-old Olaf was now also King of Norway, and his mother Margrethe was also Regent of Norway. With Olaf’s accession to the throne of Norway, 434 years of a Danish-Norwegian union began. After Olaf, no King of Norway would be born on Norwegian soil for 567 years, until King Harald V, born in 1937, became King of Norway in 1991.

Remains of the tombstone of King Olaf II at Sorø Abbey; Credit – Von Orf3us – Eigenes Werk, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16134679

On August 3, 1387, at Falsterbohus in Falsterbo, Sweden, Olaf II, King of Denmark/Olaf IV, King of Norway died, aged sixteen years old. He was buried at Sorø Abbey, a Benedictine Abbey on the island of Zealand in Denmark. There were unproven rumors that Olaf was poisoned. In 2015, Jørgen Lange Thomsen, a forensic scientist, proposed a theory Olaf II died from Brugada Syndrome, a genetic disorder. See Copenhagen Post: Mystery of Danish king deaths fosters new theory.

After her son’s death, Margrethe, who had been a very capable Regent of Denmark and Norway, reigned as Queen Margrethe I of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden for twenty-five years. She was the founder of the Kalmar Union in which Denmark, Sweden, and Norway were ruled together under one monarch from 1397 until 1523 when Sweden seceded and became its own kingdom.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsytere til Wikimedia-prosjektene. (2005). Konge av Danmark og Norge. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olav_H%C3%A5konsson
  • Margaret I of Denmark. (2023). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_I_of_Denmark
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Olaf II of Denmark. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olaf_II_of_Denmark

Pascua Militar – January 6 – Spain

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

King Juan Carlos I (reigned 1975 – 2014, abdicated) inspecting the troops during the 2009 Pascua Militar; Credit – By Fermín R.F. – Pascua Militar – Rey Juan Carlos IUploaded by ecemaml, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6448247

The Pascua Militar is an annual military event that takes place every January 6. It marks the beginning of the military year and Epiphany, a Spanish national and Christian religious holiday that celebrates the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child. Epiphany is also called El Día de Reyes (Three Kings Day) in Spanish-speaking countries.

History

King Carlos III of Spain; Credit – Wikipedia

King Carlos III of Spain (reigned 1759 – 1788) established this holiday to commemorate the recapture from the British of the island of Minorca in the Mediterranean Sea. The recapture was carried out from August 19, 1781 to February 5, 1782 by a French-Spanish fleet of 52 ships and the Spanish Navy Marines.

As a celebration of joy over the victory, King Carlos III ordered the Viceroys, Captain Generals, Governors, and military commanders to gather their forces on January 6, 1783, the Feast of the Epiphany, and offer congratulations on his behalf. Over the years, Pascua Militar has evolved from a historical event to a solemn and important military event, summing up the military events of the previous year and setting the course for the next year. Military decorations given to civilians and members of the Armed Forces are awarded on this day.

What Happens?

The Princess of Asturias, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia

On January 6, 2024, King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and the heir to the throne, Infanta Leonor, The Princess of Asturias presided over the ceremonies related to Pascua Militar. This was the first time Leonor attended the Pascua Militar. She attended not just as the heir to the Spanish throne but also as a member of the Armed Forces. In 2023, after Leonor graduated from the UWC Atlantic College in the Llantwit Major, Wales, she started her military training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza in preparation for her future role as Spain’s commander-in-chief. In August 2024, Leonor started her naval training at the Naval Military Academy in Marín.

King Felipe VI wore the Lieutenant Colonel Uniform with the Neck Badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Sash of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild, and his other honors. The Princess of Asturias wore a uniform with the Badge of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Sash of the Order of Carlos III.

The Princess of Asturias, Queen Letizia, and King Felipe are greeted by officials. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is on the left.

The Spanish monarch, his/her spouse, and other royal family members are greeted by the Prime Minister of Spain and the Chiefs of the Spanish Army, the Spanish Air and Space Force, the Spanish Navy, the Spanish Royal Guard, and the Spanish Military Emergencies Unit in the courtyard of the Royal Palace in Madrid.

King Felipe V reviewing the troops

After the Spanish National Anthem and a 21-gun salute, the Spanish monarch reviews the troops in formation accompanied by the Chief of Defense Staff, the Chief of the Military Quarter, and the Chief Colonel of the Royal Guard.

The Princess of Asturias, King Felipe VI, and Queen Letizia greet people in the Throne Room

In the Throne Room of the Royal Palace, the Spanish Monarch awards military honors and then gives a speech. On January 6, 2024, King Felipe VI said:

“This celebration is not just another one for the Crown. It is the 10th Pascua Militar that I have the honor of presiding over and it happily coincides with the fact that for the first time, the Princess of Asturias accompanies us, who, as a Cadet of the General Military Academy, has started her military training plan this year. So along with the Queen and the Princess, and as Supreme Commander, I am happy to convey my congratulations and annual recognition to the members of the Armed Forces and the Civil Guard, to the members of the National Intelligence Center, and to the group of men and women, civil and military, who, in the Ministry or in any field, serve the Defense and National Security. The year 2023 has proven to be a very demanding period, in which, together with the development of the permanent missions with which you ensure the sovereignty and independence of Spain, you have continued to carry out a long list of tasks within the strategic objectives established in international missions. The sincere and deep affection of the Crown towards those of you who are part of the Armed Forces, the Civil Guard, and the National Intelligence Center, because, by offering a life of sacrificial and selfless service to others, you are a good reflection of the nobility of the Spanish people.”

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Ceremonia militar española celebrada anualmente en la que el Rey recibe a altos cargos militares. (2007).  Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascua_Militar
  • El País. (2024). La Pascua Militar 2024 con los Reyes y la Princesa Leonor, en imágenes. El País. https://elpais.com/espana/2024-01-06/la-pascua-militar-con-los-reyes-y-la-princesa-leonor-en-imagenes.html
  • Enfrentamiento entre una coalición hispano-francesa contra las tropas inglesas que poseían la isla de Menorca. (2009). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toma_de_Menorca_(1782)
  • Inicio – Actividades y Agenda – Pascua Militar. (2019). Casareal.es. https://www.casareal.es/GL/Actividades/Paginas/actividades_actividades_detalle.aspx?data=15978
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Invasion of Minorca (1781). Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Pascua Militar. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Akershus Fortress in Oslo, Norway

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2025

Akershus Fortress; Credit – By Ghirlandajo – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=42021733

Note: Denmark, Sweden, and Norway were ruled together under one monarch (Kalmar Union) from 1397 until 1523 when Sweden seceded and became its own kingdom. From 1450 to 1814, Denmark and Norway were in a union of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway. From 1814 – 1905, Norway and Sweden were in a personal union of separate kingdoms under a common monarch. In 1905, Norway withdrew from the union and became its own kingdom.

History of the Akershus Fortress

The Castle at Akershus Fortress; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

Akershus Fortress, which this writer has visited, was built as a royal residence and a fortress to protect the city of Oslo. Although it is no longer a royal residence, the Royal Mausoleum at the Akershus Fortress is the burial place of several Norwegian royals, including the two most recent deceased monarchs and their spouses. Akershus Fortress is still a military fortress under a commander. The Norwegian Ministry of Defence has its headquarters at the fortress. After the terrorist attacks on July 22, 2011, the Prime Minister’s Office has been located in the Armed Forces Command Building at Akershus Fortress. His Majesty The King’s Guard has permanent sentry duty at Akershus Fortress and is responsible for guarding the fortress.

The name Akerhus comes from the Old Norse ákr, which means field, and hus, which means house. Aker was originally the name of the farm on the isthmus where the fortress was built. Akershus Fortress’ construction began around the late 1290s by King Haakon V of Norway. After Norwegian nobleman Earl Alv Erlingsson of Sarpsborg attacked Oslo in 1287, it became clear that a stronger defense of the city was needed.

Akershus Fortress in the Middle Ages; Credit – Wikipedia

Akershus Fortress has successfully survived all sieges, mostly by Swedish forces, including King Karl XII of Sweden who invaded Norway in 1716 with a force of 7,000. He occupied the capital of Christiania, as Oslo was then known, and laid siege to the Akershus Fortress. However, King Karl XII did not have enough siege cannons to defeat the Norwegian forces inside the fortress. He was forced to retreat after a significant loss of soldiers and weapons.

Although Akershus Fortress has never been successfully besieged, it surrendered without combat to Nazi Germany in 1940 when the Norwegian government evacuated Oslo after unprovoked German attacks on Denmark and Norway. During the Nazi occupation, people were executed at the fortress by the Germans. After the fortress was liberated in 1945, eight Norwegian traitors who were tried and convicted of war crimes were executed at the fortress including Vidkun Quisling and Siegfried Fehmer.

King Haakon V of Norway (reigned 1299 – 1319) and his wife Euphemia of Rügen began to use Akershus Fortress as a royal residence which played a significant role in moving the capital of the Kingdom of Norway from Bergen to Oslo in 1300. Others who lived at Akershus Fortress during the Middle Ages include Princess Ingeborg, daughter of King Eric II of Norway, and Margrethe of Denmark, the future Queen Margrethe I of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. After her marriage in 1363 to eighteen-year-old King Haakon VI of Norway, ten-year-old Margrethe of Denmark, lived primarily at Akershus Fortress in Oslo. Margrethe was too young for the marriage to be consummated. Her governess was Swedish noblewoman Merete Ulvsdatter, a daughter of Saint Birgitta of Sweden. Margrethe was raised with Merte Ulvsdatter’s daughters Ingegerd and Katrine, who became her closest friends. She spent her time getting acclimated to Norway and preparing for her duties as Queen Consort. Her only child Olaf II, King of Denmark/Olaf IV, King of Norway was born at Akershus Fortress.

On August 17, 1624, a fire began in Oslo, lasting for three days and destroying almost the entire city. Following the 1624 fire, King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway decided to rebuild the city with better protection against fire and relocate it closer to Akershus Fortress. King Christian IV came to Oslo to oversee his plan. On September 27, 1624, Christian IV’s new city was officially founded and named Christiania in his honor. In 1925, the city returned to its former name, Oslo.

During the city’s reconstruction, Akershus Fortress was modernized and remodeled, giving it the appearance of a Renaissance castle with bastioned ramparts. Until the beginning of the 19th century, Akershus Fortress was used as a royal palace with new towers, halls, chambers, and gates added over the years.

Because Norway was in unions with Denmark and/or Sweden over the years, the kings moved around to their kingdoms. When the king was absent from Norway, Akershus Fortress was the seat of the Steward of Norway who acted as the head of the government during the monarch’s absence.

The ongoing restoration work on Akershus Fortress was extensive and lasted from the turn of the century until 1960. In the early years, the restoration concentrated on repairing basic damage to walls, basements, floors, and roof structures. In 1929, Norwegian architect Arnstein Rynning Arneberg began serving as the executive restoration architect in collaboration with other architects. Major renovations and maintenance work continued until completion in 1960, only interrupted by World War II in 1940 – 1945. Since the restoration, Akershus Fortress has been used frequently as the venue for official events and dinners for dignitaries and foreign heads of state.

The Royal Mausoleum

The Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Fortress; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

With a few exceptions, burial sites and/or remains of Norwegian monarchs before 1380 have disappeared. Nearly all Norwegian monarchs between 1380 and 1905 are buried in other countries. During this period, Norwegian monarchs were also monarchs of Denmark and/or Sweden and were buried at Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark; Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm, Sweden; St. Peter’s Cathedral in Schleswig, Germany; and St. Mary’s Church now in Darłowo, Poland.

Within the walls of the Akershus Fortress is the Royal Mausoleum, a small burial chapel designed by Norwegian architect Arnstein Rynning Arneberg and completed in 1948. An altar designed by Norwegian artist Henrik Sørensen is in a niche. Before I visited Akershus Fortress, I could tell from photographs that the Royal Mausoleum was small, but when I visited, I was surprised at just how small it was. One could have walked right past it and not even noticed it.

White tomb of King Haakon VII and Queen Maud on the left and green tomb of their son King Olav V and his wife Princess Märtha of Sweden, Crown Princess of Norway on the right; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

In the mausoleum behind a gate are two sarcophagi. King Haakon VII of Norway (1872 – 1957) and his wife Queen Maud of Norway (1869 – 1938) are interred in the white sarcophagus and their son King Olav V of Norway (1903 – 1991) and his wife Crown Princess Märtha of Norway, Princess Märtha of Sweden (1901 – 1954), who died before her husband became king, are interred in the green sarcophagus. Arnstein Rynning Arneberg designed both sarcophagi.

The grave marker of King Sigurd I of Norway; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

The remains of King Sigurd I of Norway (circa 1090 – 1130), originally buried at the Old Cathedral in Oslo, King Haakon V of Norway (1270 – 1319), the original builder of Akershus Fortress, and his second wife Queen Euphemia (circa 1280 – 1312), both originally buried at St. Mary’s Church in Oslo, were transferred from their original burial places to the Royal Mausoleum where they are interred in crypts in the wall outside the Royal Mausoleum.

The grave marker of King Haakon V of Norway and his second wife Queen Euphemia; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

Other Areas of Akershus Fortress

Akershus Fortress is an impressive structure, inside and outside. Here are some photographs of the interior.

The Castle Church; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

Olav V Hall: Probably the location of the Great Hall of the medieval castle; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

Margrethe Hall: Named for Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden – In the Middle Ages, it was the primary living room for the court. Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

The Prince’s Chamber was originally part of the royal apartments;  Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

Romerike Hall: Named for the Romerike peasants who repaired this wing after a fire in 1527. In the 17th century, the Steward of Norway had offices here. Today the Romerike Hall is used for official banquets. Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Akershus Fortress. (2023). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akershus_Fortress
  • Bidragsydere til Wikimedia-projekter. (2006). Akershus slot. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akershus_slot
  • Bidragsytere til Wikimedia-prosjektene. (2004). bygningskompleks i Oslo. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akershus_slott_og_festning
  • Discover Kvadraturen | Discover the Square. (2024). Discover Kvadraturen. https://www.oppdagkvadraturen.no/en/
  • Visitor Guide Akershus Castle. (2022). Digitaltmuseum.no. https://digitaltmuseum.no/0211811930788/visitor-guide-akershus-castle

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg to Abdicate

© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg; Credit – Wikipedia

In his Christmas Eve speech on December 24, 2024, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg announced that he would abdicate in favor of his eldest son Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg on October 3, 2025. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has a history of abdications. On November 12, 1964, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg signed the declaration of abdication after a reign that lasted nearly 46 years. Her eldest son became the new reigning Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg. On October 7, 2000, Grand Duke Jean abdicated in favor of his eldest son Grand Duke Henri.

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg was born on April 16, 1955, in Betzdorf Castle in Luxembourg. He is the eldest son and the second of the five children of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. Henri married María Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla civilly at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City on February 4, 1981, and religiously on February 14, 1981, at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City. The couple had five children.

Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg; Credit – Maison du Grand-Duc / Sophie Margue

Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg was born on November 11, 1981, at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. As the eldest son, Guillaume became Hereditary Grand Duke in 2000 when his father acceded to the throne upon the abdication of Grand Duke Jean. Prince Guillaume married Countess Stéphanie de Lanoy in a civil ceremony at the City Hall in Luxembourg City, on October 19, 2012. Their religious wedding took place on October 20, 2012, at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City.

Prince Charles of Luxembourg with his parents in 2023

Guillaume and Stéphanie have two sons. Their elder son Prince Charles of Luxembourg, born  May 10, 2020, will become the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg when his father becomes the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

Read more about the Luxembourg Grand Ducal Family at Unofficial Royalty: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Index.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

National Day of Sweden – June 6 – Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Swedish National Day Celebration at Skansen, an open-air museum in Stockholm, Sweden in 2016; Credit – Av Bengt Nyman – Eget arbete, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49299826

History

Skansen Entrance Building; Credit – By Pwagenblast – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31962088

The idea of a national day started at Skansen, an open-air museum in Stockholm, Sweden, still in existence (which this author has been fortunate to visit), designed to show the way of life in the different parts of Sweden before the industrial era. On June 6, 1893, Skansen had its spring festival and chose to celebrate the day in a nationalist spirit. The celebration was the idea of Artur Hazelius, a teacher, scholar, folklorist, and founder of the Nordic Museum and Skansen.

Gustav I Vasa, King of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Two historic events occurred on June 6. Gustav Vasa was elected King of Sweden on June 6, 1523. The 1809 Instrument of Government was adopted on June 6, 1809, by the Riksdag (the Swedish legislature) and King Carl XIII of Sweden. It was the constitution of the Kingdom of Sweden from 1809 until it was replaced by the Instrument of Government of 1974.

After the celebration on June 6, 1893, Artur Hazelius wrote in Skansen’s yearbook for 1893 that “just as the holiday of patriotic memories has been introduced at Skansen on June 6, Gustafsdagen, which has been celebrated there and will henceforth be celebrated as Swedish national day”. In 1894, a Swedish newspaper wrote that June 6 “like last year will be celebrated as Swedish National Day”. However, it took a long time before June 6 gained status as a national day. In 1916, June 6 became the Swedish Flag Day, celebrating Sweden acquiring its own flag following the dissolution of the  United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway in 1905.

In 1983, June 6 was named Swedish National Day by the Riksdag, the Swedish legislature. It became a public holiday in 2005 replacing Whit Monday. This change led to fewer days off from work because June 6 will periodically fall on the weekend, unlike Whit Monday, which was always celebrated on a Monday.

What Happens on Swedish National Day?

Swedish National Day Celebration at the Royal Palace in Stockholm; Credit – By Frankie Fouganthin – Own work CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39867164

Swedish National Day celebrations are subdued. There are no fireworks or spectacular national events. It is the day that Swedes celebrate their nationality. At a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, new Swedish citizens receive their certificate of citizenship and are welcomed by the Swedish monarch. However, most new Swedish citizens receive their certificate of citizenship during Swedish National Day ceremonies in their towns.

Though the celebrations are subdued, an annual event occurs at Skansen, the open-air museum in Stockholm. Children present the Swedish monarch and his/her spouse with flowers, and then the flag is raised. The royal family attends celebrations, which include traditional folk dancing, flag-making, history lectures, performances, and much more.

King Carl XVI and Queen Silvia visit Strängnäs on Swedish National Day, June 6, 2023

During the day, the Swedish monarch and his/her spouse usually visit a city and participate in the National Day events. In 2023, King Carl XVI and Queen Silvia visited the city of Strängnäs to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the day on which Gustav Vasa was elected King of Sweden in Strängnäs in 1523.

Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Estelle, Prince Oscar, and Prince Daniel welcome visitors to the Royal Palace in Stockholm on June 6, 2023; Photo by PELLE T NILSSON/Swedish Press Agency

Crown Princess Victoria and her family usually welcome visitors to the Royal Palace in Stockholm, which has free admission on Sweden’s National Day. During the day, the public also had the opportunity to visit Logården (the Royal Palace’s garden) and the Bernadotte Library, which are normally closed to visitors.

Changing of the Guard in the Outer Courtyard of the Royal Palace in Stockholm on June 6, 2023; Credit – Photo by PELLE T NILSSON/Swedish Press Agency

Prince Carl Philip usually attends the changing of the guard in the Outer Courtyard at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. After the changing of the guard, twenty-one gun salutes are fired from Skeppsholmen, Kastellholmen, and HMS Kullen, a minesweeper in the Swedish Navy.

King Carl XVI Gustaf & Queen Silvia arrive at Skansen on June 6, 2023. Photo: Clément Morin

The Royal Family, wearing traditional dress, travels by horse-drawn carriages to watch the National Day celebrations on the Solliden Stage at Skansen. Children dress up in peasant outfits and present bouquets containing blue and yellow flowers to the Swedish monarch and his/her spouse. During the celebrations, the Swedish monarch presents banners to various associations. The Swedish flag is raised and activities include folk dancing, flag-making, and historical performances.

National Day reception at the Nordic Museum on June 6, 2023. Photo: Clément Morin

In the evening, there is a National Day reception and a Military Tatoo. In 2023, to mark the 500th anniversary of Gustav Vasa’s election as King of Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia invited representatives from the Government, the Riksdag (the Swedish legislature), the diplomatic corps, and other officials to a National Day Reception at the Nordic Museum. The evening concluded with a military tattoo at the Nordic Museum.

Military Tatoo on June 6, 2023; Photo: Clément Morin

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • National Day Calendar. (2019). NATIONAL DAY OF SWEDEN – June 6. National Day Calendar. https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/international/national-day-of-sweden-june-6
  • National Day of Sweden. (2020). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Sweden
  • Sveriges nationaldag. (2020, November 25). Wikipedia. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sveriges_nationaldag
  • Sweden’s National Day 2022. (2022). Kungahuset.se. https://www.kungahuset.se/english/archive/news/2022-06-06-swedens-national-day-2022
  • Sweden’s National Day 2023. (2023). Kungahuset.se. https://www.kungahuset.se/english/archive/news/2023-06-06-swedens-national-day-2023

Princess Birgitta of Sweden – Funeral and Burial Information

Princess Birgitta of Sweden, Princess of Hohenzollern; Credit: Wikipedia

The funeral of Princess Birgitta of Sweden, Princess of Hohenzollern sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, will be held on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at the Royal Chapel at Drottningholm Palace in Ekerö Municipality, Sweden followed by the burial at the Royal Burial Ground in Haga Park in Solna, Sweden. In accordance with Princess Birgitta’s wishes, the funeral and burial will take place in the circle of family and special invitees.

Princess Birgitta, the second of the four elder sisters of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, died, aged 87, on December 4, 2024, in Majorca, Spain, where she lived. She is the first of the five siblings to die. Born January 19, 1937, at the Haga Palace in Solna, Sweden, Princess Birgitta was the second of the five children and the second of the four daughters of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Sadly, her father Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten died in an airplane crash in 1947, when Princess Birgitta was ten years old. Princess Birgitta was the widow of Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern. They had three children and six grandchildren.