Category Archives: Swedish Royals

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland was born at the Royal Palace of Stockholm on May 13, 1979. He is the only son and the second of the three children of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and his wife Queen Silvia (née Silvia Sommerlath).

Carl Philip has an older and a younger sister:

In 1979, the Riksdag, the Swedish legislature, introduced an Act of Succession that changed the succession to absolute primogeniture, meaning that the eldest child of the monarch, regardless of gender, is first in the line of succession. This Act of Succession became law on January 1, 1980, making Sweden the first country to adopt absolute primogeniture. The previous 1810 Act of Succession allowed for only males to inherit the throne. Carl Philip had been born Crown Prince and retained his title and first place in the succession for seven months until January 1, 1980, when his elder sister Victoria became Crown Princess and heir apparent.

Prince Carl Philip was christened at the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on August 31, 1979. He was given the names Carl Philip Edmund Bertil and his godparents were:

Christening of Prince Carl Philip; Credit – sunnygirl2.blogspot.com

Prince Carl Philip attended Västerled Parish Preschool in Stockholm, Sweden from 1984-86. He then attended Smedslättsskolan in Bromma a municipal elementary school in the district Smedslätten in Bromma, Stockholm, where he completed his junior level. Next, Carl Philip attended Ålstenskolan, a municipal elementary school in the district Ålsten in Bromma, Stockholm, and completed the intermediate level.

The prince then attended Enskilda Gymnasiet, a prestigious independent secondary school in Tegnérlunden, in central Stockholm.  In 1994, Carl Philip moved to the United States for two years to attend Kent School in Kent, Connecticut, USA. Upon returning to Sweden, he followed a science program at Lundbergs Upper Secondary School in Värmland, Sweden, graduating in 1999.

Prince Carl Philip completed a two-year course in Graphic Design at Forsbergs School of Graphic Design in Stockholm in May 2006. He continued his studies with an internship at the National Geographic Society in Washington D.C., USA, during the autumn of 2006. Carl Philip then studied at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island, USA where he participated in a competition to create the best logo for Martha’s Vineyard Museum in Massachusetts. He won the competition in the spring of 2008 with a proposal that he submitted under a pseudonym.

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Prince Carl Philip’s award-winning logo; Photo Credit: Resume.se

In 2009, Carl Philip began his studies at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp, Sweden, and graduated in 2012 with a diploma in Agricultural and Rural Management.

Prince Carl Philip completed his military service in the Swedish Navy with the Amphibious Battalion of Vaxholm’s Coast Artillery Regiment and is trained as a combat boat commander. In 2001-2002, he completed a naval officer training course. He was promoted to midshipman and then was promoted to the rank of sub-lieutenant in 2004. In 2007 and 2008 he went to the Swedish National Defense College and was promoted the rank of captain in the Swedish Navy.

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Carl Philip in naval uniform; Photo: Swedish Royal Court

In April 2010, Prince Carl Philip was linked in the press with model Sofia Hellqvist, and in August 2010, the Swedish Royal Court confirmed the relationship.

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Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist; Photo: Swedish Royal Court

On June 27, 2014, the couple’s engagement was announced and the wedding took place on June 13, 2015, at the Royal Chapel in the Royal Palace of Stockholm.

photo: Mattias Edwall/Swedish Royal Court

photo: Mattias Edwall/Swedish Royal Court

On October 15, 2015, the Swedish Royal Court announced that Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia were expecting their first child.  In early April 2016, Carl Philip and Sofia moved from their apartment on Djurgården to Sjoflygeln (Lake Wing) on the grounds of Drottningholm Palace.

source: Swedish Royal Court

Carl Philip and Sofia with their first son Alexander – source: Swedish Royal Court

Carl Philip and Sofia have three sons:

  • Prince Alexander, Duke of Södermanland (born 2016)
  • Prince Gabriel, Duke of Dalarna (born 2017)
  • Prince Julian, Duke of Halland (born 2021)

On October 7, 2019, the Swedish Royal Court announced that King Carl XVI Gustaf had decided to make changes regarding the children of his son Prince Carl Philip and his daughter Princess Madeleine. At birth, the children of Carl Philip and Madeleine were styled as Royal Highness and were members of The Royal House. As of October 7, 2019, their children would no longer be members of The Royal House but would continue to be members of The Royal Family. Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel, Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas, and Princess Adrienne would no longer enjoy the style of Royal Highness but they would retain their titles of Duke and Duchess previously granted by King Carl XVI Gustaf. They will remain in the line of succession to the Swedish throne. In the future, they will not be expected to perform any royal duties. They will be styled Prince/Princess <Name>, Duke/Duchess of <Geographical Area>.

Prince Alexander, Princess Sofia, Prince Julian, Prince Carl Philip and Prince Gabriel on the occasion of Prince Julian’s christening; Credit – Photo: Elisabeth Toll, Kungl. Hovstaterna / The Royal Court of Sweden

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Prince Daniel of Sweden, Duke of Västergötland

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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Prince Daniel of Sweden, Duke of Västergötland; Credit – Wikipedia

Olof Daniel Westling was born at Örebro University Hospital in Örebro, Sweden on September 15, 1973, the same day his future father-in-law King Carl XVI Gustaf became King of Sweden. He is the youngest of two children of Olle Gunnar Westling, a social services manager, and Anna Ewa Kristina Westring, a post office employee. Daniel has one older sister, Anna Westling Söderström.

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Daniel at his christening; Photo: Swedish Royal Court

Daniel grew up in Ockelbo, Sweden, and attended Rabo Primary School and Pers Lunda School there. He then attended Hammar Upper Secondary School in Sandviken, Sweden, and graduated in 1991. Daniel then served in the Swedish Army as part of the national conscription in the Hälsingland Regiment in Gävle, Sweden.

In 1994, Daniel moved to Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, to study at the Lillsved Sports Folk High School.  He studied in the youth recreation leader program from 1994-1996. While studying and for a period of time after graduating, Daniel worked as a personal fitness trainer at a nearby gym.

Daniel started his own company in 1997 and worked as a consultant in the fitness industry. He then went on to run his own gym, Master Training, together with his business partner Benny Johansson. Master Training’s keyword was “discretion” because Daniel and his business partner created a place where wealthy, well-known people could work out in privacy.  Many of Stockholm’s more prominent businessmen, politicians, and artists started coming, as did many close to Crown Princess Victoria, including her sister Princess Madeleine and her friend Caroline Kreuger. When the Crown Princess herself began working out there, Daniel became her personal trainer. The couple certainly had many opportunities to chat, while working out a training program for Victoria. So when their professional relationship developed into something more personal, first friendship and then love, their closest friends were probably not too surprised.

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Daniel and Victoria working out; Photo source: Expressen

It was at a friend’s birthday party in 2002 that photographers caught a kiss between the two, fueling the interest in Victoria and Daniel’s personal life. Despite some public opinion against Daniel as a potential spouse for the princess due to his “common” background, Victoria made it clear that one’s background was not the deciding factor in marriage, but rather the happiness shared by the couple. Speculation increased in July 2008 when Daniel moved to a rental apartment in a wing of Drottningholm Palace. Many believed this was to allow him to be groomed for the role of consort to the Crown Princess. The engagement of Crown Princess Victoria to Mr. Daniel Westling was announced by the Royal Palace on February 24, 2009. The announcement indicated that after the wedding Daniel Westling would be known as Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland, duke being the male counterpart of Victoria’s title Duchess of Västergötland. Another announcement in May 2010 said that Westling would be granted the style His Royal Highness upon marriage.

 

The wedding was held at Stockholm Cathedral also known as Storkyrkan on June 19, 2010. One Canadian reporter said it was “Europe’s biggest royal wedding since the Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.” There were 1,200 invited guests and 500,000 people lined Stockholm’s streets. It was the biggest event that has ever been covered on television in Stockholm, according to Sveriges Television, the Swedish national public TV broadcaster.

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Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel greeting people in the streets of Stockholm; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Victoria and Daniel have a daughter and a son. Their daughter Estelle is second in line to the Swedish throne after her mother and remained in that position after the birth of her brother.

Crown Princess Victoria and her family, 2021; Photo: Linda Broström King. Hovstaterna / Linda Broström, The Royal Court of Sweden

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Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden; Credit – Kate Gabor/Royal Court, Sweden

Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland (Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée) was born July 14, 1977, at Karolinska University Hospital in Solna, Sweden. She is the eldest of the three children of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and his wife Queen Silvia (née Silvia Sommerlath). Victoria is descended from Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom from two lines. Victoria’s paternal grandfather, Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, was the son of Princess Margaret of Connaught, the daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Queen Victoria’s seventh child and third son.  Additionally, her paternal grandmother, born Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, was the daughter of Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the posthumous child of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, Queen Victoria’s eighth child and youngest son.

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Crown Princess Victoria was christened Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée on September 27, 1977, at the Storkyrkan (Great Church) in Stockholm, Sweden. Her godparents were:

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Victoria in the pink hat with her parents and siblings; Photo Credit: Hello

Crown Princess Victoria has two younger siblings:

In 1979, the Riksdag, the Swedish legislature, introduced an Act of Succession changing the succession to absolute primogeniture, meaning that the eldest child of the monarch, regardless of gender, is first in the line of succession. This Act of Succession became law on January 1, 1980, making Sweden the first monarchy to adopt absolute primogeniture. The previous 1810 Act of Succession allowed for only males to inherit the throne. Victoria’s brother Carl Philip was born as Crown Prince in May 1979 and retained his title and first place in the succession for seven months until January 1, 1980, when his elder sister became Crown Princess and heir apparent. Since 1980, two other princesses have joined Crown Princess Victoria as the heir apparent: Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, the heir apparent to the Dutch throne, and Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, the heir apparent to the Belgian throne. Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, the eldest child of Crown Prince Haakon of Noway, is also in a position to be an heir apparent as Norway’s succession is also absolute primogeniture.

Crown Princess Victoria’s education was well-planned and covered many aspects.

  • Västerled Parish Preschool in Stockholm, Sweden from 1982-84, a municipal elementary school in Smedslätten, Bromma, Stockholm,  completed junior level, 1984-1986 (link translated from Swedish)
  • Ålstenskolan, a municipal elementary school in Ålsten, Bromma, Stockholm, completed intermediate level, 1986-1989 (link translated from Swedish)
  • Enskilda Gymnasiet, a prestigious independent secondary school in Tegnérlunden, in central Stockholm, followed a science and social studies program, 1989-1996
  • Centre International D’Études Françaises at the Université Catholique de L’Ouest in Angers, France, studied French, 1996-1997
  • Specially designed program to gain a general insight into the workings of the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament) and the Swedish Government, 1997
  • Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA: studied Political Science and History, 1998-2000
  • Worked at the Swedish Embassy in Washington DC, May 1999
  • Studied conflict resolution and international peace-building, 2000
  • Studied the Presidency of the European Union, 2001
  • Followed a study program at the offices of the Swedish Government, 2001
  • Completed a study program at the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and spent time in Uganda and Ethiopia, Spring 2002
  • Worked at the United Nations in New York, June – September 2002
  • Completed an internship with the Swedish Trade Council in Berlin and Paris, Autumn 2002
  • Study and work experience program in Swedish agriculture and forestry, 2003
  • Completed basic military training at the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre, 2003
  • Studied at the Swedish National Defense College in Stockholm focusing on political science, international relations, and conflict resolution, 2004
  • Traveled to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to study international aid efforts in these countries, 2005
  • Followed the work of the Swedish Embassy in China and traveled to gain insights in the Chinese community, Autumn 2005
  • Diplomatic program at the Swedish Foreign Ministry which lasted for one academic year and included lectures, seminars, and group work, 2006-2007
  • Internship at the Permanent Representation of Sweden to the European Union, 2007-2008
  • Uppsala University, received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Peace and Conflict Studies in 2009
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Crown Princess Victoria during her basic military training in 2003; Photo: Swedish Royal Court, Jan Collsioo/Scanpix

Crown Princess Victoria’s Fund was established in 1997 to provide support for recreational activities for children and young people with disabilities or chronic illnesses. Radiohjälpen, the fund-raising branch of Sveriges Television, the Swedish national TV and radio stations, runs an annual fund-raising drive supporting Crown Princess Victoria’s Fund.  The work this fund does is very important to the Crown Princess. Each year Victoria visits several clubs or projects that have been granted money. These visits are not announced in the official royal diary but are kept private. Sveriges Television accompanies her and airs short programs from these visits at some time during the year.

In November 1997, the Swedish Royal Court announced that Victoria had an eating disorder after a period of much speculation in the press. Victoria had intended to attend Uppsala University in Sweden, but those plans were changed. Instead, she spent two years studying at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. This allowed Victoria to lead an anonymous life while getting professional help and to recover without worrying about media speculations or being recognized on the streets.

In 2002, the Swedish media began to report that Crown Princess Victoria was in a relationship with Daniel Westling, a personal trainer and gym owner, which she refused to confirm. Victoria first met Daniel Westling in 2001 when he became her personal trainer at the gym he owned in Stockholm. It was at a friend’s birthday party in 2002 that photographers caught a kiss between the two, fueling the interest in Victoria’s personal life.

Despite some public opinion against Daniel as a potential spouse for the princess due to his “common” background, Victoria made it clear that one’s background was not the deciding factor in marriage, but rather the happiness shared by the couple. Speculation increased in July 2008 when Daniel moved to a rental apartment in a wing of Drottningholm Palace. Many believed this was to allow him to be groomed for the role of consort to the Crown Princess. The Royal Palace announced the engagement of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling on February 24, 2009. The announcement indicated that after the wedding Daniel Westling would be known as Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland, the male counterpart of Victoria’s title Duchess of Västergötland. Another announcement in May 2010 said that Westling would be granted the style His Royal Highness upon marriage.

 

The wedding was held at Stockholm Cathedral also known as Storkyrkan on June 19, 2010. One Canadian reporter said it was “Europe’s biggest royal wedding since the Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.” There were 1,200 invited guests and 500,000 people lined Stockholm’s streets. According to Sveriges Television, the Swedish national public TV broadcaster, the wedding was the biggest event ever covered on television in Sweden.

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Victoria and Daniel greeting people in the streets of Stockholm; Credit – Wikipedia

Victoria and Daniel have a daughter and a son. Their daughter Estelle is second in line to the Swedish throne after her mother and remained in that position after the birth of her brother.

July 2023

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Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Queen Silvia of Sweden

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Queen Silvia of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Silvia Renate Sommerlath was born on December 23, 1943, in Heidelberg, Germany. She is the only daughter and the youngest of four children of Walther Sommerlath (1901-1990) and his Brazilian wife Alice Soares de Toledo (1906-1997).  Silvia had three older brothers: Ralf (born 1929), Walther (1934-2020), and Jörg (1941–2006).

When Silvia was almost four years old, the Sommerlath family moved from Germany to São Paulo, Brazil where they lived from 1947-1957. Silvia attended Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro, a private, bilingual (German/Portuguese) founded in 1878 by German immigrants so their children could learn about German culture without losing their connection with Brazil. The family returned to Germany in 1957 and Silvia graduated from high school in Düsseldorf, Germany in 1963. Between 1965 and 1969 she studied at the Munich School of Interpreting, majoring in Spanish. Silvia worked briefly as a flight attendant and then worked at the Argentinean Consulate in Munich, Germany. Silvia is fluent in six languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Swedish, and Portuguese.

Silvia put her language skills to good use when she worked as a hostess trainer between 1971 and 1973 for the Organizing Committee of the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. She became Deputy Head of Protocol of the Organizing Committee for the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.

At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, Silvia met Carl Gustaf, then Crown Prince of Sweden. Carl Gustaf has said that the couple immediately “clicked” upon meeting.  While the couple was courting, Carl Gustaf’s grandfather, King Gustaf VI Adolf, died on September 15, 1973, and Carl Gustaf became King at the age of 27.

The engagement of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Silvia Sommerlath was announced on March 12, 1976.  The couple was married at Stockholm’s Storkyrkan Cathedral on June 19, 1976. The night before the wedding the Swedish group ABBA performed the first live Swedish television performance of their song Dancing Queen at a gala in honor of Carl Gustaf and his queen-to-be.

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King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia on their wedding day; Credit – http://www.kungahuset.se

King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia have three children:

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The King and Queen and their family moved to Drottningholm Palace, a short distance from Stockholm, in 1982.  The official offices remain at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.

Drottningholm

Drottningholm Palace; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer

Queen Silvia is involved in numerous charity organizations, especially in the area of disadvantaged children, the handicapped, drug abuse, dementia and elder care, and dyslexia which King Carl Gustaf has. In 1999, Queen Silvia founded the World Childhood Foundation (WCF) which works towards better living conditions for children all over the world. The WCF has offices in Sweden, Brazil, Germany, and the United States, where Princess Madeleine, the Queen’s youngest child, once worked in the New York City office.

Queen Silvia also is involved with:

  • Mentor Foundation, a leading international organization for drug use and substance abuse prevention.
  • The Queen Silvia Fund, an endowment that enables young handicapped people, all over the world, to benefit through Scouting.
  • The Silvia Home, an organization that strives for the development of good health and care of people with dementia and their families.

In 2011, Queen Silvia became the longest-serving queen consort of Sweden, a record previously held by Sophia of Nassau, the wife of King Oscar II.  She enjoys participating in outdoor activities with her husband including gardening, hiking, skiing, water skiing, and horseback riding.

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The King and Queen hiking in the Swedish mountains; Photo: Swedish Royal Court 

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Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Princess Désirée of Sweden, Baroness Silfverschiöld

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Désirée of Sweden, Baroness Silfverschiöld – photo: Wikipedia

Princess Désirée Elisabeth Sibylla of Sweden was born June 2, 1938, at Haga Palace, the third child and third daughter of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten (son of King Gustaf VI Adolf), and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. She is the third of the four elder sisters of King Carl XVI Gustaf. Through both of her parents, she is a great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. She was named for her ancestress, Queen Desideria, born Désirée Clary.

Désirée has four siblings:

Along with her siblings, Princess Désirée spent much of her youth at Haga Palace. Her father was killed in a plane crash in 1947, and in 1950, her great-grandfather died, and her grandfather ascended to the Swedish throne.  The family moved to the Royal Palace of Stockholm. She was initially educated at home, and later attended a French school and studied languages in Switzerland. She and her sisters were often known as ‘Haga Princesses’ and were considered some of the most glamorous, and most eligible, princesses in Europe.

photo: Wikipedia

On June 5, 1964, she married Baron Nils-August Otto Carl Niclas Silfverschiöld, from a Swedish noble family, at the Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral). Due to her husband’s non-royal position, Désirée lost her royal status and any right of succession to the Swedish throne. She became simply Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld.  The couple lived at Koberg Castle in Västergötland, Sweden and at Gåsevadholm Castle in Halland, Sweden.  Baron Silfverschiöld died on April 11, 2017, at the age of 82.

The couple had three children:

  • Carl Otto Edmund Silfverschiöld (born 1965), married Gunilla Maria Fredriksson, had one daughter, divorced
  • Christina Louise Ewa Madelaine Silfverschiöld (born 1966), married to Hans Louis Gerard De Geer of Finspång, had one daughter and two sons
  • Hélène Ingeborg Sibylla Silfverschiöld (born 1968)

While no longer a member of the official Swedish Royal Court, Princess Désirée is occasionally in attendance at state and official functions along with private family events.

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King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden; Photo: Sara Friberg, Kungl. Hovstaterna / Sara Friberg, The Royal Court of Sweden

In the spring of 1946, Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, wife of Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten, was pregnant for the fifth time.  The couple was parents of four daughters, none of whom could be in the line of succession to the throne due to the succession laws at that time. Prince Gustaf Adolf’s grandfather King Gustaf V was the reigning King of Sweden and his father, the future King Gustaf VI Adolf, was the Crown Prince.  As his father’s eldest son, Prince Gustaf Adolf was second in the line of succession.  On April 30, 1946, Princess Sibylla gave birth to a son at Haga Palace.  The newborn prince was third in the line of succession to the Swedish throne after his grandfather and father.

Prince Carl Gustaf is a descendant of Queen Victoria through both of his parents.  His paternal grandmother was Princess Margaret of Connaught, daughter of Queen Victoria’s son Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught.  His maternal grandfather was Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the posthumous son of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, Queen Victoria’s youngest son.

Four Generations: The infant Prince Carl Gustaf held by his great-grandfather King Gustaf V. Seated on the left is the prince’s grandfather, Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf (the future King Gustaf VI Adolf), and standing is the prince’s father, Prince Gustaf Adolf; Photo: Swedish Royal Court

The infant prince was christened Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus on June 7, 1946, in the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden.  He was given the title Duke of Jämtland on the day of his christening. His godparents were:

Carl Gustaf with his parents and four elder sisters; Credit – Wikipedia

Carl Gustaf has four elder sisters:

On January 26, 1947, when Carl Gustaf was only nine months old, his father died in an airplane crash at Kastrup Airport near Copenhagen, Denmark. At that time, Carl Gustaf became second in the line of succession behind his grandfather.  Carl Gustaf’s great-grandfather King Gustaf V died on October 29, 1950, and his grandfather became King Gustaf VI Adolf while four-year-old Carl Gustaf became Crown Prince.

Until he was six years old, Carl Gustaf was educated at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.  In the fall of 1952, he began school at the Broms School, a private school in Stockholm.  He then attended the Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska Läroverket, a boarding school in Sigtuna, Sweden, and graduated from its upper secondary school in 1966.

After completing school, Carl Gustaf spent two and a half years in the Swedish Army, Navy, and Air Force.  The Crown Prince passed the Naval Officer Examination in 1968 and served as an officer on various ships in the Swedish Navy. He later completed a command course at the Swedish National Defense College.

From 1968-1969, Carl Gustaf attended a program at the University of Uppsala where he studied history, sociology, political science, financial law, and economics.  Next, the Crown Prince followed a specially designed program of field trips to national and local institutions, industries, factories, laboratories, and schools.  He studied the Swedish judicial system, social welfare organizations, trade unions, and employer associations.  The program included a special emphasis on the work of the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament), the Government, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.  To gain international experience, Carl Gustaf worked at the Swedish mission to the United Nations in New York, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency in Africa, the Hambro Bank, the Swedish Embassy, and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, all in London, and at the Alfa Laval factory in Nevers, France.

At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, Carl Gustaf met Silvia Sommerlath who was serving as an interpreter and hostess.  She was born in Heidelberg, Germany to German businessman Walther Sommerlath and his Brazilian wife Alice Soares de Toledo.  Previously, Silvia worked at the Argentinean Consulate in Munich and was Deputy Head of Protocol of the Organizing Committee for the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria.  Carl Gustaf has said that the couple immediately “clicked” upon meeting.  While the couple was courting, Carl Gustaf’s grandfather, King Gustaf VI Adolf, died on September 15, 1973, and Carl Gustaf became king at the age of 27.  He was invested as King Carl XVI Gustaf in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm on September 19, 1973.

 

The engagement of King Carl Gustaf and Silvia Sommerlath was announced on March 12, 1976.  The couple was married at Stockholm’s Storkyrkan Cathedral on June 19, 1976. The night before the wedding the Swedish group ABBA performed the first live Swedish television performance of their song Dancing Queen at a gala in honor of Carl Gustaf and his queen-to-be.

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Princess Madeleine, Princess Sofia, Prince Carl Philip, Helena Norlen, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Andreas Norlen, Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Estelle, and Prince Daniel  celebrate Sweden’s national day in 2019

King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia have three children:

Drottningholm Palace; Photo Credit – © Susan Flantzer

The King and his family moved to Drottningholm Palace, a short distance from Stockholm, in 1980.  The official offices remain at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.  On April 26, 2018, King Carl XVI Gustaf became the longest-reigning monarch in Swedish history surpassing King Magnus IV who reigned for 44 years and 222 days from July 8, 1319 – February 15, 1364.

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Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Märtha of Sweden, Crown Princess of Norway

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014

source: Royal House of Norway; photo: Ingeborg Ljusnes, the Royal Court Archive

Märtha of Sweden, Crown Princess of Norway; source: Royal House of Norway; photo: Ingeborg Ljusnes, The Royal House of Norway Court Archive

Princess Märtha Sofia Lovisa Dagmar Thyra of Sweden was born March 28, 1901, at the Hereditary Prince’s Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. She was the second daughter of Prince Carl of Sweden, Duke of Västergötland, and Princess Ingeborg of Denmark. Her grandfathers were King Oscar II of Sweden and King Frederik VIII of Denmark. For the first four years of her life, she was also a Princess of Norway. Sweden and Norway were in personal union under the sovereigns of Sweden. This union ended in 1905.

Märtha had three siblings:

photo: Wikipedia

On March 21, 1929, Märtha married her first cousin, Crown Prince Olav of Norway at the Oslo Cathedral. She was once again a Princess of Norway.

The couple took up residence at the Skaugum Estate in Asker, Norway. They had three children:

In 1940, Princess Märtha and her children fled Norway when the Germans invaded, traveling to her native Sweden. However, they were not well received by the Swedish people, feeling that their presence would threaten Sweden’s neutrality. Shortly after, at the invitation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt of the United States, the family sailed for America. After brief stays at Roosevelt’s private estate in Hyde Park, New York, and then the White House, the family leased (and later purchased), an estate in Bethesda, Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. Her husband had stayed with his father, King Haakon VII, establishing a government-in-exile in London.

Princess Märtha remained very active in supporting the Norwegian people during the war, working extensively with the Red Cross, and speaking to groups throughout the country to promote the resistance. She developed a very close friendship with President Roosevelt, and the family was often included in both public and private functions at the White House.

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Statue of Crown Princess Märtha outside the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, DC; Credit – Wikipedia

The work Crown Princess Märtha did in the United States had a lasting impact on U.S.-Norwegian relations. Her advocacy on her country’s behalf during World War II influenced President Roosevelt’s famous “Look to Norway” speech. In September 2005, the United States erected a statue of Crown Princess Märtha on the grounds of the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C. as a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two nations. The statue was unveiled by her three children.

The Norwegian Royal Family returning to Oslo, June 1945. photo: Wikipedia

In 1945, with the war finally over, Princess Märtha and the children returned to Norway and were reunited with Crown Prince Olav and King Haakon. She continued her work with the many patronages and charities in Norway, focused on doing everything possible to restore Norway and the Norwegian people.

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

Sadly, the Crown Princess suffered ill health over the next few years. On April 5, 1954, she died at the National Hospital in Oslo, Norway following a long battle with cancer. She is buried in the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Fortress. Her husband would go on to become King Olav V in 1957 and reign until his death in January 1991. He is buried with his wife in the green tomb.

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Kingdom of Norway Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Princess Lilian of Sweden, Duchess of Halland

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: Swedish Royal Court; Janerik Henriksson/Scanpix

Photo: Swedish Royal Court; Janerik Henriksson/Scanpix

Princess Lilian of Sweden, Duchess of Halland, began life as Lillian May Davies, born August 30, 1915, in Swansea, Wales. She was the daughter of William Davies and Gladys Curran. Her parents separated when she was young, and at the age of 16, Lilian (having dropped one of the Ls from her name) moved to London, England where she found work as a model and actress. In 1940, she married Scottish actor Ivan Craig. Soon after, he enlisted in the British Army and served overseas during the war. As a military wife, Lilian worked at a British factory making radio parts for the Royal Navy, and at a hospital for wounded veterans.

photo source: The Mirror

photo source: The Mirror

It was in 1943 that she first met her Prince charming. Prince Bertil of Sweden, Duke of Halland, the third son of the future King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and Princess Margaret of Connaught,  a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, was serving as a naval attaché at the Swedish Embassy in London. They reportedly met at a cocktail party and quickly became involved. When her husband returned in 1945, having fallen in love with an Italian woman while serving overseas, the two agreed to a quick and very amicable divorce. Lilian and her ex-husband would remain close through the years, with Mr. Craig visiting Lilian and Bertil several times at their home on the French Riviera.

At the time, Bertil was third in line to the throne, behind his father and older brother Gustaf Adolf. His other two brothers, Sigvard and Carl Johan, had both lost their royal status upon marriage to commoners. By the time his father came to the throne in 1950, Bertil was now second in the line of succession. His elder brother Gustaf Adolf had been killed in a plane crash in 1947, leaving an infant son, Carl Gustaf, the future King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, the heir to the throne. With the likelihood of Bertil being called to serve as Regent for his young nephew, he and Lilian chose not to marry so that he could retain his position in the Royal Family.

The couple lived together privately, primarily at Villa Mirage, their home in Sainte-Maxime, France, purchased by Prince Bertil in 1946. In 1949, he purchased Villa Solbaken, in Djurgården, Stockholm, Sweden. Prince Bertil continued his role within the royal family, supported by Lilian, a much-loved member of the family (although not in the public eye), despite the lack of a marriage. As she stated in her memoirs, she was never invited to any official functions, instead, sitting home and watching her Prince on television. She finally received an invitation to the private celebrations for King Gustav V Adolf’s 80th birthday celebration in 1962. However, her first public appearance with the Swedish Royal Court was not until his 90th birthday celebrations in 1972.

photo: Corbis

Bertil and Lilian on the day of their wedding with King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on the left and his wife Queen Silvia on the right; photo: Corbis

Bertil’s father died in 1973, and Bertil’s nephew became King Carl XVI Gustaf. The rules, as well as the times, were beginning to change. The King married in June 1976 to a commoner, Sylvia Sommerlath, and soon after, he granted his formal permission for Bertil and Lilian to marry. The couple married in the Royal Chapel at Drottningholm Palace in Drottningholm, Sweden, on December 7, 1976. At the time, Bertil was heir-presumptive to the throne and would remain so until the birth of Prince Carl Philip in 1979.

During these years, Princess Lilian formed a very close bond with the new Queen Silvia and became a surrogate grandmother to the young Victoria, Carl Philip, and Madeleine, the three children of King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia. All three are reported to have had a very close relationship with both Lilian and Bertil. Lilian took part in many official functions and is best remembered for her appearances at the Nobel Prize ceremonies each year.

photo: Corbis

photo: Corbis

Her beloved Prince Bertil died in 1997 at Villa Solbacken. His large estate was left primarily to Lilian, with the exception of Villa Solbacken which was left to his godson, Prince Carl Philip, with the condition that Lilian would retain use of the home for the remainder of her life. Their French retreat, Villa Mirage, held too many memories for the Princess, and she passed ownership on to the King. A summer residence was later sold, and she retained an apartment in London. She also refused a specific bequest of 15 million SEK, instead insisting that it be divided between Victoria, Carl Philip, and Madeleine.

In 2000, Lilian wrote a memoir – Mitt liv med prins Bertil (My life with Prince Bertil). She continued to be an active member of the royal family, participating in official events and continuing her patronage of many organizations until 2010. At that point, it was announced that Princess Lilian was suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and would no longer be appearing in public. She was unable to attend the marriage of Crown Princess Victoria a few weeks later.

photo: Swedish Royal Court; Anders Wiklund/Scanpix

Princess Lilian’s funeral; photo: Swedish Royal Court; Anders Wiklund/Scanpix

On the afternoon of March 10, 2013, Princess Lilian of Sweden, Duchess of Halland, passed away at Villa Solbacken. Her funeral was held six days later in the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. In attendance were the King and Queen, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip, Princess Madeleine, and Mr. Christopher O’Neill. Also attending were Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (Princess Lilian’s niece by marriage), and Princess Astrid of Norway, as well as other family, friends, and representatives from the Swedish government. Following the funeral service, Princess Lilian was interred beside her husband Prince Bertil at the Royal Burial Ground in Haga Park in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.  In 2014, Princess Madeleine named her first child Leonore Lilian Maria, with Lilian in honor of Princess Lilian.

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HRH Princess Leonore Lilian Maria of Sweden

 

Princess Leonore Lilian Mary of Sweden photo: Chris O’Neill; source: Swedish Royal Court

Welcome to the newest member of the Swedish Royal Family – Her Royal Highness Princess Leonore Lilian Maria, Duchess of Gotland.  

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The names and titles were announced today by King Carl Gustaf at a Cabinet meeting held at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.  The announcement was made on the Swedish Royal Court website as well as their Facebook page.

Swedish Royal Court Announcement

 

Prince Carl of Sweden, Duke of Västergötland

by Emily McMahon and Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2013

Prince Carl of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Oscar Carl Wilhelm, called Prince Carl, was born at Arvfurstens Palace in Stockholm, Sweden on February 27, 1861. He was the third of four sons of King Oscar II of Sweden and Sophia of Nassau. Like his father, Carl exhibited excellent skills of diplomacy and was later sought to help mediate peace talks and arrange the release of political prisoners.  Carl had three brothers:

Princess Ingeborg of Denmark and Prince Carl of Sweden in 1897; Credit – Wikipedia

In May 1897, an engagement was announced between Carl and another Scandinavian royal, Princess Ingeborg of Denmark. Born at Charlottenlund Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark on August 2, 1878, Ingeborg was the second daughter and fifth child of the future King Frederik VIII of Denmark and his wife Lovisa of Sweden.  Although neither was the heir to a throne, the prospect of another Danish-Swedish royal union was exciting to the families of the couple and citizens of their respective countries.  On their 50th wedding anniversary, Carl admitted that their marriage had been completely arranged by the couple’s fathers. Ingeborg added, “I married a complete stranger!”

The wedding was held at Christiansborg Palace Chapel in Copenhagen, Denmark on August 27, 1897. Among the guests were Alexandra, Princess of Wales and Russian Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark), the bride’s aunts. Copenhagen was decorated with flowers and flags of both countries to celebrate the occasion. Following a brief stay in Denmark, the new couple set off for a honeymoon in Germany.

Carl and Ingeborg had a comfortable family life, dividing their time between Arvfurstens Palace in Stockholm and summers in Fridhem, Sweden. Despite the difference in their ages (Carl was 17 years older than Ingeborg), the two were happy and well-suited to one another. The couple had four children born between 1899 and 1911. They were:

During their young adulthood, the four children of Ingeborg and Carl were repeatedly sought after as spouses by several European monarchs. Astrid and Märtha were both linked to the future King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom before their respective marriages. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands strongly desired a marriage between Carl and her daughter and heir, the future Queen Juliana of the Netherlands.  However, the two vehemently disliked each other upon meeting in the late 1920s. Carl and Ingeborg are ancestors of the current Belgian royal family, Luxembourg grand ducal family, and Norwegian royal family. Belgian Kings Baudouin and Albert II, Norwegian King Harald V, and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, the wife of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, are all grandchildren of Carl and Ingeborg.

Carl and Ingeborg continued to play important roles in European history throughout their marriage. Ingeborg served as the de facto first lady of Sweden for several years during the absence of Sophia of Nassau and Viktoria of Baden. Due to her close familial connections, she also worked to bring peace to the three Scandinavian royal families following the Norwegian independence in 1905. Carl distinguished himself as the President of the Swedish Red Cross, earning several Nobel Peace Prize nominations for his work with prisoners of war.

Both Carl and Ingeborg lived long lives. Carl died on October 24,  1951, in Stockholm, Sweden at the age of 90. Ingeborg survived him by seven years, dying in 1958 at age 79. The two are buried in the Royal Burial Ground in Haga Park in Solna, Stockholm, Sweden.

Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg in 1926; Credit – Wikipedia

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