Princess Madeleine VKontakte. Modern monarchy: Sweden. Interests and hobbies of the princess

Star romance: Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Chris O'Neill

They say there are no coincidences: she just went overseas for a break, but the trip led to marriage. Happy marriage, which turns 6 years old this year.

On June 8, 2013, all of Sweden, and what about the whole world, watched the tender and touching wedding ceremony of Princess Madeleine and the American economist Chris O'Neill. Thousands of eyes watched how the graceful and sophisticated bride walked to the altar, where she was already waiting for her the groom barely restraining his emotions, Chris later repeatedly recalled in interviews that he was in a pre-fainting state at that moment.

I'm just crazy with happiness. But I must honestly admit that I’m a little nervous,” the groom shared his experiences before the wedding in an interview with Norwegian television TV2.

Naturally, Chris O'Neill is far from a media personality. He comes from a wealthy British family, lived in London until he was 10 years old, studied in Switzerland, then received a bachelor's degree from Boston University, worked in New York in the financial sector. Royal family , paparazzi following on his heels, and close public attention - all this was not part of the businessman’s usual reality before meeting Madeleine.

And so, overwhelmed with emotions, Chris stands at the altar in the Palace Church of Stockholm, where she enters, beautiful and radiant, his future wife. Afterwards, the guests recalled that the groom shed tears.

When the doors opened and I saw Madeleine, everything was behind me, and nothing existed for me except her,” Chris said in an interview with the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.

The bride looked royally elegant in a finely pleated silk dress from Valentino Garavani, who was also present at the wedding ceremony. Madeleine seemed to float along the aisle of the Palace Church: a delicate dress trimmed with lace, a long airy train... The bride’s veil was about four meters: the princess refused the traditional wedding veil of the Bernadottes, and it’s okay that Queen Silvia, Madeleine’s mother, also got married in it. and her sister, Crown Princess Victoria.

Everything was wonderful: the church, the children singing wonderfully. I expected to be nervous, but to my surprise, I was very calm. I think because this is exactly what I wanted in life,” the princess shared her feelings in an interview with the Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.

In fact, by royal standards, the wedding of Madeleine and Chris was quite calm: not so pompous and with a small number of important guests. Which is not surprising, since Princess Madeleine is only fourth in line to the royal throne. But perhaps this is what led her to a happy marriage with Chris. The fact is that, by law, she could not marry before her older sister Victoria, first in line to the throne. And, being in a long-term 7-year relationship with Swedish lawyer Jonas Bergström, she could not announce her engagement. And when the long-awaited and desired moment arrived (Crown Princess Victoria announced her engagement in February 2009), Princess Madeleine and her fiancé soon made the same announcement. And six months later there’s another one about the breakup.

Princess Madeleine and Jonas Bergström announcing their engagement to the world

Then Madeleine decided to change many things in her life, as most girls react to a difficult breakup. Simply changing her hair from blonde to brunette seemed insufficient to Madeleine, and she flew overseas to “unwind.”

Our first meeting took place in New York several years ago. At first I didn’t even know that Madeleine was a princess,” Chris recalls.

Friendly communication in a common company grew into personal meetings, which occurred more and more often. The lovers carefully hid their relationship; only those closest to them knew about it. Madeleine and Chris later reasoned that if they lived in Sweden, news about them would have spread around the world in a couple of days. And the streets of New York are crowded with famous people, and no one pays attention to passers-by. Forced secrecy only strengthened their feelings.

One of the first photos of Chris and Madeleine, 2012

Two years later, the couple received the blessing of the King of Sweden, and planning for the celebration began. Madeleine and Chris actively participated in the preparations for the wedding and followed all the processes. On the eve of the ceremony, Madeleine was in such a hurry to get everything done that she even broke the traffic rules, trying to avoid the traffic jam.

And so, everything is superbly organized, the Swedish people rejoice in the square, waiting for the young people to appear. It was decided to conduct the ceremony in two languages ​​- Swedish and English: after all, at that time Chris did not yet speak the native language of his future wife. The climax of the wedding, shrouded in tradition, came when the Swedish lag and the English I will sounded.

And then, now husband and wife, they went out into the square to the Swedish people, who were waiting for them with such impatience, waving small flags. And just as Madeleine and Chris held hands on the threshold of the Palace Church, so they go through life, supporting each other.

Now it's two of us, Chris and I, against the world. This is true love, the feeling that you cannot live without your other half,” Madeleine confessed her love to her husband.

Madeleine and Chris on the eve of the wedding at the gala reception of King Charles

The young family returned to New York after their honeymoon, where Chris continued to work in finance and Madeleine worked at a childhood charity founded by her mother. Princess Madeleine is known for her love for children, she easily finds a common language with them, and devotes herself entirely to taking care of improving their living conditions, especially in disadvantaged areas and regions.

The family of Madeleine and Chris did not remain so small for long - already in February 2014, their daughter Leonor was born.

Both Chris and Madeleine missed Europe while living in New York. No matter how long Chris stayed in America, his heart and soul still remained in London. It was there that the renewed family decided to move. And after the birth of their son Nicholas and their second daughter, Adriana, Chris and Madeleine returned to the United States. Their family lives the way they want. King Carl Gustav of Sweden and Queen Silvia do not impose their rules of family life and raising their grandchildren on them, but simply rejoice at their happiness.

HELLO.RU congratulates Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill on their wedding anniversary!

Text: Albina Daminova

Princess Madeleine, the youngest daughter of King Charles Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia, was born on June 10, 1982. Her birth weight was 3340 grams and her height was 49 cm. She was baptized on August 31 of the same year by Bishop Olof Sundbyomm and named Madeleine Teresa Amelia Josephine Bernadotte. At baptism, she was granted the title of Duchess of Halsingland and Gastrixland, after the name of the family estates of the Swedish kings. She also bears the title of Princess of Sweden. But all her relatives, relatives, friends, relatives, and after them all her subjects, lovingly call her simply: “Madde.”

The biggest passion in Madeleine's life is "Madde" - horses and travel. From the age of four, the princess was already riding a small pony named Travolta, who was carefully led by the bridle by her father, King Charles Gustav.

The passion for horse riding at a professional level caused, by the way, a lot of anxiety for the parents of the little Princess. But they are proud that their daughter has participated in equestrian competitions more than once, is a member of the largest equestrian club in Sweden - Faeltrittklub in Stockholm, and in April 1998 won an honorable second place and a silver cup in prestigious competitions in Koenig. She participated in competitions under the name Anna Svenson, so as not to cause unnecessary excitement among the public and the press. But she still becomes aware of every step of “little Madeleine.”

For example, when she was seven years old and the time had come to choose a place to study, the Princess’s parents (especially her mother, Queen Silvia, a modest woman who did not like unnecessary noise) puzzled for a long time over how to carefully choose a school in order to this did not become known to all journalists and newspapermen in Sweden. They decided for more than one day where Madeleine should study - at the school where Prince Philip began his education at one time - the Lundsburg boarding school, in Vaermland, or at the Enskilda gymnasium, (a suburb of Stockholm), where her older sister, Crown Princess Victoria, also studied. The choice was made in favor of Enskild Gymnasium, the main one, the course of which Madeleine completed on August 20, 1998. Two years later, literally on the eve of her birthday, June 5, 2000, Madeleine - Therese - Amelia Josephine Bernadotte received a bachelor's degree in art from the Enskild Gymnasium and is thinking of continuing her education as an art critic in Italy or the USA.

Madeleine's character is very unpredictable, she is sociable, has many friends, and is capable of harmless pranks and jokes, pranks and parodies. So in 1997, she participated in a parody concert at a college-gymnasium, where she performed in the guise of one of the lead singers of the Space Girls group, of which she is a big fan. But at the same time, many who know the princess - both intimately and not so much - note her deep seriousness, strong sense of duty, affection for her father, King Gustav and mother, whose adoration on Madeleine’s part is so great that it evokes the playful jealousy of her father and elder brother

Madeleine often says: “I will do as dad advises.”

Princess Madeleine is also fond of skiing and often spends her holidays at ski resorts in Switzerland and Austria.

Recently all the Swedish newspapers were excited that Madeleine had a new admirer. Even his name became known: Matthias Trotzig. When they started questioning the Princess herself, she, giving the reporters a dazzlingly radiant smile, said cheerfully that in the long list of her fans, Matthias was far from first. Which? She will look: Now it is too early for her to think about boyfriends. She has everything ahead of her. In the meantime, the princess plans to seriously engage in continuing her education, to improve her English, which she considers lame... Perhaps, on the shores of Foggy Albion.

Best of the day

Next to the correct older sister, there must certainly be a “wrong” younger sister. In general, it’s good to be the younger wrong sister: they braid your hair, touch you and indulge your whims. And no serious responsibilities in the future! Princess Madeleine took full advantage of this wonderful right to be younger in the same Swedish royal family.

Nothing, as they say, was foreshadowed. As a child, Madeleine was an adorable Scandinavian child with golden pigtails and the family nickname Girly. At two years old, the brave girl started skiing, and at four she saddled a pony. Roles in children's performances based on Astrid Lindgren's fairy tales. Christian camp for girls. And then the girl grew up. And so it began.

Until recently, Princess Madeleine was famous as the Swedish Ksyusha Sobchak, a socialite with a scandalous reputation. Her appearance at any event was a godsend for reporters, because it inevitably entailed hype and loud headlines on the pages of newspapers. That obscene scarlet dress at the Nobel Prize ceremony, when everyone forgot about the Nobel laureates and admired only the princess’s luxurious cleavage. That accident with speeding and injured old ladies - old ladies, of course, dreamed of meeting the princess, but not in the same way! Those nightclub adventures in London... The most popular way to joke about the royal family was to portray Madeleine as a spoiled party girl, a playmaker, a clueless blonde. But the most terrible thing for the king and queen was not the dancing or the daughter’s dresses or her love of entertainment. And her boyfriends. It would be nice to reduce the quantity and improve the quality.

As soon as Madeleine became a teenager, stories began to pour in, one more piquant than the other. Her first boyfriend was three years older, and even then it became clear that the girl was unlikely to choose the right young men from a circle worthy of a princess. A series of hobbies began. One of Madeleine’s lovers was involved in equestrian sports. The other was a hockey player for a famous team. Next up was the macho ad man. Behind him is partygoer Matthias Trotzig with the extravagant nickname “Cowards”. Behind him is Pierre Ladov, with whom Madeleine was vacationing on the Riviera. But it wasn’t all that scary. And things got scary in 2001, when Eric Granat appeared on the horizon.

He collected all the traits of a “bad boy”, as if he came out of the horror films that Madeleine adored as a teenager. Eric didn't work anywhere. Had a conviction for drunk driving. In the same form, he once caused a riot and destroyed a beer tent.

Eric embarked on the path of vice already in childhood: it turned out that as a schoolboy he teased and in every possible way humiliated the modest Prince Carl Philip, Madeleine’s brother. In a word, how could they not get carried away? The princess dived into the abyss of passion. She and Eric went to London and, against the backdrop of the sights, far from the watchful eye of their parents, they cheerfully flouted the rules of decency. In Hyde Park, Eric hugged Madeleine in an extremely unchaste manner, shocking passers-by.

His Majesty Carl XVI Gustav decided to intervene. And he strictly ordered his daughter to break all ties with the scandalous type. Whether the royal word had an impact or the flighty princess was simply bored with the monotonous brawls of her gentleman, but soon Madeleine told reporters: “ Eric in the past».

The scandalous princess came to her senses, went to study at the university, tried with all her might to become an exemplary student... And in the place of the “bad” boy a “good” one appeared. It seems that here he is, a real knight for the beautiful princess! Jonas Bergström is a smart person, the best student on the course, a promising lawyer, a lover of a measured way of life and quiet family evenings. He began helping Madeleine with her studies, and the help was so productive that the couple moved into a quiet nest - a two-story pink house in the Östermalm district. Madeleine began to enthusiastically engage in interior design and think through the smallest details of everyday life. Wild parties have been replaced by family dinners. At Christmas 2004, touched parents gave an apartment to their daughter, who came to her senses.

It would seem that it’s time for the fairy tale to end with a wedding. But kings, as we know, can’t do everything, and even less so the younger sisters of crown princesses. Madeleine could not get married until she led her older sister, . Madeleine and Jonas were able to announce their engagement only in August 2009. And... less than a year later, the couple, who had been together for seven years, broke up.

Madeleine and Jonas cited “the desire to go further along different roads” as the reason. And the magazine Se og Hoer published an interview with an insidious homewrecker who spent nights with Jonas at a Swedish ski resort.

Madeleine, like her older sister, had to endure a betrayal, all the more painful because it was covered by the general public. But the scandalous blonde turned out to be a girl with a strong spirit. Perhaps she drew strength from helping those worse off than herself: during her affair with Jonas, the princess turned from a “playgirl” almost into “Mother Teresa.” Following the example of her mother, Queen Silvia, who devoted her entire life to charity, Madeleine became a participant in important social missions. She traveled with charity projects to China and Ukraine, studied the activities of the World Childhood Fund, organized by Queen Silvia. After the breakup, the princess threw herself into work.

And goodness and justice triumphed. Madeleine met her love. This romantic story could be called "Autumn in New York" if all dramatic associations were discarded.

The city of skyscrapers hosted the christening of baby Estelle, daughter of Crown Princess Victoria. Madeleine, of course, was there. And the impressive British businessman Christopher O'Neill was also present there.

« I immediately felt that Madeleine was special, Christopher said later. This is what happens when you meet your Princess.» « Christopher melted my heart, he is my soul mate...“- echoed the girl. The romance flared up quickly. Soon the royal house announced their engagement.

On June 8, 2013, a wedding ceremony took place in Stockholm. When the 30-year-old princess entered the hall arm in arm with her father, her 38-year-old chosen one burst into tears of happiness. The jubilant roar of the crowd outside the church drowned out the triumphant artillery salvos. Yes, it was a picture worthy of a fairy tale. Now Madeleine and Christopher are already twice-happy parents. On February 20, 2014, their daughter Leonor Lilian Maria was born. And just recently, this summer. On June 15, Leonor gave birth to a brother, Nicholas Paul Gustav.

Madeleine is now a caring mother and a happy wife. Even “bad girls” grow into good wives. And the crown has absolutely nothing to do with it.

The royal family is, of course, no stranger to the constant scrutiny of the Swedish and foreign media. However, in recent years, several significant events have occurred in the Bernadotte family, which have attracted even more attention from the press and public, both in Sweden and abroad.

Perhaps no event in 2010 was watched as closely by the public as the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling, which took place on June 19, 2010.

The celebration of the wedding of Victoria and Daniel, the former owner of a sports club and the princess’s personal trainer, lasted three days. Thousands of people came to the Swedish capital to congratulate the young couple. Photos of the happy newlyweds were on the covers of newspapers and magazines around the world for several weeks.

Eighteen months later, on February 23, 2012, Victoria and Daniel had a daughter, Princess Estelle Silvia Eva Mary, at Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. She is second in line to inherit the throne. Princess Estelle's younger brother, Prince Oscar Karl Olof, was born on March 2, 2016.

French roots

The Swedish monarchical tradition is about a thousand years old. During this time, eleven dynasties have changed, including the currently ruling Bernadotte dynasty. The founder of the dynasty, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a marshal of Napoleon's army, became the Swedish crown prince in 1810. He ascended the throne under the name Charles XIV Johan. The Swedish royal family is related to all the royal courts of Europe.

The christening of Prince Nicholas by Archbishop Antje Jakelin.

Royal weddings

Almost on the same day, only two years later, on February 20, 2014, Victoria's younger sister, Madeleine, gave birth to a daughter, Princess Leonor Lilian Maria. The baby's father is British-American businessman Christopher O'Neill. On June 15, 2015, the couple had a son, Prince Nicholas. The youngest daughter, Princess Adrienne, was born on March 9, 2018.

The wedding of Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill took place on June 8, 2013 at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, after which the celebration continued at Drottningholm Palace, the residence of the royal family.

To maintain the title of Her Royal Highness, Princess Madeleine did not take the surname O'Neill. Unlike Prince Daniel, Christopher O'Neill chose to renounce his royal titles and retain his British and US citizenship. As such, he is not an official member of the Swedish royal family.

In June 2014, the Royal House of Sweden announced the engagement of the middle of the three royal children, Prince Carl Philip and his fiancée Sofia Hellqvist. The wedding took place on June 13, 2015 in Stockholm. Hellquist is a former model and reality television contestant. The couple has been living together since 2011. On April 19, 2016, Princess Sofia gave birth to a son, Prince Alexander Eric Hubertus Bertil. Their youngest son, Prince Gabriel Karl Walter, was born on August 31, 2017.

Carl XVI Gustaf

It was no coincidence that Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel chose the date of June 19 for their wedding. On this day in 1976, the current King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, married Queen Silvia.

King Carl XVI Gustaf is the seventh monarch of the Bernadotte dynasty. He was born on April 30, 1946, the fifth child and only son of Crown Prince Gustav Adolf and Princess Sibylla. Crown Prince Gustav Adolf died in a plane crash in Denmark a year after the birth of his son.

In 1950, after the death of his great-grandfather Gustav V, Carl Gustaf became Crown Prince of Sweden. Then his grandfather, 68-year-old Gustav VI Adolf, ascended the Swedish throne.

Gustav Adolf reigned for 23 years and died in 1973. In the same year (at the age of 27), the Crown Prince ascended the throne and became King Carl XVI Gustaf. Its motto is “For Sweden – at all times!”

Three generations of the royal family.

Queen's career

Translator Sylvia Sommerlath, a native of Germany, at one time probably could not have imagined that she was destined to become the Queen of Sweden. Sylvia met her future husband in 1972, at the Olympic Games in Munich, where Sylvia worked as a senior guide.

Silvia is the first Queen of Sweden to have a professional career before her marriage. In those days, marriages between royalty and “people of the people” were extremely rare. Queen Silvia managed to change the image of the queen, making it more modern. Equality reigns in her relationship with the king, and Sylvia herself is involved in social activities, paying especially much attention to the rights of children.

Photo: Kate Gabor/Kungahuset

For Sweden – at all times!

Sweden combines what seemed incompatible just a few decades ago: a stable democracy based on the principles of equality, and a monarchy with strong historical traditions.

The most important symbol of Sweden and formally the head of state, according to the 1974 constitution, the king has no political power. The duties of the monarch are mainly ceremonial and representative.

King Carl XVI Gustaf makes a lot of efforts to solve environmental problems and is considered an authority on environmental issues. Among other things, he has received an award from the US Environmental Protection Agency. He pays no less attention to the preservation of Sweden's cultural heritage and believes that the royal palaces with their magnificent collections and parks should be accessible to everyone.

The difficult everyday life of a monarch

King Carl XVI Gustaf is an active monarch who is interested in what is happening in the country, including Swedish business. In addition to two or three annual official visits to other countries, he participates in international trips organized by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and the World Scout Organization.

The Swedish royal family receives thousands of invitations every year. Once a week, the king holds a meeting with the queen, the crown princess and his closest subordinates to review the invitations and decide which ones are the most important. During the year, the royal family manages to visit all corners of Sweden.

When the King is unable to carry out his duties (for example, while traveling abroad), Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip or Princess Madeleine - in that order - temporarily assume the duties of regents.

Famous Swedish monarchs

Gustav II Adolf

Gustav II Adolf reigned from 1611 to 1632. Thanks to his participation in the Thirty Years' War, he was able to prove himself as a talented military leader and an experienced diplomat. Under his leadership, Sweden acquired one of the most combat-ready armies. Gustav II Adolf was killed in 1632 at the Battle of Lützen. Parliament decided to honor the memory of the monarch by giving him the title Gustavus Adolf the Great. No other Swedish king has received such an honor.

Queen Christina

With the exception of the short (1719-1720) reign of Queen Ulrika Elenora, Queen Christina is the only female monarch in modern Swedish history. Queen Christina ascended the throne after Gustav II Adolf in 1632, on the eve of her sixth birthday, reigned for 22 years, and abdicated the throne in 1654. Then she converted to Catholicism and settled in Rome, losing the throne to her cousin Carl Gustav. When he died in 1660, she returned to Sweden in the hope of regaining the throne. However, her demand was rejected by parliament, and Christina had to return to Rome.

Gustav III

Gustav III reigned from 1771 to 1792 and is often called the "King of the Theater." He was an enthusiastic patron of the arts, especially theater and opera, and founded the first opera in Stockholm (in 1782), the Swedish Academy and the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. The methods of government of Gustav III were not popular with the highest aristocracy. The result of this confrontation was a conspiracy in 1792: Gustav III was mortally wounded by a shot by Jakob Johan Anckarström during a masked ball at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm. Ankarström later confessed to his crime and was executed.

Future Queen of Sweden

Having eventually replaced her father on the royal throne, Crown Princess Victoria will become the 70th Swedish monarch and the third female monarch in Swedish history.

Crown Princess Victoria's daily routine includes formal dinners, opening ceremonies and meetings with high-profile international guests. In addition, she attends the Foreign Relations Advisory Council and ministerial meetings, and serves as temporary regent when necessary.

Victoria makes many official visits. Her first independent visit took place in 2001 - to Japan, where she presented the achievements of her country: design, music, cooking and environmental developments. By the way, the Crown Princess shows personal interest in all these areas. In addition to Swedish, she speaks English, French and German.

What did the Crown Princess study?

Victoria received her primary education in public schools, and her secondary education in a private school. Despite dyslexia, thanks to her perseverance and love of knowledge, she graduated from school in 1996 with good grades.
After graduating from high school, the Crown Princess studied French at the Western Catholic University in Angers, France.
In 1998, she entered Yale University in the USA, where she studied geology, history and international relations. During her studies, she became very interested in international relations and completed internships at the UN in New York and at the Swedish Embassy in Washington.

In the spring of 2002, she continued her studies in international relations at the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at Uppsala University in Sweden. As part of a training program with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), she visited Uganda and Ethiopia. She also interned at the offices of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Berlin and Paris, received basic military training and attended courses at the National Defense College (Försvarshögskolan) in Stockholm.

useful links

www.royalcourt.se Royal Court of Sweden
www.sweden.gov.se Swedish government agencies

Love for art

Crown Princess Victoria loves painting and drawing. She highly values ​​the cultural heritage left by her ancestors. During big celebrations, she proudly wears the family jewelry.

Office in the old town

Like the king and queen, Crown Princess Victoria's office, where her subordinates work, is located in the royal palace in Stockholm's Old Town.

Hobby

Crown Princess Victoria loves spending time outdoors. She enjoys long walks, skiing and other outdoor activities. She loves animals very much, especially dogs. As a young mother, she spends a lot of time with her daughter Estelle.

Life in Haga Palace

Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel and their daughter Estelle live in Haga Palace near Stockholm, where King Carl XVI Gustaf was born and lived for some time.

Children's Foundation The Crown Princess Victoria Foundation was established in 1997 to help provide recreational facilities for children with functional impairments or chronic illnesses.

Who hasn't dreamed of being a princess or marrying a prince? Nowadays, everything is possible; crowned heads marry ordinary people. They no longer rule the country (in European countries), do not wear dresses with crinolines, prefer business class cars, and are on government support. In modern conditions, the royal family is needed more “for beauty” than for rule. A striking example of this is the Swedish royal family.

In the struggle for existence, the royal house is ready to go to great lengths - including changing the rules of succession to the throne. According to Sweden's 1980 law of succession, the throne passes to the king's eldest child, regardless of gender. Previously, the throne was occupied by the eldest son. There were two exceptions to this rule - Queen Christina in the 17th century and Queen Ulrika Eleonora in the 18th century. Subjects love their king and his family. In order to catch a glimpse of the wedding of the Crown Princess in the summer of 2010, people from all over the country came to Stockholm. The public values ​​the activities of members of the Royal House in the field of charity very highly. Swedes enjoy watching television broadcasts, for example, from Victoria's birthday celebrations.

His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf. Carl Gustav Folke Hubertus was born on April 30, 1946 at Haga Palace in Stockholm to Prince Gustav Adolf and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. By that time, the family already had four children, but all were girls, so the newborn turned out to be the eldest son and heir. In 1947, Prince Gustav Adolf died tragically in a plane crash at Copenhagen Airport. After the death of his father in 1947, Carl Gustav was raised by his mother and grandfather, who ascended to the Swedish throne in 1950 under the name of King Gustav VI. Simultaneously with the proclamation of his grandfather as king, his four-year-old grandson was proclaimed heir to the throne. He attended the Broms school in Stockholm, then the Sigtuna boarding school.
The prince served two and a half years in the armed forces under a special program that included training in all branches of the military with a particular emphasis on the navy. On September 15, 1973, after the death of his grandfather, Carl Gustav ascended the Swedish throne. He rules under the motto “For Sweden and with the times.” In accordance with the new constitution of the country that came into force in 1975, the king actually had only ceremonial duties.

Gustav VI

In 1972, then-Crown Prince Carl Gustav met a translator from Germany, Silvia Sommerlath, at the Summer Olympics in Munich. In March 1976, they announced their engagement. The wedding took place on June 19, 1976 at the Stockholm Cathedral.

Queen Silvia was born on December 23, 1943 in the family of German businessman Walter Sommerlath and Brazilian Alice Sommerlath. From 1947 to 1957, the Sommerlath family lived in Sao Paulo, after which they returned to Germany. Silvia Sommerlath graduated from school in Düsseldorf in 1963, and then from the Institute of Translators in Munich. After graduation, she worked at the Argentine consulate in Munich. In 1971-1973 she worked on the organizing committee of the Summer Olympic Games in Munich. The Queen of Sweden is active in the field of disability assistance and is the Chairman of the Royal Wedding Fund, which funds research to help disabled athletes. Heads the International Children's Fund (World Childhood Foundation).

Queen Silvia

Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Désiré of Sweden was born on July 14, 1977 at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm. Victoria graduated from primary school and gymnasium in 1996. Afterwards, she studied for a year at the Western Catholic University in Angers (France). From 1998 to 2000, Victoria lived in the United States, where she studied various subjects at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. In May 1999, Victoria completed an internship at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C., and then served three weeks in the Swedish Army. In 2000, she took a course at the Swedish National Cathedral College.

Princess Victoria

As heir to the royal throne, Victoria serves as regent in cases where Carl XVI Gustaf is unable to fulfill his duties as head of state and monarch. Such duties include, but are not limited to, official visits, representing Sweden and the royal family during public events; Victoria also runs her own program, within which she provides assistance in resolving international conflicts, participates in international peacekeeping activities and provides support to people with disabilities.

In May 2002, Swedish newspaper Expressen reported that Victoria was having an affair with her personal sports trainer, Daniel Westling, who is the owner of Balance Training, which has three gyms in central Stockholm. Currently the company has about 100 employees. Rumors about their wedding appeared in 2009. According to the provisions of the Swedish law of succession, the government must approve the marriage of a princess or prince of Sweden. Otherwise, the prince or princess loses their right to the throne. On February 24, 2009, permission was received, and the wedding took place on June 19, 2010.
On February 23, 2012, Victoria gave birth to a daughter, Estelle, Duchess of Östergotland, second in line of succession to the throne after her mother.

Princess Victoria and Daniel

Prince Carl Philip was born on May 13, 1979. He is currently ranked third behind his sister Crown Princess Victoria and niece Princess Estelle. However, in the line of succession to the throne of the Commonwealth of Nations, he is ahead of his sister and niece, being in 204th place, since Great Britain gives preference to men in the line of succession to the throne.

Prince Carl Philip

The prince holds the rank of reserve officer in the Swedish Amphibian Corps. In 2007, he became captain after undergoing appropriate training. Carl Philipp received his license from the Swedish Motor Sports Federation in 2003 and has been racing as a driver since 2005. Since 2008, he has taken part in the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavian racing series in a Porsche 911 GT3.

Carl Philip dated Emma Pearland, but their relationship ended in a breakup in 2009. In April 2010, he confirmed his relationship with model Sofia Hellqvist.

Carl Philip and Emma

Sofia

Sofia is also known for her candid photo shoots.

Princess Madeleine was born on June 10, 1982, studied at the Enskild Gymnasium, graduating from the main course on August 20, 1998. Two years later she received a bachelor's degree in art from the Enskilde gymnasium. She was engaged in horse riding at a professional level. Participated in equestrian competitions. He is a member of the Faeltrittklub equestrian club in Stockholm.

Princess Madeleine

Madeleine was in a relationship with Jonas Bergström for a long time, but the couple could not tie the knot, since by law the youngest daughter in the royal family cannot marry until the eldest gets married. Crown Princess Victoria announced her engagement on February 24, 2009, and in August 2009, Princess Madeleine's engagement to Jonas Bergström was announced. The engagement was called off on April 24, 2010. In an interview with the local publication Dagens Industri, the princess spoke about how hard it was for her to part with her ex-fiancé, lawyer Jonas Bergström, who cheated on her with a young Norwegian, Tora Uppström.

On October 24, 2012, the Princess's father, King Carl Gustav, announced Madeleine's engagement to Christopher O'Neill. They met about 2 years ago in New York. The wedding is planned for the summer of 2013. The new “Prince Charming” comes from an influential family. His mother is Eva O'Neill, a member of New York's high society. According to Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, she once dated Prince Charles.