29th August 2018 // Crown Princess Victoria talks about her and her family’s shared love of nature at the Stockholm Water Prize during World Water Week
45 years ago today, on September 15, 1973 Carl XVI Gustaf became the King of Sweden.
In the Helsingborg Hospital, on September 15, 1973, at 20:35 the reigning monarch, Gustaf VI Adolf quietly passed away at the age of 90. His grandson, the 27 years old new King Carl XVI Gustaf went out that night to meet the press, his shoulder heavy with the sudden responsibility.
Also on that exact same day, Carl XVI Gustaf’s future son-in-law, Olof Daniel Westling was born. No one imagined that little boy would one day become the consort of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s heir, the future monarch of Sweden.
Earlier this year on April 26, 2018 Carl XVI Gustaf become the longest reigning monarch in Sweden’s history after surpassing King Magnus Eriksson’s record, who ruled as King of Sweden for 44 years and 222 days, between 1319 and 1364.
Four Swedish police officers’ New York vacation was interrupted when a fight broke out on the subway. The train operator called for support, and — being cops and all — they dutifully stepped in to help until local authorities arrived.
The visiting cops had to subdue the two men involved in the fight, which no doubt takes skill to do safely. But it’s how they did their job after they gained control that really impressed people.
Say it louder for those in the back to hear. Calmly and unarmed.
Cops who help people, calmly disable a situation and restore public order rather than flex their authority, escalate the situation leading to a shit storm? Interesting….
King Carl XVI Gustaf- The top dog of the royal family. Awkward, scandal prone but ultimately loves his family very much and people who meet him away from the cameras always say how personable he is.
Queen Silvia- Carl Gustaf’s wife. She was born in Germany to a German father and Brazilian mother. She lived for some time in Brazil as well. They met at the Munich Olympics and the rest is history. Effortlessly chic always. She’s a highly impressive woman who can speak multiple languages fluently
Crown Princess Victoria- The oldest daughter of Carl Gustaf and Silvia. Born in 1977 she was displaced by her younger brother until Sweden changed the law in 1980 and she given back her rightful place as heir. Pure cupcake
Prince Daniel- Victoria’s husband. He was a personal trainer and had his own gyms. That’s where he met Victoria and their relationship blossomed. They married in 2010. Daniel loves Victoria more than anyone loves anything
Princess Estelle- Victoria and Daniel’s oldest child and the future Queen of Sweden. She was born in 2012. Just like her mum was, she is the mama hen of the other royal children and has entertained us with her sass for six years.
Prince Oscar- Victoria and Daniel’s younger child. He was born in 2016. He is the master of serious faces. I’m pretty sure it’s because his smile is so beautiful that if he did it too much the world would implode
Prince Carl Philip- Silvia and Carl Gustaf’s middle child and only son. He was born in 1979 and immediately became heir to the throne. A year later the laws were changed and he was moved down to second in line. He’s extremely beautiful and is also super sensitive so he’s basically the perfect man
Princess Sofia- Prince Carl Philip’s wife. They got married in 2015 (I was in Stockholm for their wedding). She was a glamour model and reality TV star which caused a bit of a stir but she also founded her own charity and is extremely eloquent and passionate. Also beautiful.
Prince Alexander- Carl Philip and Sofia’s first son. He was born in 2016. Initially he was a little quiet but now he’s basically a little cherub who has a vibrant personality and filled the chaotic gap we’d come to expect from the kids when Leonore couldn’t go to a family event.
Prince Gabriel- Carl Philip and Sofia’s second son. He was born in 2017. We haven’t got to know him too well yet because he’s still so little but he has the biggest blue eyes and loves chomping on his programme
Princess Madeleine- Carl Gustaf and Silvia’s youngest child and second daughter. She was born in 1982. She had a bit of a reputation as a wild thing as a young woman but she’s settled down. She lives in London now and works privately for Childhood, a charity founded by her mother Silvia.
Chris O’Neill- Madeleine’s husband since 2013. He is not a working royal and didn’t take a title. At first people didn’t trust Chris and kind of thought he was a bit cold. But then he cried at their wedding and gave an interview where he just talked about how much he loved her and how amazing she is for an hour and everyone fell in love
Princess Leonore- Madeleine and Chris’s oldest child. Leonore was born in 2014 and her mum was likely a few weeks pregnant at the wedding. She is known as the Princess of Destruction and I call her the Little Adventurer after a nickname Madeleine gave her because she’s always a whirlwind of chaos
Prince Nicolas- Madeleine and Chris’s middle child and only son. He was born in 2015. He’s more stoic and quiet than his sister and seems to be the more gentle soul. Apparently he loves taking himself off to quietly read a book. Probably best known for chomping on a light up toothbrush at Oscar’s christening in 2016
Princess Adrienne- The baby of the siblings. She was born earlier this year (2018). We obviously don’t know her too well yet but I’m excited to get to know her over the years
The Speech to end all speeches.At their wedding, Daniel delivered a heartfelt, eloquent speech to his new bride. Every time I watch it, it brings a tear to my eye.
Nine years ago I had the privilege of getting to know a young woman with a great sense of humour, a strong sense of duty who was also very, very smart. We became friends. The more I got to know her, the more irresistible she became. These years with you Victoria have flown past and have been the best in my life.
There have been times when Victoria’s Official Duties have separated us. Often she is taken to far away countries and continents. I will never forget some years ago when she left for one of her many trips, this time to China.We were going to be apart for a whole month. The night before she left she got home late after an official engagement, and she had many preparations to make before the long month of duties ahead. Instead of getting some valuable sleep she stayed up the whole night writing.In the morning after she had gone I found a box. And in that box I found 30 beautiful letters, addressed to me. One for every day she would be away. This romantic gesture is typical of you Victoria. It says everything about the loving person you are.
Once upon a time the young man was … perhaps not a frog, in the beginning of the fairytale … as in the story first told by the Grimm Brothers. But he was certainly not a prince. The first kiss did not change that. His transformation was not possible without the support of the wise king and queen, who had ruled the kingdom for many years, and who were full of wisdom, experience and had good hearts. They knew what was best and guided the couple with a gentle hand, generously sharing all their experience.
I feel a great gratitude to Your Majesties the King and Queen, for your strong support, and for the way you have welcomed me into your family. My thoughts are naturally also with my own family. To my mother and my father, and my sister and her daughters. Mother and father, during my childhood you gave me your unconditional love. You have helped me with your wisdom, and you have helped me to build strong self-esteem and confidence through sound values which have guided me through life.Today, when we traveled through the streets of Stockholm we were met by incredible joy and warmth. A memory we will carry with us deep in our hearts, forever. In the years that Victoria and I have had together, I have felt a great support from the people I have met. It has been very important to me. Thank you.
I feel a deep respect for the tasks ahead of me. It will undoubtedly be a major challenge. I will do my utmost to live up to the expectations that will be placed on me. I will do my utmost to support my wife, the Crown Princess, in her important achievements. Beloved Victoria. I am so proud of what we have together. I am so happy to now be your husband. I will do everything I can ever do for you to remain as happy as you are today. Victoria, the greatest of all is love. I love you so.
The Crown Princess and I meet every now and then. Today I asked her what she and Estelle were doing at the weekend and she showed from her mobile phone a photo of her and Estelle, collecting trash in plastic bags in Haga Park. That is what I call a role model!
Jan Eliasson, Chair of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.at the Ocean Summit, 18th June 2018 (via duchessofvastergotland)
There isn’t really an exact reason other than the fact they’re different families with different systems. The UK is quite unique in the strict title system it has and the existence of peerages. Peerages separate “commoners” from the aristocracy and so they hold a lot of weight. In Sweden and others they don’t have peerages as such so they just aren’t as important culturally. It’s also much easier as when you’re talking about a woman in the BRF who marries in she would either be the Duchess title or Princess Husband’s Name whereas other countries make women a princess in their own right. Sweden is generally just a bit more relaxed, they kind of make it up as they go along.
House of Brat 