Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este; Credit https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73964267

Princess Astrid of Belgium was born on June 5, 1962, at Château de Belvédère in Laeken, Brussels, Belgium. She is the second of the three children of King Albert II of the Belgians, who abdicated in favor of his son Philippe in 2013, and his wife Queen Paola (born Paola Ruffo di Calabria). Her full name is Astrid Joséphine-Charlotte Fabrizia Elisabeth Paola Maria and she is named after her paternal grandmother Astrid of Sweden, wife of King Leopold III of the Belgians, who tragically died in a car accident at the age of 29. Her godparents were her maternal uncle Fabrizio, Prince Ruffo di Calabria-Santapau, and her paternal aunt Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg.

Princess Astrid has two brothers:

Astrid has a half-sister from her father’s affair with Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps. After years of legal battles, on October 1, 2020, the Belgian Court of Appeal ruled that Delphine and her children are entitled to the style and title of HRH Prince/Princess of Belgium, and can use the former King’s surname of Saxe-Coburg.

  • Princess Delphine of Belgium (born 1968), married James O’Hare, an American, had two children, now styled Princess Joséphine of Belgium and Prince Oscar of Belgium

After completing her primary and secondary education in Brussels, Astrid studied art history for a year at Leiden University in the Netherlands before continuing her art history studies at the Institute of European Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States.

On May 13, 1984, the engagement of Princess Astrid and Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este was announced. Lorenz is the eldest son of Archduke Robert of Austria-Este, the second son of Karl I, the last Emperor of Austria and has been Head of the House of Austria-Este since 1996.

 

The couple was married on September 22, 1984, at the Church of Notre-Dame au Sablon in Brussels, Belgium.

Initially, Astrid’s children were not in the line of succession to the Belgian throne, as Belgium followed male-only primogeniture. They were born as Archdukes and Archduchess of Austria-Este. However, the laws were changed in 1991, and Astrid and their children were added to the line of succession. Their children were also granted the title of Prince/Princess of Belgium. In 1995, Astrid’s husband Lorenz was created Prince of Belgium in his own right.

Astrid and Lorenz had five children:

  • Prince Amedeo of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este (born 1986), married Elisabetta “Lili” Maria Rosboch von Wolkenstein, had two daughters and one son
  • Princess Maria Laura of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (born 1988), married William Isvy
  • Prince Joachim of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este (1991)
  • Princess Luisa Maria of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (born 1995)
  • Princess Laetitia Maria of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (born 2003)

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Princess Astrid represents her brother King Philippe on foreign visits and gives her services to many organizations including:

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Princess Astrid and her husband; photo: Zimbio

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Princess Chulabhorn Walailak of Thailand

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Chulabhorn Walailak of Thailand; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Chulabhorn Walailak of Thailand is the youngest child of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit Kitiyakara. She was born on July 4, 1957, in Bangkok. The princess has three older siblings:

Princess Chulabhorn attended the Chitralada School in the Dusit Palace complex. Following her secondary education, she attended Kasetart University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Organic Chemistry in 1979. She continued her studies in organic chemistry at Mahidol University, receiving her doctorate in 1985.

In 1982, Princess Chulabhorn married Virayudh Tishyasarin, an Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force. With permission from her father, she retained her royal title and style. The marriage ended in divorce two years later. They had two daughters:

In 1987, Princess Chulabhorn established the Chulabhorn Research Institute where she serves as president. A recipient of the UNESCO Einstein Award in 1986, she is also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry in the United Kingdom. In addition to her scientific and educational work, the princess is a classically trained musician.

photo: Chulabhorn Hospital

Princess Chulabhorn; photo: Chulabhorn Hospital

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Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand; Credit – Wikipedia Government of the Kingdom of Thailand. © ITU/ M. Jacobson – Gonzalez

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand was born at the Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, Dusit Palace in Bangkok, Thailand on April 2, 1955, the third of four children of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit Kitiyakara. She has three siblings:

Princess Sirindhorn completed her primary and secondary education at the exclusive Chitralada School, established for the children of the Thai royal family. She then attended Chulalongkorn University, earning a bachelor’s degree in history in 1976. After that, she enrolled in two Master’s programs concurrently, earning a master’s degree in Oriental Epigraphy in 1979 from Silpakorn University, and another in Oriental Languages from Chulalongkorn University in 1980. She later received a doctorate in Educational Development in 1986 from Srinakharinwirot University.

Princess Sirindhorn greeting Crown Princess Masako of Japan at the Dutch enthronement, 2013. photo: Zimbio

Princess Sirindhorn greeting Crown Princess Masako of Japan at the Dutch enthronement, 2013. photo: Zimbio

The Princess is a professor and Head of the History Department at the Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, in addition to many royal duties and visits on behalf of the King. Princess Sirindhorn is perhaps more widely known than her brother and sisters, as she represented her father at events around the world. She often represents the Thai Royal Family at other royal events, such as the enthronement ceremonies for King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands (along with her brother).

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King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s son Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, his daughters Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana and Princess Bajrakitiyabha Manidol, his sisters Princess Ubolratana and Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and Queen Suthida, attend his coronation in 2019

The princess is also active in charitable causes. She serves as Executive Vice President of the Thai Red Cross Society, and Executive Chairman of the Chaipattana Foundation (in charge of His Majesty the King’s development and environmental conservation projects), the Anandha Mahidol Foundation (to promote higher education), and the King Rama II Foundation (to conserve and promote Thai culture). In addition, she serves as President of the Prince Mahidol Award Foundation, which provides international recognition to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in medicine and public health. She has also founded the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Charity Fund, which supports projects that improve people’s living conditions, including programs that relieve those suffering from catastrophe.

Princess Sirindhorn with her parents, 2012. photo: Bangkok Post

Princess Sirindhorn with her parents, 2012. photo: Bangkok Post

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Srirasm Suwadi, the former Princess Srirasm of Thailand

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: Zimbio

Photo: Zimbio

Srirasm Suwadi, the former Princess Srirasm of Thailand, was the third wife of Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn, the son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit Kitiyakara, and now King of Thailand. She was born Srirasm Akharapongpreecha on December 9, 1971, the third of five children of Aphirut and Wanthanee Akharaphongpreecha. Following her primary education, she attended the Bangkok Business College. In 1993, she became a lady-in-waiting in the Crown Prince’s household. She later graduated from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in Management Science, and Kasetsart University in 2007 with a master’s degree in Home Economics.

Srirasm and the Crown Prince were married on February 10, 2001, at the Nonthaburi Palace. Their marriage was not announced until early 2005 when Srirasm was pregnant with the couple’s only son. After his birth, she was elevated to Princess of Thailand.

Following her son’s birth, she founded the “Sai Yai Rak Jak Mae Su Luk” (Love and care from mother to children) campaign. This organization promotes breastfeeding and healthy upbringing of children. She was often seen at official events along with her husband, both within Thailand as well as representing the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at events elsewhere in the world.

 

On December 10, 2014, the couple divorced.  Two days later, Srirasm relinquished her royal titles and the Thai royal palace released this statement: “Princess Srirasmi, wife of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn… has written to respectfully resign from her status in the royal family and permission has been granted by His Majesty the King.”

After Srirasmi’s divorce, her parents were arrested for lèse-majesté, a French term meaning “to do wrong to majesty”, is an offense against the dignity of a reigning sovereign Thailand’s criminal code has carried a prohibition against lèse-majesté since 1908. Srirasmi’s parents later admitted to misusing their royal connection twelve years earlier which led to a former neighbor being jailed on bogus fraud charges. Both were sentenced to five years in prison, which was reduced to two and a half years.

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King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand; Credit – Wikipedia

King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand was born on July 28, 1952, in the Ambara Villa of the Royal Dusit Palace, Bangkok, the second child and only son of King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Sirikit Kitiyakara. He was named Crown Prince and heir to the throne on December 28, 1972.

Vajiralongkorn has three sisters:

Following his primary education in Bangkok, he attended King’s Mead School and Millfield School, both in England, and The King’s School and Royal Military College, Duntroon, both in Australia. He later earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from the Sukhothai Thammatirat University in Bangkok. He has served in the Thai military forces since 1975 and holds the ranks of General in the Royal Thai Army, Admiral in the Royal Thai Navy, and Air Chief Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force.

Vajiralongkorn has been married four times. His first wife Soamsavali Kitiyakara was a first cousin on his mother’s side. They were married on January 3, 1977, and divorced in 1993. After their divorce, Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara retained her title as princess and remained a member of the Thai royal family. They had one daughter:

Shortly after his first marriage, the crown prince began living with Yuvadhida Polpraserth, a Thai actress. They had four sons and one daughter.

  • Juthavachara Vivacharawongse (born 1979)
  • Vacharaesorn Vivacharawongse  (born 1981)
  • Chakriwat Vivacharawongse (born 1983)
  • Vatcharawee Vivacharawongse (born 1985)
  • Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana (born 1987)

They eventually married in February 1994, and she took the name Sujarinee Mahidol na Ayudhaya. However, in 1996, she fled to the United Kingdom with her children. The Crown Prince accused her of adultery and managed to retrieve their daughter and bring her back to Thailand. Sujarinee and the couple’s sons were stripped of their royal titles and the couple’s marriage was dissolved. Known as Sujarinee Vivacharawongse, she moved with her sons to the United States.

Then, on February 10, 2001, Vajiralongkorn married for a third time, to Srirasm Akharaphongpreecha, at the Nonthaburi Palace. Srirasm had served as a lady-in-waiting in the Prince’s household since 1993. The marriage was not made public until 2005, just a few months before their son was born. At the time of his birth, Srirasm was elevated to Princess of Thailand.

The couple divorced on December 10, 2014. Two days later, Srirasm relinquished her royal titles and the Thai royal palace released this statement: “Princess Srirasmi, wife of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn… has written to respectfully resign from her status in the royal family and permission has been granted by His Majesty the King.”

 

On May 1, 2019, just days before his coronation ceremonies, King Vajiralongkorn married Suthida Tidjai at the Amphorn Sathan Residencial Hall in Bangkok. Suthida had been a flight attendant for Thai Airways, and in 2016, was appointed a Commander in the King’s Guard and promoted to the rank of General of the Royal Thai Army.

King Vajralongkorn and Queen Suthida. source: Daily Mail

Upon his father’s death on October 13, 2016, it was announced that Vajiralongkorn would be proclaimed King of Thailand following a period of personal mourning. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn did not want to be immediately named king to give the nation time to mourn his father’s death. He was proclaimed King of Thailand on December 1, 2016.  Coronation ceremonies for King Vajiralongkorn were held May 4 – May 6, 2019.

Major General Niramon Ounprom; Credit – Wikipedia

On July 28, 2019, King Maha Vajiralongkorn bestowed the title of Royal Noble Consort and the royal name of Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi to Major General Niramon Ounprom. Three months later a palace order was issued stating that Sineenat had been disrespectful to Queen Suthida and disloyal to the king stripped her of her title and ranks.  Sineenat’s titles were restored on September 2, 2020, with a royal edict stating that she “is not tarnished” and “Henceforth, it will be as if she had never been stripped of her military ranks or royal decorations.”

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Princess Ubol Ratana of Thailand

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Embed from Getty Images 

Princess Ubol Ratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi of Thailand was born on April 5, 1951, in Lausanne, Switzerland. She is the eldest child of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and Sirikit Kitiyakara.

Princess Ubol Ratana has three siblings:

Following her primary and secondary schooling in Thailand, Princess Ubol Ratana attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), graduating in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She later earned her master’s degree in Public Health at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

On July 25, 1972, Ubol Ratana married American businessman Peter Ladd Jensen. The couple had met while both attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Upon her marriage, she relinquished her royal style and title. She lived in the United States with her husband for over twenty-six years and took the name Mrs. Julie Jensen.

Ubol Ratana had three children who were born and grew up in the United States:

Ubol Ratana and her husband divorced in 1998, and in 2001, she returned to live in Thailand, resumed her royal duties and position within the Thai court. She is styled Princess Ubol Ratana, without the style Her Royal Highness.

In 2004, her son Bhumi, who had autism, was killed in the tsunami that ravaged Thailand. She subsequently established the Khun Poom Foundation in his memory. The foundation helps children with autism and other learning disabilities.

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King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s son Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, his daughter Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, his daughter Princess Bajrakitiyabha Manidol, his sister Princess Ubolratana, his sister Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, and Queen Suthida, attend his enthronement in 2019

Princess Ubol Ratana is often seen at official ceremonies and events with her family. An aspiring actress, she has appeared in two Thai movies – Where The Miracles Happen in 2008, and My Best Bodyguard in 2010.

 

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Princess Estelle of Sweden

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Estelle of Sweden, 2023; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland was born on February 23, 2012, at Karolinska University Hospital in Solna, Sweden. She is the eldest child of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband Prince Daniel (born Daniel Westling), and is second in the line of succession to the Swedish throne, after her mother.

Princess Estelle with her mother Crown Princess Victoria and her grandfather King Carl XVI Gustaf; Credit – Photo: Thron Ullberg/The Royal Court of Sweden, 2022

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. Even after the birth of her brother Prince Oscar, Princess Estelle retains her place in the line of succession as the eldest child of Crown Princess Victoria who is the eldest child and heir of King Carl XVI Gustaf. This means that it is expected that the next two Swedish monarchs will be Victoria followed by her daughter Estelle. Sweden has had only three Queens Regnant: Margarethe I, Queen of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden  (1389-1412), Queen Christina of Sweden (1632-1654), and Queen Ulrika Eleanora of Sweden (1718-1720)

Estelle_christening

Princess Estelle is christened as her parents and grandfather look on; Photo: Swedish Royal Court 

Princess Estelle was christened in the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace of Stockholm on May 22, 2012. Her godparents were:

She was given the names Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary.

Estelle: possibly for Countess Estelle Bernadotte (1904–1984), the American wife of Count Folke Bernadotte; when King Carl Gustaf announced his granddaughter’s names, he said that the name Estelle is very close to the heart of her mother and also the family
Silvia: for her maternal grandmother
Ewa: for her paternal grandmother
Mary: for her godmother Crown Princess Mary of Denmark

Princess Estelle’s family, 2022

Estelle has one younger brother:

On August 25, 2014, Princess Estelle started preschool at Äventyret Preschool in Danderyd Municipality, Stockholm. Äventyret Preschool was founded in 1992 and uses the Ur & Skur outdoor teaching methods to teach children about nature and to convey a sense of the natural world. In October 2016, Estelle started to attend Lilla Kvikkjokk, a Montessori school in the Djurgården section of Stockholm. Princess Estelle has been attending Campus Manilla, an independent primary and secondary school, in the Djurgården section in Stockholm since August 2018.

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Christopher O’Neill, husband of Princess Madeleine of Sweden

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: Brigitte Grenfeldt, Swedish Royal Court,

Christopher Paul O’Neill was born on born June 27, 1974, in London, England. He is the only child of Paul O’Neill (1926–2004), an American investment banker who came to London in the 1960s to set up the European head office of Oppenheimer & Co, and his second wife, Eva Maria Walter (born 1940 in Austria). Christopher has dual United States – United Kingdom citizenship. He has five half-sisters: From his mother’s side – Tatjana Schoeller who married John Henry Erland d’Abo and Natascha Loeb (born 1968 in Munich Germany) who married Ernst, Graf (Count) von Abensperg und Traun; From his father’s side – Stefanie, Annalisa, and Karen.

Chris ONeill_birth family

Christopher O’Neill with his parents; Photo: Swedish Royal Court

While growing up in London, Christopher attended Eaton House School and then Westminster Under School. In 1988, he began his studies at the Institut auf dem Rosenberg, an international high school in St. Gallen, Switzerland, graduating in 1992.

In 1992, Christopher began his university studies at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations with a minor in Business in 1996. While he was at Boston University, he worked part-time for various financial firms to develop work experience and to gain a practical understanding of the financial industry. In 1996, Christopher returned to the United Kingdom and worked in the mergers and acquisitions department of NM Rothschild & Sons, before moving to an early-stage venture capital firm, VennWorks LLP. After spending six years working in the United Kingdom, Christopher returned to the United States and attended the two-year, full-time MBA program at Columbia University Business School in New York City. After graduating from Columbia in 2005 with an MBA degree, Christopher worked for Steinberg Asset Management and Noster Capital, where he was a partner and head of research.

Christopher first met Princess Madeleine of Sweden after she had moved to New York City in 2010 following a broken engagement to work for the World Childhood Foundation, a charitable organization founded by her mother, Queen Silvia. The couple was first seen in public in January 2011. Their engagement was announced by the Swedish Royal Court on October 25, 2012.

Madeleine_engagement

Engagement Photo; Photo: Swedish Royal Court

Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill were married on June 8, 2013, at the Palace Church at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

Chris ONeill_wedding

Photo: Zimbio

Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill have two daughters and one son:

  • Princess Leonore, Duchess of Gotland (born 2014 at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, New York)
  • Prince Nicolas of Sweden, Duke of Ångermanland (born 2015 at Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden)
  • Princess Adrienne of Sweden, Duchess of Blekinge (born 2018, at Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden)

Unlike his brother-in-law, Prince Daniel, Christopher is untitled and undertakes no royal duties, since members of the Swedish Royal Family must hold Swedish citizenship, which O’Neill has declined. He remains a private US-UK citizen, can continue his career in finance, and the couple continued living in New York. Shortly before his engagement, Christopher quit his job at Noster Capital, but remains a consultant and is involved in other entrepreneurial ventures. In an interview at the time of his engagement, Christopher said, ” To continue my career is really important for me. I chose to not receive a title that would have prevented me from my dream of continuing my work. Of course, I consulted with Madeleine and the King and Queen. It was important for me to have their blessing.”

After their marriage, Madeline and Christopher resided in New York City, and their first child Princess Leonore was born there. In early 2015, the family returned to Sweden. Shortly after the birth of Prince Nicolas, the family moved to London, England. In August 2018, it was announced that Princess Madeleine and her family would be moving to Florida, in the United States. In March 2023, it was announced that the family would move back to Sweden in August 2023. However, it was announced in June 2023 that the family’s move to Sweden was postponed until June 2024.

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>.

On the day of the change, in a Facebook post, Princess Madeleine explained the reasoning and said that the change had been planned for a long time.

“Today the Court announced that Leonore, Nicolas and Adrienne should no longer belong to the Royal House, while remaining part of the Royal Family. This change has been planned for a long time. Chris and I think it is appropriate that our children will now have a greater opportunity to shape their own lives as private individuals.

We were honoured when my parents bestowed upon Leonore a royal title when she joined Estelle as the 2nd grandchild of our Swedish Royal Family. We have always believed in giving our children the freedom to choose their future, that’s why we welcome this decision wholeheartedly. I will continue with my royal responsibilities by supporting my parents and my sister.”

Christopher with his family, 2018. photo: Anna-Lena Ahlström, Swedish Royal Court

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Princess Leonore of Sweden, Duchess of Gotland

by Susan Flantzer

photo: Erika Gerdemark, Swedish Royal Court

Princess Leonore, Duchess of Gotland was born on February 20, 2014, at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, New York in the United States. She is the first child of Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O’Neill. Before her birth, the Swedish Royal Court announced that Princess Madeleine’s children would have the style Royal Highness and the title Prince/Princess and be in the line of succession to the throne. To be eligible to ascend the throne, Princess Madeleine’s children must be brought up in Sweden and be members of the Church of Sweden (Lutheran).  The infant princess was named Leonore Lilian Maria:

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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. 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. As a result, Leonore will be styled Princess Leonore, Duchess of Gotland.

In mid-April 2014, Princess Estelle of Sweden met her new cousin, Princess Leonore, during a trip to the United States with her mother Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

Leonore_Estelle

Princess Leonore and Princess Estelle; Photo: Swedish Royal Court, Crown Princess Victoria

Princess Leonore was christened on June 8, 2014, her parent’s first wedding anniversary. The Church of Sweden (Lutheran) christening was held at the Royal Chapel at Drottningholm Palace near Stockholm. Her godparents were:

  • Crown Princess Victoria, her maternal aunt
  • Tatjana d’Abo, her paternal aunt
  • Count Ernst Abensperg und Traun, her paternal uncle by marriage
  • Patrick Sommerlath, her maternal first cousin once removed
  • Alice Bamford, a friend of her parents
  • Louise Gottlieb, a friend of her parents
Leonore_Christening

Photo source: Hello

Leonore_godparents

Princess Leonore with her parents and godparents; Photo: Swedish Royal Court

At her christening, Princess Leonore received the Royal Order of the Seraphim from her grandfather, King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Leonore_after christening

Princess Leonore after her christening wearing the badge and the sash of the Royal Order of the Seraphim; Photo source: svt.se

Leonore became a big sister when her brother Prince Nicolas, Duke of Ångermanland was born on June 15, 2015, and again when her sister Princess Adrienne, Duchess of Blekinge was born on March 9, 2018.

In 2018, Princess Leonore’s family moved to Florida in the United States. Early in 2020, the Swedish Royal Court confirmed, “Princess Madeleine resides in Florida. Right now and for the near future, they will remain in Florida. This means that the children will also attend school in Florida.” It is expected that Leonore will start school in Florida during the fall of 2020.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Photo: Kungl. Hovstaterna / The Royal Court of Sweden

Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland was born on June 10, 1982, at Drottningholm Palace near Stockholm, Sweden. She is the youngest of the three children of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and his wife Queen Silvia (née Silvia Sommerlath).

Madeleine has an older sister and an older brother:

Princess Madeleine was christened at the Palace Church at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on August 31, 1982. She was given the names Madeleine Thérèse Amelie Josephine. Her fourth name, Josephine, is in honor of her ancestor, Josephine of Leuchtenberg, the wife of King Oscar I of Sweden and the granddaughter of Empress Josephine (Napoleon’s first wife) and her first husband Eugène de Beauharnais. Madeleine’s godparents were:

Madeleine_christening

Princess Madeleine’s christening; Photo source: http://hd.se

Princess Madeleine attended Västerled Parish Preschool in Stockholm, Sweden from 1985-1989. Beginning in 1989, she attended Smedslättsskolan (link translated from Swedish), a municipal elementary school in the district Smedslätten in Bromma, Stockholm, where he completed his junior level. In 1989 she continued on to the intermediate level at Carlssons School (link translated from Swedish) in Stockholm. In the autumn of 1998, Princess Madeleine began her senior-level studies at Enskilda Gymnasiet, a prestigious independent secondary school in Tegnérlunden, in central Stockholm, and graduated in 2001.

Princess Madeleine lived in London during 2011 where she studied English and returned to Sweden in 2002 to study Swedish law and computer literacy. In 2003, she enrolled at Stockholm University studying art history and ethnology. Madeleine completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in January 2006 and continued her studies with postgraduate courses in organization and leadership (international humanitarian work) and child psychology.

In 2006, Madeleine began a work experience at the headquarters of UNICEF in New York. She focused on children in institutional care, children in areas of conflict and vulnerability, and sexually exploited children. This prepared her for the work she continues to do at the World Childhood Foundation, founded by Madeleine’s mother, Queen Silvia of Sweden, in 1999 to reach and support children at risk around the world.

Madeleine childrens fund

Princess Madeleine visiting a project, supported by the World Childhood Foundation, to keep teenage mothers in school in Ohio; Photo: Swedish Royal Court

Princess Madeleine is the patron of My Big Day, the Swedish equivalent of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The organization’s goal is to make dreams come true for children in long-term hospital care.

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Princess Madeleine attends a music show with Ena, whose dream was to spend a day with Madeleine and be photographed with her; Photo: Swedish Royal Court

On August 11, 2009, Princess Madeleine announced her engagement to lawyer Jonas Bergström, her boyfriend since 2002. After many rumors in the media, it was announced on April 24, 2010, that the engagement had been called off. It was at this time, that Madeleine moved to New York to begin work at the New York office of the World Childhood Foundation. While in New York, Madeleine met Christopher O’Neill, a British-American businessman. The couple was first seen in public in January 2011. Their engagement was announced by the Swedish Royal Court on October 25, 2012.

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Engagement Photo; Photo: Ewa-Marie Rundquist, Swedish Royal Court

Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill were married on June 8, 2013, at the Palace Church at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

 

Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill have two daughters and one son:

  • Princess Leonore, Duchess of Gotland (born 2014, at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York, New York)
  • Prince Nicolas of Sweden, Duke of Ångermanland (born 2015, at Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden)
  • Princess Adrienne of Sweden, Duchess of Blekinge (born 2018, at Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden)

After their marriage, Madeline and Christopher lived in New York City, and their first child was born there.  In early 2015, they returned to Sweden. In August 2018, it was announced that Princess Madeleine and her family would be moving to Florida, in the United States, where the Princess will continue her work with the World Childhood Foundation. In March 2023, it was announced that the family would move back to Sweden in August 2023. However, it was announced in June 2023 that the family’s move to Sweden was postponed. Madeleine and her family moved back to Sweden in June 2024.

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>.

On the day of the change, in a Facebook post, Princess Madeleine explained the reasoning and said that the change had been planned for a long time.

“Today the Court announced that Leonore, Nicolas and Adrienne should no longer belong to the Royal House, while remaining part of the Royal Family. This change has been planned for a long time. Chris and I think it is appropriate that our children will now have a greater opportunity to shape their own lives as private individuals.

We were honoured when my parents bestowed upon Leonore a royal title when she joined Estelle as the 2nd grandchild of our Swedish Royal Family. We have always believed in giving our children the freedom to choose their future, that’s why we welcome this decision wholeheartedly. I will continue with my royal responsibilities by supporting my parents and my sister.”

Madeleine with her family, 2018. photo: Anna-Lena Ahlström, Swedish Royal Court

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