Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden

## Victoria

*Crown Princess of Sweden
Duchess of Västergötland*

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**Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden** (*Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée;* born 14 July 1977) is the heir apparent to the Swedish throne, as the eldest child of Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden.

If she ascends to the throne as expected, she will be Sweden's fourth queen regnant (after Margaret I, Christina, and Ulrika Eleonora) and the first since 1720.

## Early Life

* **HRH The Crown Princess**HRH Prince Daniel
	+ HRH Princess Estelle
	+ HRH Prince Oscar
* HRH Prince Carl PhilipHRH Princess Sofia
	+ Prince Alexander
	+ Prince Gabriel
* HRH Princess Madeleine
	+ Princess Leonore
	+ Prince Nicolas
	+ Princess Adrienne

HRH Princess Birgitta

Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler
Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld
Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson

### Birth

Victoria was born at 21:45 on 14 July 1977 at the Karolinska University Hospital in Solna, Sweden. Although she was the eldest child of Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, she was titled only as *Princess of Sweden* until 1980.

Victoria has two younger siblings, Prince Carl Philip (1979) and Princess Madeleine (1982).

### Christening

*Main article: Christening of Princess Victoria of Sweden*
Victoria was christened on 27 September 1977 at Storkyrkan in Stockholm. Her names were announced as *Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée.*

Her godparents are Harald V of Norway (then Crown Prince), Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands (Queen from 1980 to 2013), Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld, and Ralf Sommerlath.

### Heir Apparent

On 1 January 1980, Victoria was made *Crown Princess of Sweden* by the 1979 change to the Act of Succession. This constitutional change introduced absolute primogeniture, meaning that the throne would be inherited by the monarch's eldest child without regard to gender. Carl XVI Gustaf objected to the reform after it occurred — not because he objected to women entering the line of succession, but because he was upset about his son being stripped of the *Crown Prince* status he'd held since birth.

When Victoria became heir, she also was made *Duchess of Västergötland*, one of the historical provinces of Sweden.

### Confirmation

*Main article: Confirmation of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden*
Victoria was confirmed on 27 June 1992 at Räpplinge church on the island of Öland.

## Education

From 1996 to 1997, Victoria studied at the Catholic University of the West in Angers, France. In the fall term of 1997, she participated in a special program following the work of the Riksdag.

From 1998 to 2000, Victoria resided in the United States, where she studied various subjects at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. In May 1999, she was an intern at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Victoria completed a study program at the Rosenbad in 2001. In 2003, her education continued with visits to Swedish businesses, a study and intern program in agriculture and forestry, as well as completion of the basic soldier training at the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre.

In 2006, Victoria enrolled in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' Diplomat Program, running from September 2006 to June 2007. The program is a training program for young future diplomats and gives an insight into the ministry's work, Swedish foreign and security policies, and Sweden's relations with the rest of the world.

In June 2009, Victoria graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Uppsala University.

Victoria speaks Swedish, English, French, and German.

## Public Life

### Declaration of Majority

*Main article: 18th Birthday of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden*
On 14 July 1995, Victoria's Declaration of Majority took place in the Hall of State at Stockholm Palace. Victoria made her first public speech on this occasion.

### Crown Princess Victoria's Fund

In 1997, the Crown Princess Victoria's Fund was set up to provide support for leisure and recreational activities for children and young people with functional disabilities or chronic illnesses. It is run as a part of Radiohjälpen, the fundraising branch of Sveriges Television and Sveriges Radio.

Every year, Victoria visits one or several clubs or projects that have been granted money. These visits are not announced via the official royal diary but kept private; instead, Sveriges Television often accompanies her and airs short programs from these visits at a later date.

### Activities

Victoria was given her own royal household in October 2004, headed by the Marshal of the Court. It serves to coordinate Victoria's agenda of official engagements. As heir apparent to the throne, Victoria is a working member of the Swedish royal family. She attends the regular Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs and the Information Council with government ministers headed by the King. She also steps in as a temporary regent when needed.

Victoria carries out numerous engagements throughout Sweden, promoting Swedish culture and raising awareness for a variety of causes. She also makes many official visits abroad as a representative of Sweden.

* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2011
* 2012

Victoria's first major foreign official visit was to Japan. She promoted Swedish tourism, design, music, gastronomy, and environmental sustainability during the "Swedish Style" event.

She also visited the West Coast of the United States, where she participated in the celebrations of the Nobel centenary.
Victoria made official visits to the United States, Spain, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Kosovo.

Victoria made official visits to Egypt and the United States.

Victoria made an official visit to Saudi Arabia, as a part of a large official business delegation from Sweden.

**October:** She made an official visit to Hungary.

**January:** Victoria made an extended official visit to Australia, promoting Swedish style and businesses.

**April:** She visited Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to follow aid work and become informed about the work in the aftermath of the tsunami.
 She also made an official visit to Japan where she visited the Expo 2005 in Aichi, laid the foundation for a new IKEA store in Yokohama together with Hisako, Princess Takamado. She later met with the then-Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince, and Princess Nori.

**June:** Victoria made an official visit to Turkey where she participated in the Swedish Business Seminar and Sweden Day celebrations in Ankara. She visited the sights such as the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace, and Hagia Sophia. This was the first official royal visit from Sweden to Turkey since 1934, organized by the Swedish Embassy and Swedish Trade Council.

**September:** She made an official visit to China.

**March:** Victoria made an official visit to Brazil where she followed the Volvo Ocean Race and visited projects supported by the World Childhood Foundation, such as the Abrigo Rainha Sílvia.

**December:** She paid a four-day official visit to Paris, France where she attended a French-Swedish soirée arranged by the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, the Swedish Trade Council, and the Swedish Embassy, during which she also awarded the Prix d’Excellence 2006. The visit to Paris also included events with the Swedish Club, attendance at a church service in the Sofia Church, a study visit to the OECD headquarters, and meetings with the Secretary-General José Ángel Gurría, the Swedish Ambassador to the OECD, Gun-Britt Andersson, and other senior officials. She also attended a gala dinner hosted by La Fondation Pour L’Enfance at Versailles.
Victoria announced her intent to continue working throughout her pregnancy.

**23 February:** Victoria began her maternity leave, one day prior to the birth of her daughter Princess Estelle.

### Committees

Victoria is a member of the honorary board of the International Paralympic Committee.

In January 2016, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Victoria as a member of the Sustainable Development Goals Advocates for Agenda 2030. She is therefore one of 16 ambassadors in the Sustainable Development Goals Advocacy Group. She primarily works with issues concerning water and health.

## Personal Life

### Health

Victoria has dyslexia, as do her father and brother. She also suffers from prosopagnosia, which makes it difficult to recognize familiar faces. In a 2008 interview, she called it a "big drawback" in her capacity because she finds it very hard to remember names and faces.

Eating Disorders
In 1996, it was established that Victoria suffered from anorexia, but this was not confirmed until the next year. At that time, she was getting professional help, but given her public position in Sweden, it was getting increasingly difficult to handle the situation.

Victoria had planned to study at Uppsala University, but media speculation and public discussion continued to grow. Pictures of an evidently emaciated Victoria in sleeveless dresses at the Order of the Innocence's Ball and the gala dinner for the incoming state visit from Austria surfaced in April 1997. It wasn't until November 1997 that the Royal Court decided to confirm what was feared. Victoria then moved to the United States, where she received professional help and studied at Yale University. By making this drastic decision, she was able to live an anonymous life while recovering.

In June 1999, Victoria spoke about her experience, saying, "It was a really hard time. This kind of illness is hard, not only for the individual but also for the people close to him or her. Today I'm fine." In November 2002, the book *Victoria, Victoria!* came out, speaking further about her eating disorder. Victoria said, "I felt like an accelerating train, going right down... during the whole period. I had eating disorders and was aware of it, my anguish was enormous. I really hated how I looked like, how I was... I, Victoria, didn’t exist. It felt like everything in my life and around me was controlled by others. The one thing I could control was the food I put in me".

### Relationships

Victoria's first boyfriend was Daniel Collert. They socialized in the same circles, went to the same school, and were already friends when their romance developed in the mid-1990s. When Victoria moved to the United States in 1998 to study and recover from her eating disorders, Collert moved with her and settled in New York. In September 2000, the relationship was confirmed in an interview with Victoria at Expo 2000. Their relationship ended in 2001.

### Marriage

Dating
In May 2002, Swedish newspaper *Expressen* reported that Victoria had a new boyfriend, her personal trainer at Master Training, Daniel Westling. When the news broke and the media turned its attention on him, it was obvious that he did not like being in the public eye. In July 2002, Victoria and Daniel were pictured kissing for the first time at a birthday party for Caroline Kreuger, a close friend of Victoria.

In a popular personal report called *Tre dagar med Victoria* that aired on TV4 in December 2004, Victoria commented on criticism directed at Westling's background and pedigree, saying, "Many unfair things are written. I understand that there is speculation, but someday justice will be done there, too."

Engagement
*Main article: Engagement of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling*
On 24 February 2009, the Swedish Royal Court announced that Victoria and Daniel were engaged.

Wedding
*Main article: Wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling*
On 19 June 2010, Victoria and Daniel were married at Storkyrkan in Stockholm. After the wedding, the newlyweds were driven through Stockholm in a coach and then rowed in the antique royal barge *Vasaorden* to Stockholm Palace, where the wedding banquet was held.

### Children

On 17 August 2011, it was announced that Victoria and Daniel were expecting their first child in March 2012. She gave birth to Princess Estelle on 23 February 2012 at the Karolinska University Hospital.

The couple's second child, Prince Oscar, was born on 2 March 2016 at the same hospital.

### Godchildren

Victoria has multiple godchildren, leading to her being affectionately known as the "Godmother of Europe."

1. Vivien Sommerlath, 1992
2. Giulia Sommerlath, 1995
3. Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece and Denmark, 29 October 1998
4. Baroness Madeleine von Dincklage, 15 March 1999
5. Baron Ian De Geer, 20 February 2002
6. Leopold Sommerlath, 2002
7. Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, 7 December 2003
8. Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, 21 January 2004
9. Prince Christian of Denmark, 5 October 2005
10. Princess Eléonore of Belgium, 16 April 2008
11. Princess Leonore, Duchess of Gotland, 20 February 2014
12. Princess Katharina of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 30 April 2014
13. Désirée Magnuson, 11 July 2014
14. Prince Alexander, Duke of Södermanland, 19 April 2016
15. Willem Dinkelspiel
16. Diana Engsäll
17. Chloé Nilsson
18. Ian Persson

## Titles, Styles, & Arms

* **14 July 1977 - 31 December 1979:** *Her Royal Highness* Princess Victoria of Sweden
* **1 January 1980 - 9 January 1980:** *Her Royal Highness* The Crown Princess of Sweden
* **9 January 1980 - present:** *Her Royal Highness* The Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland

Coat of arms
## Honours

* National
* Foreign

Orders
* **Sweden**
	+ Member of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (14 July 1995)
	+ Member of the Royal Family Order of Carl XVI Gustaf

Medals
* **Sweden**
	+ 50th Birthday Medal of Carl XVI Gustaf (30 April 1996)
	+ Defence College Medal, Gold (9 January 2008)
	+ Ruby Jubilee Medal of Carl XVI Gustaf (15 September 2013)
	+ 70th Birthday Medal of Carl XVI Gustaf (30 April 2016)

Orders
* **Austria**
	+ Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (23 September 1997)

* **Belgium**
	+ Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (2001)

* **Brazil**
	+ Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (5 September 2007)

* **Bulgaria**
	+ Sash of the Order of Stara Planina (9 October 2007)

* **Chile**
	+ Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (10 May 2016)

* **Denmark**
	+ Knight of the Order of the Elephant (14 July 1995)

* **Estonia**
	+ First Class of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (11 September 1995)
	+ First Class of the Order of the White Star (18 January 2011)

* **Finland**
	+ Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose (1996)

* **France**
	+ Grand Cross of the Order of Merit

* **Germany**
	+ Grand Cross First Class of the Order of Merit (20 May 2003)

* **Greece**
	+ Grand Cross of the Order of Honour (21 May 2008)

* **Iceland**
	+ Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (7 September 2004)

* **Italy**
	+ Grand Cross First Class of the Order of Merit (13 November 2013)

* **Japan**
	+ Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

* **Jordan**
	+ Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (7 October 2003)

* **Latvia**
	+ Grand Officer of the Order of the Three Stars (25 September 1995)

* **Lithuania**
	+ Commander's Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (21 November 1995)

* **Luxembourg**
	+ Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau (15 April 2008)

* **Malaysia**
	+ Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (14 September 2005)

* **Monaco**
	+ Knight of the Order of Grimaldi (2005)

* **Norway**
	+ Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (1995)

* **Romania**
	+ Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania (11 March 2008)

* **South Korea**
	+ Grand Gwanghwa Medal of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit

* **Tunisia**
	+ Grand Cross of the Order of the Republic (4 November 2015)

## References

1. ↑ Godmother of Europe. Royal Central (22 September 2017).
2. ↑ Parliamentary inquiry regarding decoration recipients (German) (pdf) 1133 (23 April 2012).
3. ↑ Publication regarding order recipients (Portugese). Jusbrasil.com.br (6 September 2007).
4. ↑ State visit from Bulgaria (Swedish). Kungahuset (9 October 2007).
5. ↑ State visit from Chile (Swedish). Kungahuset (10 May 2016).
6. ↑ Presidential website statement (Estonian). President.ee (11 September 1995).
7. ↑ Presidential website statement (Estonian). President.ee (18 January 2011).
8. ↑ State visit from Greece (Swedish). Kungahuset (21 May 2008).
9. ↑ Presidental website statement (Italian). Quirinale.it (11 November 2013).
10. ↑ State visit from Italy (Swedish). Kungahuset via Instagram.
11. ↑ State visit from Luxembourg (Swedish). Kungahuset (15 April 2008).
12. ↑ State visit from Malaysia (Swedish). Kungahuset (14 September 2005).
13. ↑ State visit from Romania (Swedish). Kungahuset (11 March 2008).
14. ↑ State visit from Tunisia (Swedish). Kungahuset (4 November 2015).
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