Ragnhildur III

**Ragnhildur III** (Full name: *Ragnhildur María Ásrún Jakobína*; 14 February 1910 – 13 June 1999) was the Queen of the Velkanian Isles from 1967 to 1999. Born into the House of Oskársdætr, the royal house that has ruled the Velkanian Isles since the 8th-century, Ragnhildur was the eldest child of Bjárni II and Úlfhildur, Duchess of the Velkanias.

Ragnhildur ascended to the throne upon her father's death on 26 November 1967, having been born as the heir presumptive. Her role as heir presumptive became heir apparent following the 1966 restoration of Velkanian independence; during the era of the Velkanian Duchy, a system of male-preference primogeniture was employed; after restoring their independence as the Velkanian Isles, absolute primogeniture was adopted, securing Ragnhildur's position as heir to the throne. In 1935, Ragnhildur married Helgi Jóhansson, a Velkanian nobleman and barrister. With Helgi, she had one child: Hrafnhildur III. Ragnhildur was reported to struggle with fertility, and was medically recommended to not have any further children.

On 13 June 1999, Ragnhildur was hospitalized following a stroke; she died later that day. Following her death, her daughter took the throne as Hrafnhildur III.

## Early life

Ragnhildur was born on 14 February 1910 at Krúningárathjálla Palace in Naríthjábæk as the first child of Bjárni II and Úlfhildur, Duchess of the Velkanias. Her father was the elder child and only son of Bjárni I, while her mother was of the Velkanian nobility. At the time of her birth, the Velkanian Isles was a constituent country of Forsland, operating under the name of the Velkanian Duchy. Her father was reigning as the Duke of the Velkanias, which was a title she was expected to inherit herself.

When Ragnhildur was two years old in 1912, her younger sister Princess Dóróthea was born. Her youngest sister Princess Lýdía was later born in 1915, when Ragnhildur was five years old. She was raised in Krúningárathjálla Palace with her father, mother, and two younger sisters. The family spent summers at Jællkullythárjókur Palace in the city of Jællkullythárjókur.

## Heir presumptive

### Education

Ragnhildur began her education in 1916, attending Naríthjábæk Primary School for Girls, a private primary school for girls. Ragnhildur was said to be a quiet student who kept to herself; she excelled in subjects such as writing, cooking, and sewing, and wished to become a professional chef and a mother. Ragnhildur went on to graduate from primary school in 1926.

After her graduation from primary school, Ragnhildur enrolled in Hersingborg Women's School, a private boarding and day school for girls in Hersingborg. Ragnhildur was a popular student in high school, and won a school-wide baking competition for her berry cake recipe. She graduated from high school in 1929, and remained in Hersingborg. She enrolled in the Faculty of Practical Sciences at Hersingborg University, graduating with a degree in home economics and culinary studies in 1932. Ragnhildur subsequently returned to Naríthjábæk.

### Marriage and children

While living in Hersingborg in 1930, Ragnhildur was set up with Helgi Jóhansson by her father; both Bjárni II and Helgi's father Jóhann Fálkisson, who was a member of the Velkanian nobility, were friends and planned for their children to marry since both Ragnhildur and Helgi were children. They soon began a romantic relationship, and were reported to be engaged in 1932, although the year afterwards the engagement was broken off.

In 1934, it was announced that Ragnhildur and Helgi had reconciled, reportedly due to interference from their fathers, and their engagement was back on. They married on 25 May 1935 in Naríthjábæk. Following their marriage, Helgi received the royal title *His Highness* Crown Prince of the Velkanias; this title later changed to *His Royal Highness* Crown Prince of the Velkanian Isles following the Velkanian restoration of independence in 1966. They then moved into Köllajapúnk House on the grounds of Krúningárathjálla Palace.

Ragnhildur gave birth to her first and only child, Hrafnhildur, on 15 January 1938; Hrafnhildur has gone on to become Queen of the Velkanian Isles. Although Ragnhildur was reported to want more children, she had issues with fertility and was told by her doctors that a second pregnancy could result in the death of both the baby and herself. Because of this, her and Helgi decided to adopt several pets to raise with their daughter; throughout her adulthood, Ragnhildur cared for more than 30 dogs, 50 cats, 15 horses, and countless fish.

## Reign

### Ascension

On 26 November 1967, Bjárni II died after suffering a second heart attack in the span of three days. Immediately following his death, Ragnhildur was crowned the new Queen of the Velkanian Isles, and was officially proclaimed Queen by the Prime Minister from the balcony of Krúningárathjálla Palace.

## Personal life

Ragnhildur was raised in Krúningárathjálla Palace throughout her childhood and teenage years. She moved to Köllajapúnk House on the grounds of Krúningárathjálla Palace following her marriage, and later returned to Krúningárathjálla Palace upon being crowned Queen in 1967. In addition to her native Velkanian, Hrafnhildur had studied and was fluent in Forsish and English. She could understand Hart as well.

Ragnhildur was a supporter of Velkanian independence; while she was meant to remain non-political, she was frequently used as a symbol of the independence movement in the 1960s. In her private life, Ragnhildur was a decorated cook, who enjoyed baking especially. She also was an avid poet, although she kept her poetry to herself.

## Death

On 13 June 1999, Ragnhildur was hospitalized following what was expected to be a stroke; she died later that day. Reports of worsening health had been coming out for two years in the run-up to her death. After her death, her daughter Hrafnhildur III was officially crowned Queen.

## Family

The Queen had one child and two grandchildren. Following her death, her seven great-grandchildren were born. Her daughter was born in Krúningárathjálla Palace in Naríthjábæk.

* Hrafnhildur III (born 15 January 1938). Hrafnhildur married Velkanian commoner and sociology professor Jóhann Eiríksson in 1965. They have two children together.
	+ Ragnhildur IV (born 14 December 1968). Ragnhildur married Helvarian commoner and neurosurgeon Hans Eddinhaus in 1997. They have three children together.
	+ Princess Úlfhildur (born 10 April 1972). Úlfhildur married Regian noble and barrister Marco del Togliatto in 2001. They have four children together.

## Titles

* **14 February 1910 – 1 January 1966**: *Her Highness* Crown Princess Ragnhildur of the Velkanias
* **1 January 1966 – 26 November 1967**: *Her Royal Highness* Crown Princess Ragnhildur of the Velkanian Isles
* **26 November 1967 – 13 June 1999**: *Her Majesty* Queen Ragnhildur III