Úlfhildur, Duchess of the Velkanias

*This is a Velkanian name. The last name is a patronymic, not a family name. The subject should be referred to by the given name* Úlfhildur*.*

**Úlfhildur** (born **Úlfhildur Ljósálfursdætr**; 2 October 1883 – 24 July 1963) was the wife of Bjárni II. As her husband's wife, Úlfhildur reigned as Duchess consort of the Velkanias from 1907 until her death in 1963.

Prior to becoming a member of the Velkanian royal family, Úlfhildur was a member of the Velkanian nobility and was active in Fjallassandur social circles as a prominent young socialite. Úlfhildur began a relationship with Bjárni in 1905, later marrying him two years afterwards. They had three children together: Ragnhildur III, Princess Dóróthea, and Princess Lýdía.

Úlfhildur was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 1962. Her condition worsened over the ensuing months, until she ultimately died of the disease on 24 July 1963.

## Early life and education

Úlfhildur was born on 2 October 1883 in Naríthjábæk to parents Ljósálfur Thjódgeirsson (1825–1899) and Kölbjört Snæbjörnsdætr (1856–1940). Both of her parents were of the Velkanian nobility, with her father working as a marketing executive and her mother being a socialite and housewife. Úlfhildur was raised in a large six-bedroom home in the Fjallassandur district of Naríthjábæk. She is the youngest of three children and only daughter; her elder brothers include Ljósálfur Jón (1879–1956) and Frídsteinn (1882–1972).

Úlfhildur began her education in 1890, attending Naríthjábæk Primary School for Girls, a private primary school for girls. In primary school, Úlfhildur was said to be a quiet girl and gifted student who had spoken about dreaming of becoming a member of the Velkanian royal family. She graduated from primary school in 1900, and afterwards enrolled in Naríthjábæk Junior College, studying a literature and modern languages program. While in high school, Úlfhildur was elected student senator and later graduated in 1903. She then enrolled in Velkanian Women's University, graduating with a degree in Kashan literature in 1906.

## Relationship with Bjárni II

In October 1905, while beginning her final year of university, Úlfhildur was introduced to Bjárni II while attending a state dinner at Krúningárathjálla Palace as a guest of her father. Bjárni was instantly smitten with her, and decided to romantically pursue her; at age 35, many wondered if Bjárni would ever marry or bear children, as they felt he was running out of time to court a respectable wife. Úlfhildur reciprocated Bjárni's advances, and they eventually began a romantic relationship.

Upon beginning their relationship, Úlfhildur and Bjárni became a fashionable couple in Velkanian media, and Úlfhildur became known as a fashion icon within the nation. Shortly after the couple publicized their relationship in 1905, the press officially had Úlfhildur declared as "The Most Beautiful Girl in the Velkanias." Her long, thick red hair became highly desirable by many Velkanian women, and many attempted to replicate her signature hairstyle through rollers and dyes.

### Marriage and children

In August 1906, Úlfhildur and Bjárni became engaged, and the news of their engagement quickly swept through the nation. They went on to wed on 20 April 1907 in Naríthjábæk. Following their marriage, Úlfhildur received the title *Her Highness* Duchess consort of the Velkanias. Following their marriage, Úlfhildur moved into Krúningárathjálla Palace.

Úlfhildur gave birth to their first child, Ragnhildur, on 14 February 1910; Ragnhildur went on to become the first-ever Queen of the Velkanian Isles. Their second child, Dóróthea, was born on 1 June 1912, while their third and final child, Lýdía, was born on 20 February 1915. As they had no sons and the Velkanian monarchy practiced a system of male-preference primogeniture, this meant that Ragnhildur was set to become the first female monarch since Ragnhildur II in the 18th-century.

## Personal life and interests

Since her marriage in 1907, Úlfhildur resided in the main residence of Krúningárathjálla Palace. Úlfhildur was said to be highly educated; she spoke fluent Forsish, Hart, Kashan, Akrainian, Helvarian, and English, in addition to her native Velkanian, and also was well-read in Kashan and Akrainian literature, as that was her major in university.

Úlfhildur had a rocky relationship with her middle daughter Dóróthea since Dóróthea's teenage years. Always a troublesome child and poor student, Úlfhildur had Dóróthea taken to a child psychologist weekly when she was in primary school due to her poor grades and bad behavior; this continued into her teenage years. In 1932, Úlfhildur allowed Dóróthea to move into a two-bedroom non-royal house in Fjallassandur with a female friend. Shortly afterwards, the press began reporting of her hosting wild drug-fueled sex parties with large crowds of people. By 1940, it was reported that Dóróthea had become estranged from the family for at least the past five years, with much of the conflict being between her and Úlfhildur. In 1943, the press reported Úlfhildur having called Dóróthea "an embarrassment" to the family.

## Death

In March 1962, Úlfhildur was diagnosed with a mildly invasive form of breast cancer. She announced her diagnosis to the Velkanian public in a live televised speech the following month, and confirmed that she would "fight the cancer without mercy." In the following months, Úlfhildur's condition continued to worsen as the cancer began to spread to other parts of her body. In June 1963, her and Bjárni mutually decided that she'd stop seeking treatment for the cancer, although this was not publicly revealed. Úlfhildur later died of the disease on 24 July 1963 in Krúningárathjálla Palace, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

## Family

The Duchess consort had three children and three grandchildren at the time of her death in 1963. Since her death, her great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren have since been born.

* Ragnhildur III (born 14 February 1910). Ragnhildur married Velkanian noble and barrister Helgi Jóhannsson in 1935. They had one child together. Ragnhildur died of complications associated with a stroke on 13 June 1999.
	+ Hrafnhildur III (born 15 January 1938). Hrafnhildur married Velkanian commoner and sociology professor Jóhann Eiríksson in 1965. They have two children together.
* Princess Dóróthea (born 1 June 1912). Dóróthea never married nor bore any children. She died of an accidental drowning due to alcohol intoxication on 15 January 1965.
* Princess Lýdía (born 20 February 1915). Lýdía married Hartish noble and business executive Karl-Henrik av Heimlig in 1940. They had two children together. Lýdía died of complications associated with a stroke on 14 November 2005.
	+ Prince Eyríkur (born 29 October 1943). Eyríkur married Velkanian commoner and interior decorator Vagnbjörg Ísaksdætr in 1969. They have two children together.
	+ Princess Lífdís (born 14 August 1945). Lífdís married Velkanian commoner and record executive Viktor Valdórsson in 1978. They have two children together, and later divorced in 1990. She then married Velkanian commoner and lawyer Ósvald Leiknir Geirhjörtursson in 1995.

## Titles

* **20 April 1907 – 24 July 1963**: *Her Highness* Duchess consort Úlfhildur of the Velkanias