Kerstín, Crown Princess of the Velkanian Isles

**Kerstín** (Full name: *Kerstín Hrafnhildur Jósefín Ramóna*; born 22 March 2000) is the heir apparent to the Velkanian throne, as the eldest child of Ragnhildur IV and her husband Hans, Prince Consort.

Born into the House of Oskársdætr, the royal house that has ruled the Velkanian Isles since the 8th-century, Kerstín is additionally the elder sister of Princess Ísabella and Princess Daníela. She is first-in-line for the Velkanian throne, and has been since her mother's ascension to the throne in 2013.

## Early life

Kerstín was born on 22 March 2000 at the University of Velkania Hospital and Medical Center in Naríthjábæk as the first child of the Crown Princess and Crown Prince (later Ragnhildur IV and Hans, Prince Consort). Her mother was the eldest child of then-reigning Hrafnhildur III, while her father was a Helvarian commoner, neurosurgeon, and professor of neuroscience at the University of Velkania.

Her mother's decision to name her Kerstín was considered unusual, as it is not a common name in Velkanian society and has never been given to a royal. However, her middle names Hrafnhildur and Jósefín are taken from her maternal and paternal grandmothers, respectively, while Ramóna is another original name. When Kerstín was a year old in 2001, her younger sister Ísabella was born; later, in 2003, her younger sister Daníela was born. She was raised at Sólvík House on the grounds of Krúningárathjálla Palace, and spent summers with her family at Byggdaksós Palace in Olobethia.

## Heir apparent

On 14 January 2013, Kerstíns' grandmother Hrafnhildur III announced that she would abdicate the throne in favor of Kerstín's mother Crown Princess Ragnhildur the following day, on her 75th birthday. She added that while she enjoyed her time as Queen, it was never something that she dreamed of doing, and she wished to retire to a more private life with her husband to primarily serve as a grandmother to her seven grandchildren.

With her abdication official the following day, Ragnhildur was crowned Queen of the Velkanian Isles; Kerstín received her mother's former title of Crown Princess, becoming the heir apparent to the throne. In 2018, Kerstín took her seat in the Council of State, and served as the Council's chairwoman in the absence of her mother. As Crown Princess, Kerstín is highly visible in the media, frequently appearing on red carpets and assisting her mother with hosting foreign dignitaries at Krúningárathjálla Palace.

### Education

Kerstín began her education in 2006, attending a local primary school in Naríthjábæk. In school, Kerstín was said to excel both academically and socially, and additionally was enrolled by her parents in dance classes and gymnastics. She went on to graduated from primary school in 2016.

After graduating, Kerstín enrolled in Naríthjábæk Junior College, the most prestigious high school in the Velkanian Isles, where she studied a social sciences program. As a teenager, Kerstín continued her artistic endeavors as well, participating in competitive dance; she quit gymnastics when she was 15. She graduated from high school in 2019, and will begin her studies at the Faculty of Performing and Fine Arts at the University of Velkania in August 2019, studying dance.

## Personal life

Until the age of 12, Kerstín resided with her family at Sólvík House on the grounds of Krúningárathjálla Palace in Naríthjábæk. She has since moved into the palace's main residence after her mother became queen in 2013. Kerstín does not plan to move out during her university studies, and instead plans to remain living at home until she feels comfortable on her own.

In 2018, Kerstín began a relationship with Matthías Sigmarsson, the son of Prime Minister Síf María Vílhelmsdætr.

## Titles

* **22 March 2000 – 15 January 2013**: *Her Royal Highness* Princess Kerstín
* **15 January 2013 – present**: *Her Royal Highness* Crown Princess Kerstín