Princess Lydía

*This name uses Velkanian naming customs; the last name is a patronymic, not a family name. This person should be properly referred to by the given name* Lydía.

**Lydía** (Lydía Lísabet Dæja Dögg Bjarnadattir; 2 March 1912 – 12 October 2009) was the youngest sister of Ragnhildur I, youngest child of Bjarni IV, and a member of the Velkanian royal family.

Born to Bjarni and his wife Úlfhildur Ljósálfardattir, upon her birth Lydía became third-in-line to the throne behind her elder sisters Ragnhildur and Dórótea. Lydía attended private primary schooling in Narísandur and boarding school in the Ditrovian Kingdom, later graduating from the University of Velkania with a degree in the Maldonian language in 1933. Lydía later married Velkanian lawyer and nobleman Þjóðgeir Fjörnirsson in 1936. They had two children together: Björn Eyríkur (born 1940) and Einbjörg Sól (born 1942).

Lydía was hospitalized on 8 October 2009, ultimately being diagnosed with kidney failure. She later died of the illness on 12 October. Following her death, a royal state funeral was held and she was laid to rest in the family mausoleum beside her husband and parents.

## Early life and education

Lydía was born on 2 March 1912 at Árbæjarheimar Palace in Narísandur. She was the youngest child of Bjarni IV and Duchess consort Úlfhildur. Her father was the only son of Bjarni III, while her mother came from the Velkanian nobility. With her birth, Lydía became the third-in-line to the throne behind only her elder sisters Ragnhildur and Dórótea "Dóró", and was granted the title Princess of the Velkanias. As the Velkanian monarchy practiced a system of male-preference primogeniture, Lydía would have been displaced in the line of succession by the birth of a younger male sibling. Lydía was raised in Árbæjarheimar Palace with her parents and elder sisters.

Lydía began her education in 1918, attending the Narísandur Primary School for Girls, a private, all-girls primary school. While in primary school, Lydía was said to be outgoing and charismatic, and was a very popular student. She left before her graduation in order to enroll in Blake School, a private, all-girls boarding school in Hodgehell, Orgland, in 1927. Both of her elder sisters had attended Vasoule School in Frankenland, but due to her sister Dóró's reputation for bad behavior, her parents felt embarrassed to send their youngest child there as well. While at Blake School, Lydía was a popular student who was elected head girl by her classmates. She ultimately graduated with her upper secondary diploma in 1930.

After graduating, Lydía returned to Narísandur and enrolled in the Faculty of Eurean Studies at the University of Velkania, graduating with a degree in the Maldonian language in 1933. During her final year of studies, she lived abroad in Delmas, studying at Labonne University. Lydía was known in the media for having a difficult relationship with her elder sister Dóró; the media frequently reported on loud verbal altercations between the two sisters in the early-1930s, escalating to the point where Dóró once slapped her across the face and they needed to be separated by royal guards.

## Marriage and family

While living in Delmas in 1933, Lydía became introduced to Velkanian lawyer and nobleman Þjóðgeir Fjörnirsson, who was working as an attorney at a Delmas law firm. Their mothers had been friends for years, and set their children up after discovering that they both were living in Delmas.

Lydía and Þjóðgeir became engaged in June 1935, after Lydía had returned home to Narísandur and Þjóðgeir had transferred his employment to a Narísandur law firm in order to continue their relationship. They later married on 28 March 1936 in Narísandur. Following the wedding, Þjóðgeir received the title Prince of the Velkanias. After their marriage, they moved into Litsnes House on the grounds of Árbæjarheimar Palace. Þjóðgeir died of heart disease in 2002.

Lydía and Þjóðgeir had two children together:

* *Björn* Eyríkur Þjóðgeirsson (born 13 June 1940)
* *Einbjörg* Sól Þjóðgeirsdattir (born 27 October 1942)

## Death

In late-September 2009, Lydía began complaining to her children about increased nausea and fatigue. On 8 October, she was hospitalized and soon diagnosed with kidney failure. Despite attempts by doctors to help her recover, she ultimately died due to complications associated with the illness on 12 October.

Following her death, a two-week long period of national mourning was announced. A royal state funeral was held on 15 October 2009, which was open to the public. She was later buried in the royal family mausoleum beside her husband and parents.

## Titles

* **2 March 1912 – 1 January 1964**: *Her Highness* Princess Lydía of the Velkanias
* **1 January 1964 – 12 October 2009**: *Her Royal Highness* Princess Lydía of the Velkanian Isles