Hrafnhildur III

*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* Hrafnhildur.

**Hrafnhildur III** (Hrafnhildur Elínheiður Ingiríður Sólbjört Ingibergardattir; born 22 April 1940) was the Queen of the Velkanian Isles from 2003 until her abdication in 2013.

Hrafnhildur was born in Narísandur as the only child of Ragnhildur I and her husband Ingibergur Ólafarson. Raised in the era of the Velkanian Duchy, she became the heir presumptive upon her mother's accession to the throne as duchess on 22 May 1950. After the restoration of Velkanian independence in 1964, Ragnhildur was proclaimed queen. Hrafnhildur later succeeded her mother following her death on 15 January 2003. Hrafnhildur attended public primary and secondary schooling in Narísandur, ultimately graduating with a degree in Velkanian history from the University of Velkania in 1963. She married Velkanian professor of Laposcandian literature Jóhann Eiríksson in 1967, with him becoming the first commoner to marry into the royal family; they have two daughters together: Ragnhildur II (born 1968) and Princess Úlfhildur (born 1971).

On 14 January 2013, Hrafnhildur announced in a public television broadcast that she would be abdicating the throne the following day, on the ten year anniversary of her accession. She cited how she was proud to be queen, but that since her childhood she had dreamed of living a more quiet life and had wished to retire to spend more time with her family. In the following morning, Hrafnhildur officially abdicated the throne and her daughter Ragnhildur was immediately proclaimed the new queen.

## Early life and education

Hrafnhildur was born on 22 April 1940 at Árbæjarheimar Palace in Narísandur. She was the first and only child of Crown Princess Ragnhildur and Crown Prince Ingibergur, and the first grandchild of Bjarni IV and Duchess consort Úlfhildur; her parents had struggled with fertility for years, so her birth rang in a joyous celebration for not only her family but all Velkanian people. With her birth, Hrafnhildur became second-in-line to the Velkanian throne, behind only her mother. As the Velkanian monarchy practiced a system of male-preference primogeniture at the time, Hrafnhildur would have been displaced in the line of succession should a younger male sibling had been born, but shortly after the birth her mother stated that she did not plan to have any more children.

After her birth, Hrafnhildur received the title Princess of the Velkanias, an inferior title to the titles awarded by the Framish monarchy, which ruled the Velkanian Isles at the time. She was raised by her parents as an only child, and spent her early life in Köllapúnk House on the grounds of Árbæjarheimar Palace. In 1950, when Hrafnhildur was ten years old, her grandfather died and her mother succeeded him as Duchess of the Velkanias; following her mother's accession, the family moved into the main residence of Árbæjarheimar Palace. This made Hrafnhildur the heir presumptive to the throne, and she was granted the title Crown Princess of the Velkanias.

Hrafnhildur began her education in 1946, attending a local, public primary school in Narísandur. This made Hrafnhildur the first Velkanian royal to attend public primary schooling. While in primary school, Hrafnhildur was said to be charismatic and intelligent. She graduated in 1956, and subsequently enrolled in Narísandur Junior College, where she studied a history and literature program. She graduated from upper secondary school in 1960, and afterwards enrolled in the Faculty of Eurean Studies at the University of Velkania, graduating with a degree in Velkanian history in 1963.

## Reign

Following the restoration of Velkanian independence on 1 January 1964, Ragnhildur I was proclaimed as Queen of the Velkanian Isles, and Hrafnhildur as Crown Princess. Now the heir presumptive of an independent nation, Hrafnhildur was granted a seat on the Council of State, and presided over meetings in which her mother was not present.

On 14 January 2003, Hrafnhildur's mother suffered a stroke and was hospitalized; she later died the following day. Immediately after the announcement of her death, Hrafnhildur was proclaimed queen. This made Hrafnhildur the first Velkanian royal to not rule over the Velkanian Duchy since the 15th-century.

As queen, Hrafnhildur met with the Prime Minister weekly, and additionally had frequent meetings with other ministers regarding the direction of the nation. She signed all new pieces of passed legislation and royal decrees, allowing them to become law. As the head of state, Hrafnhildur had the power to veto legislation, although this power is simply a formality and is not used in practice to avoid politicization of the monarchy. The queen also appoints, swears in, and dismisses all government ministers and ambassadors, although this is solely performed at the advice of the Prime Minister. As queen, Hrafnhildur was the chair of the Council of State, although in practice the head of state seldom actually presides over meetings.

### Abdication

On 14 January 2013, Hrafnhildur II announced in a public television broadcast that she would be abdicating the throne the following day, on the ten year anniversary of her accession. She cited how she was proud to be queen, but that since her childhood she had dreamed of living a more quiet life and had wished to retire to spend more time with her family.

In the following morning, Hrafnhildur officially abdicated the throne and her elder daughter Ragnhildur II was immediately proclaimed the new queen.

## Marriage and children

Hrafnhildur became introduced to Jóhann Eiríksson in 1963, while she was in her final year of studies at the University of Velkania. Jóhann was a doctoral student in Laposcandian literature at the university, and also worked as a teaching assistant. Mistakenly believing that he was another undergraduate student, Hrafnhildur asked him on a date, to which he accepted. She did not learn that he actually worked at the university until the end of their first date.

Hrafnhildur and Jóhann became engaged in May 1966. They later married in a royal wedding on 20 May 1967 in Narísandur. Following their marriage, Jóhann received the royal title Crown Prince of the Velkanian Isles. With their marriage, Jóhann became the first commoner to marry into the Velkanian royal family. The couple subsequently moved into Köllapúnk House on the grounds of Árbæjarheimar Palace, Hrafnhildur's childhood home. They moved into the palace's main residence in 2003. In 2013, they moved into a newly constructed four-bedroom cottage in Húsavík, wishing to move away from city life and the palace.

Hrafnhildur and Jóhann have two children together:

* Ragnhildur II (*Ragnhildur* María Björgheiður Hildiríður Jóhannsdattir; born 14 December 1968)
* Princess *Úlfhildur* Lydía Hafrún Freydís Jóhannsdattir (born 23 June 1971)

## Titles

* **22 April 1940 – 22 May 1950**: *Her Highness* Princess Hrafnhildur of the Velkanias
* **22 May 1950 – 1 January 1964**: *Her Highness* The Crown Princess of the Velkanias
* **1 January 1964 – 15 January 2003**: *Her Royal Highness* The Crown Princess of the Velkanian Isles
* **15 January 2003 – present**: *Her Majesty* The Queen of the Velkanian Isles