Princess Lýdía

**Lýdía** (Full name: *Lýdía María Íshildur Thórlaug*; 20 February 1915 – 14 November 2005) was the youngest daughter of Bjárni II and Úlfhildur, Duchess of the Velkanias, and a member of the Velkanian royal family. She was additionally the younger sister of Ragnhildur III and aunt of Hrafnhildur III.

Born into the House of Oskársdætr, the royal house that has ruled the Velkanian Isles since the 8th-century, Lýdía was both a Princess of the Velkanias and Princess of the Velkanian Isles. In 1940, she married Karl-Henrik av Heimlig, a Hartish business executive and member of the Hartish nobility. With av Heimlig, she had two children: Prince Eyríkur and Princess Lífdís.

## Early life

Lýdía was born on 20 February 1915 at Krúningárathjálla Palace in Naríthjábæk as the youngest 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.

Lýdía had an elder sister Ragnhildur, born five years prior, and an elder sister Dóróthea, born three years prior. She was raised in Krúningárathjálla Palace with her father, mother, and two elder sisters. The family spent summers at Jællkullythárjókur Palace in the city of Jællkullythárjókur.

### Education

Lýdía began her education in 1921, attending Naríthjábæk Primary School for Girls, a private primary school for girls. While in primary school, Lýdía was a sociable and popular student who aspired to pursue a career as a teacher or pediatric nurse. She went on to graduate from primary school in 1931.

After finishing her primary school education, Lýdía enrolled in Hersingborg Women's School, a private boarding and day school for girls in Hersingborg. Lýdía was a popular student in high school as well, and also was academically successful. While in high school, she discovered a love for poetry and creative writing, and graduated in 1934. After graduating, Lýdía returned to Naríthjábæk and enrolled in the Velkanian Women's University, where she graduated with a degree in creative writing in 1937.

## Adulthood

In 1937, shortly after graduating from university, Lýdía was set up on a date with Hartish business executive Karl-Henrik av Heimlig by her mother. Both her mother and av Heimlig's mother were close friends, and decided that their children would make a good couple. Av Heimlig visitied Lýdía in Naríthjábæk for their first date, and they soon after began a relationship. In 1938, av Heimlig moved to Naríthjábæk so they could continue their relationship full-time.

### Marriage and children

In June 1939, Lýdía and av Heimlig had become engaged. They later married on 22 June 1940 in Naríthjábæk, hosting a small private ceremony in Kuvo the following weekend as well. Following their marriage, av Heimlig received the royal title *His Highness* Prince of the Velkanias; this title later changed to *His Royal Highness* Prince of the Velkanian Isles following the Velkanian restoration of independence in 1966. They then moved into Ísafdur House on the grounds of Krúningárathjálla Palace.

Lýdía gave birth to the couple's first child, Eyríkur, on 29 October 1943. Their second and final child, Lífdís, was later born on 14 August 1945.

## Personal life and interests

Lýdía was raised in Krúningárathjálla Palace throughout her childhood and teenage years. She moved to Ísafdur House on the grounds of Krúningárathjálla Palace following her marriage in 1940. In addition to her native Velkanian, Lýdía had studied and was fluent in Forsish, Hart, and English.

Having studied creative writing in university, Lýdía was an avid writer and storyteller. For generations, many children of the royal family recall Lýdía personally writing them bedtime stories to help them fall asleep. While most of these stories were kept private, a collection of them titled *Princess Lýdía's Bedtime Tales* was publicly released in 1997; the collection became a best-seller in the Velkanian Isles.

## Death

After her husband's death in 1998, Lýdía's health began to quickly deteriorate. In 2001, she suffered a stroke but recovered, although losing most of her mobility and a lot of her brain function. She suffered another stroke in 2003, but recovered again. On 10 November 2005, Lýdía suffered a third stroke; Lýdía later died of complications brought on from the third stroke on 14 November.

On 17 November, a public state funeral was held for Lýdía in Naríthjábæk. Approximately 200 thousand visitors came to pay their respects to Lýdía at her funeral.

## Family

The Princess had two children, four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren at the time of her death in 2005. Since her death, eight more great-grandchildren have been born.

* Prince Eyríkur (born 29 October 1943). Eyríkur married Velkanian commoner and interior decorator Vagnbjörg Ísaksdætr in 1969. They have two children together.
	+ Jón Jómar Eyríkursson (born 10 March 1972). Jón Jómar married Velkanian commoner and advertising executive Óda Ólöf Rafnsdætr in 1998. They have two children together, and later divorced in 2014.
	+ Dagthór Knútur Eyríkursson (born 27 November 1975). Dagthór Knútur married Velkanian real estate agent Hjördís Hrafnhildurarsdætr in 2007. They have three 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.
	+ Bjárni Viktorsson (born 10 July 1980). Bjárni married Velkanian primary school teacher Ásleif Fridbjört Magnúsdætr in 2010. They have two children together.
	+ Kirstín Sigthóra Viktorsdætr (born 1 February 1984). Kirstín married Velkanian marketing executive Thór Brynthór Ingvaldursson in 2009. They have three children together.

## Titles

* **20 February 1915 – 1 January 1966**: *Her Highness* Princess Lýdía of the Velkanias
* **1 January 1966 – 14 November 2005**: *Her Royal Highness* Princess Lýdía of the Velkanian Isles