Ragnhildur II

*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* Ragnhildur.

**Ragnhildur II** (Ragnhildur María Björgheiður Hildiríður Jóhannsdattir; born 14 December 1968) is the Queen of the Velkanian Isles. She acceded to the throne upon the abdication of her mother, Hrafnhildur III, in 2013.

Ragnhildur was born in Narísandur as the elder of two daughters to Hrafnhildur and her husband Jóhann Eiríksson. She became the heir apparent upon her mother's accession to the throne as queen on 15 January 2003, and succeeded her following her abdication on 15 January 2013. Ragnhildur attended public primary and secondary schooling in Narísandur, ultimately graduating with a degree in psychology from the University of Velkania in 1992. She married Lungarian orthopedic surgeon and commoner Hans Vleckings in 1997, with him becoming the first non-Velkanian to marry into the royal family; they have three daughters together: Björghildur, Crown Princess of the Velkanian Isles (born 1999), Princess Ísabella (born 2001), and Princess Daníela (born 2005).

## Early life and education

Ragnhildur was born on 14 December 1968 as Ragnhildur María Björgheiður Hildiríður Jóhannsdattir, at Velkania University Hospital and Medical Center in Narísandur. She was the first child of Crown Princess Hrafnhildur and Crown Prince Jóhann, and the first grandchild of Queen Ragnhildur I and Prince Consort Ingibergur. With her birth, Ragnhildur became second-in-line to the Velkanian throne, behind only her mother. Just prior to her birth, the Orthing passed a bill adopting absolute primogeniture, overriding their system of male-preference primogeniture which had been used since the 15th-century. This meant that Ragnhildur was expected to become the first Velkanian queen regnant born with the right to rule in more than 500 years.

After her birth, Ragnhildur was granted the title Princess of the Velkanian Isles. She has one younger sister: Princess Úlfhildur (born 1971). Ragnhildur was raised with her parents and younger sister at Köllapúnk House on the grounds of Árbæjarheimar Palace. Ragnhildur began her education in 1975, attending a local, public primary school in the Garðareyri neighborhood of Narísandur. While in primary school, Ragnhildur was said to be a gifted student who was also widely popular. She graduated from primary school in 1985, subsequently enrolling in Narísandur Junior College, where she studied a social sciences program. While in school, Ragnhildur was a high academic achiever and a popular student who was selected as one of her class's student senators; in her final year of studies, she was voted Best Smile, Most Friendly, and Miss Popularity by her peers. She graduated in 1989, subsequently enrolling in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Velkania, graduating with a degree in psychology in 1992.

On 14 January 2003, Ragnhildur's grandmother Ragnhildur I suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. She later died the following day. Immediately after the announcement of her death, Ragnhildur's mother Hrafnhildur III was proclaimed queen, and Ragnhildur became the heir apparent to the throne. As heir apparent, Ragnhildur was awarded the title Crown Princess of the Velkanian Isles, and began to preside over meetings of the Council of State in her mother's absence. While Crown Princess, Ragnhildur was highly visible in Velkanian society; she frequently appeared as a guest on television talk shows, was a regular on red carpets in both the Velkanian Isles and Framland, and assisted her mother in hosting foreign dignitaries at Árbæjarheimar Palace.

## Reign

Since 1986, when Ragnhildur turned 18, she has been a member of the Velkanian Council of State, the most supreme council of the Velkanian Isles.

On 14 January 2013, Ragnhildur's mother Hrafnhildur III 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 Ragnhildur was immediately proclaimed the new queen.

As queen, Ragnhildur meets with the Prime Minister weekly, and additionally has frequent meetings with other ministers regarding the direction of the nation. She signs all new pieces of passed legislation and royal decrees, allowing them to become law. As the head of state, Ragnhildur has 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, Ragnhildur is the chair of the Council of State, although in practice the head of state seldom actually presides over meetings.

Upon becoming queen, Ragnhildur was the first Velkanian queen regnant to be born with the right to rule since Hrafnhildur II in the 15th-century in addition to being the first Velkanian monarch to be born in an independent Velkanian Isles since Hólmfur II in the 15th-century. Ragnhildur is well-known throughout the Velkanian Isles as a fashion icon. Since her youth, she has frequently appeared in the media for her outfit choices, which were often deemed stylish and trendsetting. As a teenager and young adult, Ragnhildur drew mild controversy for outfits deemed "inappropriate" and "scandalous" for a royal, due to their short skirts, low cuts, and high heels. Ragnhildur has addressed this issue frequently, reiterating her belief that concerns over how she dressed were "pointless" and she would continue to dress how she felt most comfortable.

Since the early-2010s, Ragnhildur has had a close friendship with Prime Minister Sif María Vilhjálmardattir. Their friendship has been closely documented by the Velkanian media, with journalists noting the two's frequent lunch meetings and family get-togethers. In 2015, Ragnhildur called Sif a "close family friend", but reaffirmed how their friendship does not impact her own devotion to non-partisanship.

## Marriage and children

While on a vacation to Munbach with two friends in the summer of 1992, Ragnhildur became introduced to Lungarian orthopedic surgeon Hans Vleckings at a bar near his clinic. They soon began chatting, and she agreed to go on a date with him during her trip. After their first date, Ragnhildur extended her trip for two weeks in order to continue dating him. After returning to Narísandur, they continued to communicate through mail and phone calls until he visited her three months afterwards. In January 1993, Hans moved to Narísandur to continue their relationship, and he later began working as an orthopedic surgeon at Velkania University Hospital and Medical Center.

Ragnhildur and Hans became engaged in July 1996. They later married in a royal wedding on 6 September 1997 in Narísandur. Following their marriage, Hans received Velkanian citizenship and the royal title Prince of the Velkanian Isles. The couple subsequently moved into Sólvík House on the grounds of Árbæjarheimar Palace. In 2013, they moved into the palace's main residence.

Ragnhildur and Hans have three children together:

* The Crown Princess (*Björghildur* Magnþóra Ólöf Johanna Ragnhildardattir; born 30 August 1999)
* Princess *Ísabella* Þórheiður Mildríður Elsa Ragnhildardattir (born 14 October 2001)
* Princess *Daníela* Kirstín Jakobína Marie Ragnhildardattir (born 4 February 2005)

## Titles

* **14 December 1968 – 15 January 2003**: *Her Royal Highness* Princess Ragnhildur of the Velkanian Isles
* **15 January 2003 – 15 January 2013**: *Her Royal Highness* The Crown Princess of the Velkanian Isles
* **15 January 2013 – *present***: *Her Majesty* The Queen of the Velkanian Isles