Úlfhildur, Duchess of the Velkanias

*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* Úlfhildur.

**Úlfhildur** (Úlfhildur Ljósálfardattir; 5 April 1884 – 27 May 1969) was the wife of Bjarni IV, mother of Ragnhildur I, and duchess consort of the Velkanias from 1904 until her husband's death in 1950.

Born in Narísandur as a member of the Velkanian nobility, Úlfhildur attended private schooling in Narísandur and Framland. She returned to Narísandur after completing her studies and enrolled in the Women's University of Narísandur, graduating with a degree in Kashan literature in 1906. Úlfhildur began a relationship with Bjarni IV, a noted bachelor, in 1902; they later married in 1904. They had three children together: Ragnhildur I (born 1906), Princess Dóró (born 1910), and Princess Lydía (born 1912).

Úlfhildur died in her sleep of natural causes on 27 May 1969. She was subsequently given a royal state funeral and laid to rest beside her husband in the royal mausoleum. Throughout her life, Úlfhildur was a fashion icon and was considered to be one of the most beautiful women in the Velkanian Duchy throughout the early 20th-century.

## Early life and education

Úlfhildur was born on 5 April 1884 in Narísandur to parents Ljósálfur Auðólfarson (1854–1918) and Hildibjörg Rúriksdattir (1860–1945), both of the Velkanian nobility. Her father worked as an attorney, while her mother owned a successful wedding planning business. With two high-income parents, the family was incredibly wealthy. In 1889, they moved to a newly built home in Húsavík, which at the time was one of the most expensive properties ever purchased in the Velkanian Isles. Úlfhildur was the second of three children; her siblings were Auðólfur (1882–1955) and Heiða (1887–1970).

Úlfhildur began her education in 1890, attending the Narísandur Primary School for Girls, a private, all-girls primary school. While in primary school, Úlfhildur was a gifted student who was said to be immensely popular amongst classmates. She graduated in 1900, and afterwards enrolled in Uppkrona School, a private, all-girls boarding school in Östhärad, Framland. While at Uppkrona, Úlfhildur was a popular student and began to take up horseback riding, an activity that she continued to pursue until her death. She graduated in 1903, subsequently returning to Narísandur to enroll in the Women's University of Narísandur. She graduated with a degree in Kashan literature in 1906.

## Marriage and family

While on summer break in 1902, between her second and final years of schooling, Úlfhildur became introduced to Bjarni IV at a royal dinner, attending as a guest of her father's when her mother had fallen ill and couldn't make it. Due to their large age gap, both Úlfhildur and Bjarni were initially put off from the idea of a relationship, but they ultimately became romantically involved anyways. After returning to school, Bjarni visited Úlfhildur at least twice a month, while Úlfhildur spent her school breaks at Árbæjarheimar Palace with him.

After returning to Narísandur permanently in 1903, Úlfhildur and Bjarni became engaged in July 1903, just one year after beginning their relationship. They later married on 19 March 1904, and Úlfhildur subsequently became the Duchess consort of the Velkanias. With their marriage, Úlfhildur became the youngest Velkanian consort in three centuries, at only 19 years old. Following their marriage, Úlfhildur moved into Árbæjarheimar Palace with her husband. Breaking with social norms of the time, Úlfhildur opted to continue her university studies, which she received some criticism for. In a 1905 interview, Úlfhildur spoke about the criticism, stating "education is something quite important to me and there is no reason to believe the wife of a duke shouldn't be well-educated." Following their marriage, Úlfhildur became known as a fashion icon amongst Velkanians; after her rise to fame, numerous Velkanian women began trying to emulate her thick, red hair with dyes and rollers, while her style of long, flowy dresses also became popularized.

Úlfhildur and Bjarni had three children together:

* Ragnhildur I (*Ragnhildur* Elín María Ásrún Bjarnadattir; 4 July 1906 – 15 January 2003)
* Princess Dórótea *"Dóró"* Ingiríður Björghildur Ólöf Bjarnadattir (27 August 1910 – 20 July 1969)
* Princess *Lydía* Lísabet Dæja Dögg Bjarnadattir (2 March 1912 – 12 October 2009)

Beginning in the 1930s, Úlfhildur was frequently featured in tabloids and the media for her numerous verbal altercations with her middle daughter Princess Dóró. The two reportedly got into screaming matches in Árbæjarheimar Palace several times due to Dóró's tabloid attention and rumored drunken and disorderly conduct at Narísandur nightclubs and bars.

In 1940, it was reported that Dóró was a member of the royal family "in name only," and that she had been "virtually estranged" from her parents and siblings for at least the past five years. The press also reported that Dóró had been the one to sever ties, after rejecting her family's attempts to have her return to the palace and seek drug and alcohol rehabilitation and therapy. In 1943, Úlfhildur was reported as calling Dóró "an embarrassment" to the family.

## Death

Úlfhildur died in her sleep of natural causes on 27 May 1969, aged 85. Her body was discovered by an Árbæjarheimar Palace chambermaid, after checking up on Úlfhildur after realizing she had not gotten out of bed all day.

Following her death, a two-week long period of national mourning was announced. A royal state funeral was held on 30 May 1969, which was open to the public. Her middle daughter Dóró was notably absent from funeral processions, which the media reported as evidence of their bad-will. She was later buried in the royal family mausoleum beside her husband.

## Titles

* **19 March 1904 – 1 January 1964**: *Her Highness* The Duchess consort of the Velkanias
* **1 January 1964 – 27 May 1969**: *Her Majesty* The Duchess consort of the Velkanias

Despite the restoration of Velkanian independence in 1964, Úlfhildur's title was not changed from duchess consort to queen consort because she had never reigned as a queen consort; her reign ended in 1950, fourteen years before independence. Thus, she has only ever been known as a duchess consort. However, she did become styled as *Her Majesty*, keeping in line with other royals of her stature.