Carl Johan Bernadotte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carl Johan Bernadotte |
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| Prince Bernadotte prev. Duke of Dalarna |
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Bernadotte at Crown Princess Victoria's wedding in 2010
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| Born | 31 October 1916 Stockholm Palace, Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Died | 5 May 2012 (aged 95) Ängelholm, Sweden |
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| Burial | 14 May 2012 Royal Cemetery, Solna, Sweden |
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| Spouse |
Kerstin Wijkmark
(m. 1946; died 1987)Gunnila Wachtmeister af Johannishus
(m. 1988) |
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| Issue | Christian Bernadotte Monica Bernadotte |
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| House | Bernadotte | ||||
| Father | Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden | ||||
| Mother | Margaret of Connaught | ||||
Carl Johan Arthur, Prince Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg (born October 31, 1916 – died May 5, 2012), was a Swedish prince. He was the youngest child of King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and his first wife, Princess Margaret of Connaught.
He was born a Prince of Sweden and given the title of Duke of Dalarna. However, he later gave up these titles. He did this so he could marry someone who was not of royal birth.
Carl Johan was the uncle of the current King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf. He was also the last living great-grandchild of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
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Marrying for Love: Giving Up Royal Titles
In 1946, Carl Johan married a journalist named Elin Kerstin Margaretha Wijkmark. They got married in New York City.
At that time, Swedish rules meant that a prince could not marry someone who was not royal. If they did, they would lose their royal titles and rights to the throne. Carl Johan knew this when he chose to marry Kerstin.
By marrying Kerstin, he gave up his title as Prince of Sweden and Duke of Dalarna. He then took the family name Bernadotte.
Their Children
Carl Johan and Kerstin adopted two children:
- Monica Kristina Margaretha Bernadotte (born 1948, adopted in 1951). She later married Count Johan Peder Bonde af Björnö. They had three children.
- Christian Carl Henning Bernadotte (born 1949, adopted in 1950). He married Marianne Jenny. They also had three children.
The family lived in New York City for a while. Carl Johan worked there for a trading company. They also became friends with the famous movie star Greta Garbo. She even stayed at their home in Sweden.
After Kerstin passed away, Carl Johan married Countess Gunnila Märtha Louise (Wachtmeister af Johannishus) Bussler in 1988. She had two children from a previous marriage, and Carl Johan became their stepfather.
New Titles and Honours
After he gave up his Swedish royal titles in 1946, Carl Johan was known simply as Carl Johan Bernadotte.
However, in 1951, he received a new title from Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg. He was given the title of Count of Wisborg. He was also made a Prince Bernadotte. This meant he was still a prince, but under the nobility of Luxembourg, not Sweden.
Special Awards and Medals
Carl Johan received many special awards, called "honours," throughout his life. Some of these were given to him when he was born as a Swedish prince. He gave them up when he lost his royal titles in 1946. However, some were given back to him later, or he received new ones.
Swedish Awards
Knight with Collar of the Royal Order of the Seraphim
Commander Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of the Sword
Commander Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Order of the Polar Star
Knight of the Royal Order of Charles XIII
King Gustaf V's Jubilee Commemorative Medal (1928)- King Gustaf VI Adolf's Commemorative Medal (1967)
- King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal (1996)
Awards from Other Countries
Denmark: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Elephant
Guatemala: Grand Officer of the Order of the Quetzal
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Images for kids
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Carl Johan's arms as Prince of Sweden and Duke of Dalecarlia
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Arms of the Counts of Wisborg
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Arms as described by the Government of Luxembourg for Princes and Princesses Bernadotte in 1951
