Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prince Daniel |
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| Duke of Västergötland | |||||
Daniel in 2016
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| Born | Olof Daniel Westling 15 September 1973 Örebro Hospital, Örebro, Sweden |
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| House | Bernadotte (by marriage) | ||||
| Father | Olle Westling | ||||
| Mother | Ewa Westring | ||||
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| Swedish Royal Family |
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HRH Princess Birgitta Extended royal family
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Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland (born Olof Daniel Westling; 15 September 1973), is a member of the Swedish royal family. He became a prince when he married Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, in 2010. This means he is likely to become the next consort (the husband of a queen) of Sweden. Before his marriage, he was a personal trainer and owned gyms in Stockholm.
Contents
Who is Prince Daniel?
Prince Daniel's Early Life
Olof Daniel Westling was born on 15 September 1973, in Örebro, Sweden. His parents are Olle and Ewa Westling. His family first lived in Örebro, then moved to Ockelbo. He has an older sister named Anna. Many of his ancestors were farmers from the area called Hälsingland. Daniel was christened (given a Christian name) in January 1974. His family also has some Forest Finnish heritage.
Prince Daniel's Education and Military Service
After finishing school, Daniel served for 15 months in the Swedish Army. This was part of a national service requirement at the time. He was honorably discharged as a second lieutenant. In 2001, he met Crown Princess Victoria when he became her personal trainer.
Prince Daniel's Career Before Marriage
Before he became a prince, Daniel Westling was a successful businessman. He owned a company called Balance Training. This company had three gyms in central Stockholm. In November 2009, he stepped down from his role as CEO of the Balance company. This was done as he prepared to become a member of the royal family.
Prince Daniel's Marriage and Family Life
Engagement to Crown Princess Victoria
On 24 February 2009, Daniel Westling and Crown Princess Victoria announced their engagement. They needed permission from King Carl XVI Gustaf and the Swedish government to marry. This permission is required by Swedish law for royal marriages.
Prince Daniel's Kidney Transplant
Daniel had a kidney problem that he was born with. Three months after his engagement, on 28 May 2009, he had a kidney transplant. His father donated one of his kidneys to Daniel. The operation was successful.
The Royal Wedding and Children
The wedding took place in Stockholm Cathedral on 19 June 2010. This date was special because it was also the 34th anniversary of Victoria's parents' wedding. After their marriage, Prince Daniel and Crown Princess Victoria moved into the Haga Palace.
They have two children:
- Their first child, a girl, was born on 23 February 2012. She is Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland.
- Their second child, a boy, was born on 2 March 2016. He is Prince Oscar, Duke of Skåne.
Prince Daniel took paternity leave when Princess Estelle started preschool. This allowed him to switch roles with Victoria and spend more time with their daughter.
Prince Daniel's Charity Work
Prince Daniel is very active in charity work. He focuses on helping young people and promoting good health.
Organizations Prince Daniel Supports
Prince Daniel is a patron (a supporter or sponsor) of several organizations. These include:
- A Swedish Classic
- The Healthy Generation Foundation
- International Society of Nephrology
- More Organ Donation
Prince Daniel's Work in Health
Prince Daniel is an honorary chairman of the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation. He also has a special grant named after him, "Prince Daniel's Grant for Promising Young Researchers." He created "Prince Daniel's Race and Sports Day." This event happens every year to encourage young people to exercise and enjoy sports.
Prince Daniel and Crown Princess Victoria also started a foundation when they got married in 2010. This foundation helps fight against social exclusion and promotes good health for children and young people in Sweden. They also started Generation PEP, an organization that works to improve the health of young people.
Prince Daniel's Work in Entrepreneurship
Prince Daniel supports young entrepreneurs (people who start new businesses). He visits the Swedish Young Enterprise Championship every year. He is also a member of Young Enterprise's national board.
In 2013, he launched "Prince Daniel's Fellowship project." As part of this project, Prince Daniel, along with business leaders, visits schools and universities. Their goal is to inspire young people to become entrepreneurs. This project is a partnership with the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.
Prince Daniel's Royal Titles and Honours
How Prince Daniel Became a Prince
When Prince Daniel married Crown Princess Victoria, he became "Prince Daniel" and "Duke of Västergötland." This title is similar to those used by other Swedish princes. On his wedding day, he was also given the style Royal Highness. This made him an official member of the Swedish royal family. He also added the royal family's last name, Bernadotte, to his own. So, his full legal name became Olof Daniel Westling Bernadotte.
Awards and Medals
Prince Daniel has received many awards and medals, both from Sweden and other countries. These are called "honours."
Swedish Honours
- Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Seraphim
- Knight Commander of the Royal Order of the Polar Star
- Recipient of special medals for King Carl XVI Gustaf's anniversaries and birthdays.
Foreign Honours
He has also received important awards from countries like:
- Chile
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Norway
- South Korea
- Spain
- Tunisia
Images for kids
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Coat of arms
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Monogram
See also
In Spanish: Daniel de Suecia para niños
