Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Princess Madeleine |
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| Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland | |||||
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Princess Madeleine in 2017
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| Born | 10 June 1982 Drottningholm Palace, Ekerö, Sweden |
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| House | Bernadotte | ||||
| Father | Carl XVI Gustaf | ||||
| Mother | Silvia Sommerlath | ||||
| Education | Stockholm University | ||||
| Swedish Royal Family |
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HRH Princess Birgitta Extended royal family
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Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland (born Madeleine Thérèse Amelie Josephine on 10 June 1982) is a member of the Swedish royal family. She is the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden.
When she was born, Princess Madeleine was third in the line of succession, which is the order of who will become the next king or queen. Today, she is ninth in line. She is married to Christopher O'Neill, a British-American businessman. Together, they have three children: Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas, and Princess Adrienne.
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Early Life and Royal Title
Princess Madeleine was born at Drottningholm Palace near Stockholm. She was christened at the Royal Palace Church on 31 August 1982. Her godparents included other European royals and family members.
She was given the title Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland. A duchess is a high-ranking noble title. Her title covers two provinces in Sweden, which is very rare.
Education
Princess Madeleine started preschool in 1985. She attended several schools in Stockholm and graduated in 2001. After high school, she moved to London to study English.
In 2003, she began studying at Stockholm University. She took classes in art history, ethnology (the study of different cultures), and modern history. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2006. She also studied child psychology. The princess speaks Swedish, English, and German fluently, and also knows some French.
Hobbies and Interests
Princess Madeleine is a skilled and passionate horse rider. She has owned her own horses and has even competed in show jumping competitions. To keep her identity private during competitions, she used the name "Anna Svensson."
To celebrate her 18th birthday in 2001, a scholarship fund was created in her name. This fund helps support young people in her duchies who are involved in horse riding. The princess also enjoys skiing, theatre, dance, and art.
Royal Duties and Charity Work
As a princess, Madeleine carries out official duties for her father, the King, and for Sweden. She attends important events like Sweden's National Day celebrations and the Nobel Prize festivities.
In October 2024, she served as Regent Ad Interim. This meant she temporarily took on the duties of the head of state while her father and siblings were traveling abroad.
Helping Children
Princess Madeleine is very involved in charity work, especially helping children. She is the patron of Min Stora Dag, a Swedish organization similar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation that grants wishes to children with serious illnesses.
She has worked closely with the World Childhood Foundation, an organization her mother, Queen Silvia, co-founded. In 2006, she worked for UNICEF in New York City in their Child Protective Services division.
In 2012, she helped create the "ThankYou by Childhood" campaign. This project raises awareness about the need to protect children from harm. She also helped launch the #EyesWideOpen campaign to teach adults how to recognize and prevent the mistreatment of children.
In 2019, Princess Madeleine published a children's book called Stella och hemligheten (Stella and the Secret). The book helps teach children about speaking up for themselves and telling an adult if something feels wrong.
Personal Life
In 2009, Princess Madeleine announced her engagement to a lawyer named Jonas Bergström. However, the engagement was later called off in April 2010. After this, she moved to New York City to focus on her work with the World Childhood Foundation.
Marriage and Family
While living in New York, she met Christopher O'Neill. The Royal Court announced their engagement on 25 October 2012. They were married on 8 June 2013, in the Royal Palace chapel in Stockholm.
Mr. O'Neill is a private citizen and chose not to accept a royal title. To become a member of the Swedish royal family, he would have needed to become a Swedish citizen, which he decided against.
The couple has three children:
- Princess Leonore, Duchess of Gotland, born on 20 February 2014.
- Prince Nicolas, Duke of Ångermanland, born on 15 June 2015.
- Princess Adrienne, Duchess of Blekinge, born on 9 March 2018.
The family lived in New York, London, and Florida for several years. In 2023, the Royal Court announced that the family planned to move back to Sweden.
In 2019, King Carl XVI Gustaf made a change regarding the royal status of his grandchildren. The children of Princess Madeleine and Prince Carl Philip are no longer styled as His or Her Royal Highness (HRH). This means they are not official working royals. Princess Madeleine said this would give her children more freedom to "shape their own lives as private individuals." They keep their prince/princess titles and their positions in the line of succession.
Honours
| Coat of arms of Princess Madeleine | |
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| Armiger | Princess Madeleine |
| Adopted | 1982 |
As a princess, Madeleine has received many honours and decorations from Sweden and other countries.
Swedish Honours
Sweden:
Member of the Royal Order of the Seraphim- Member of the Royal Family Decoration of King Carl XVI Gustaf
Recipient of the Ruby Jubilee Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf- Recipient of the Wedding Medal of Crown Princess Victoria to Daniel Westling
- Recipient of the 50th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
Recipient of the 70th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
Recipient of the Golden Jubilee Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
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Foreign Honours
Brazil: Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco
Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Japan: Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown
Jordan: Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Star of Jordan
Luxembourg: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
Norway: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav
Romania: Grand Cross of the Order of Faithful Service
