Queen Silvia of Sweden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silvia |
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Silvia in 2023
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| Queen consort of Sweden | |
| Tenure | 19 June 1976 – present |
| Born | Silvia Renate Sommerlath 23 December 1943 Heidelberg, Germany |
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| Father | Walther Sommerlath |
| Mother | Alice Soares de Toledo |
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| Swedish Royal Family |
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HM The King
HRH Princess Birgitta Extended royal family
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Silvia (born Silvia Renate Sommerlath on December 23, 1943) is the Queen of Sweden. She is married to King Carl XVI Gustaf. She became queen when they married in 1976.
Together, the King and Queen have three children who are also part of the royal family: Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip, and Princess Madeleine.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Silvia Renate Sommerlath was born in Heidelberg, Germany. Her father, Walther Sommerlath, was German, and her mother, Alice Soares de Toledo, was Brazilian. Silvia was the only daughter and had three brothers: Ralf, Walther, and Jörg.
After finishing school in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1963, Silvia went to the Munich School of Interpreting. She studied from 1965 to 1969 and became an expert in the Spanish language.
Queen Silvia is a talented linguist. She is a trained interpreter and can speak six languages. Besides her native German and her mother's language, Portuguese, she also speaks French, Spanish, English, and Swedish. She can also use some Swedish Sign Language, which is used by the deaf community in Sweden.
Meeting the King and Royal Life
Silvia met Crown Prince Carl Gustaf of Sweden during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. She was working at the event as a hostess. After King Gustaf VI Adolf died in 1973, Carl Gustaf became the new king.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Silvia announced their engagement on March 12, 1976. They were married a few months later on June 19, 1976, at Stockholm Cathedral. This was a special event because it was the first time a reigning Swedish king had married since 1797.
The night before the wedding, the famous Swedish music group ABBA performed their song "Dancing Queen" for the first time. It was a special tribute to the woman who was about to become the Queen of Sweden.
The Royal Children
The King and Queen have three children and nine grandchildren:
- Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Västergötland (born 1977). She is married to Daniel Westling and they have two children.
- Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland (born 1979). He is married to Sofia Hellqvist and they have four children.
- Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland (born 1982). She is married to Christopher O'Neill and they have three children.
Questions About Her Father's Past
In 2002, newspapers reported that the Queen's father, Walther Sommerlath, had joined the foreign branch of the Nazi party in 1934 while living in Brazil. This caused a lot of public discussion.
In response, Queen Silvia asked an expert on World War II to research her father's history. The expert's report stated that her father had taken over a steel factory from its Jewish owner, which helped the owner escape from Germany. In a 2011 interview, the Queen said she felt the media's reports about her father were unfair.
Charity Work
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Queen Silvia is very involved in helping others, especially children and the elderly.
In 1994, she started Mentor International with the World Health Organization. This charity provides mentors to guide and support young people, helping them make healthy choices for their future.
In 1999, she co-founded the World Childhood Foundation. This organization works to protect children from harm and make sure they have a safe childhood. A special home for mothers and children in Berlin is named after her brother, Jörg.
The Queen is also passionate about improving care for people with dementia. She started Silviahemmet in Stockholm, a center that trains healthcare workers on how to care for dementia patients and supports research into the condition.
She also leads two royal funds. The Royal Wedding Fund helps young people with disabilities participate in sports, and the Queen Silvia Jubilee Fund supports research about children and disabilities.
See also
In Spanish: Silvia de Suecia para niños
