Countess Alice Viktoria Trolle-Wachtmeister (9 May 1926 – 26 June 2017) was a

courtier A courtier () is a person who attends the royal court of a monarch or other royalty. The earliest historical examples of courtiers were part of the retinues of rulers. Historically the court was the centre of government as well as the official ...

at the

Royal Court of Sweden The Royal Court of Sweden ( sv, Kungliga Hovstaterna) is the official name for the organisation ( royal households) that supports the monarch, and the royal house. The incumbent monarch, King Carl XVI Gustaf, is head of the Royal Court. The Royal ...

from the 1970s to 2015, serving as

chief court mistress Court Mistress ( da, hofmesterinde; nl, hofmeesteres; german: Hofmeisterin; no, hoffmesterinne; sv, hovmästarinna) or Chief Court Mistress ( da, Overhofmesterinde; ('grand mistress'); ; no, overhoffmesterinne; sv, överhovmästarinna; russia ...

from 1994 to 2015.

Career

Alice Viktoria Tornérhielm was born on 9 May 1926 in

Helsingborg Helsingborg (, , , ) is a city and the seat of Helsingborg Municipality, Scania (Skåne), Sweden. It is the second-largest city in Scania (after Malmö) and ninth-largest in Sweden, with a population of 113,816 (2020). Helsingborg is the cent ...

, the daughter of Erik Gunnar Tornérhielm (1895-1969), a

squire In the Middle Ages, a squire was the shield- or armour-bearer of a knight. Use of the term evolved over time. Initially, a squire served as a knight's apprentice. Later, a village leader or a lord of the manor might come to be known as a ...

from Gedsholm, and the Danish-born Ellen Valentiner-Branth (1897-1965). As a child, Trolle-Wachtmeister was often ill and lived for a long time in a sanatorium with a nurse in her mother's home country,

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

. When she returned home to Gedsholm outside Helsingborg, she spoke only Danish. During her early school years, she lived in a boarding house in Helsingborg. Seventeen years old in 1943, she followed her mother's example and joined the Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Organization. After school graduation in 1945, she undertook home education which her father regarded as his daughter's

military service Military service is service by an individual or group in an army or other militia, air forces, and naval forces, whether as a chosen job ( volunteer) or as a result of an involuntary draft (conscription). Some nations (e.g., Mexico) require ...

. Then followed a nursing course with internship at a children's hospital, a practical social course in

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

1945–1947, a period in an English family and a time as a hostess. In 1947 she graduated from child care nurse training. In 1949, Alice Tornérhielm married Count Hans Gabriel Trolle-Wachtmeister (born 9 January 1923), a member of the Trolle-Wachtmeister family, with whom she lived at

Trolle-Ljungby Castle Trolle-Ljungby Castle ( sv, Trolle-Ljungby slott) is a castle in Kristianstad Municipality, Scania, in southern Sweden. The Renaissance style castle is enclosed by a moat. History The castle is of medieval origins. It is mentioned as belonging ...

Scania Scania, also known by its native name of Skåne (, ), is the southernmost of the historical provinces (''landskap'') of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous with Skåne ...

. Trolle-Wachtmeister then engaged in the

Swedish Red Cross The Swedish Red Cross ( Swedish: ''Svenska Röda Korset'') is a Swedish humanitarian organisation and a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a humanitarian m ...

and in the Church Sewing Association. She was trained in air defense and staff welfare services in the Swedish Air Force. Trolle-Wachtmeister was vice chief and then chief of the Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Organization in

Kristianstad County Kristianstad County ( sv, Kristianstads län) was a county of Sweden from 1719 to 31 December 1996 when it was merged with Malmöhus County to form Skåne County. The seat of residence for the Governor was in Kristianstad. See also * List of g ...

from 1962 to 1968 and from 1968 to 1974 respectively. She passed a management course at the

Swedish National Defence College The Swedish Defence University ( sv, Försvarshögskolan, FHS) is situated on Drottning Kristinas väg 37 in Östermalm, Stockholm City Centre, next to the campus of the Royal Institute of Technology. History Today's Swedish Defence University ...

in 1974 and was chairman of the board of the Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Organization and its chief from 1974 to 1978. Trolle-Wachtmeister was chairman of ''Sveriges unglottor'' from 1974 to 1978, when she became a ''statsfru'', a high ranking court official. She served as such until 1994, when she was promoted to the office of the

Chief Court Mistress Court Mistress ( da, hofmesterinde; nl, hofmeesteres; german: Hofmeisterin; no, hoffmesterinne; sv, hovmästarinna) or Chief Court Mistress ( da, Overhofmesterinde; ('grand mistress'); ; no, overhoffmesterinne; sv, överhovmästarinna; russia ...

, succeeding Astrid Rudebeck. As such, she was the highest ranking non-royal woman in Sweden. Trolle-Wachtmeister was chairman of the

municipal council A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...

from 1964 to 1976 and a member of the Temperance Board (''Nykterhetsnämnden'') and of the

county council A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries. Ireland The county councils created under British rule in 1899 continue to exist in Irel ...

's Social Welfare Board (''Socialnämnd'') from 1970. She was also chairman of the Church Council, member of the Church Board, the

Sophiahemmet Sophiahemmet is a private hospital at Norra Djurgården in Stockholm, Sweden. It is associated with the Sophiahemmet University College. Its connection with the royal family goes back to 1884 when nursing education sponsored by Queen Sophia was ...

Foundation (''Sophiahemmets stiftelse''), the Foundation of the Queen Silvia Jubilee Fund (''Stiftelsen Drottning Silvias jubileumsfond''), and chairman of the Foundation of Queen Victoria's Nursing Home (''Stiftelsen Drottning Victorias vilohem'') from 1984. On 23 February 2012, along with

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister i ...

Fredrik Reinfeldt John Fredrik Reinfeldt (pronounced ; born 4 August 1965) is a Swedish economist, lecturer, and former politician who was Prime Minister of Sweden from 2006 to 2014, and chairman of the liberal conservative Moderate Party from 2003 to 2015. He ...

, the Speaker of the Parliament Per Westerberg and the Marshal of the Realm Svante Lindqvist, Countess Trolle-Wachtmeister was presented the newborn

Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland Princess Estelle of Sweden, Duchess of Östergötland (Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary; born 23 February 2012) is the elder child of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland. She is the eldest grandchild of King Carl XVI Gustaf ...

. According to tradition, the Mistress of the Robes and the other officials are required to witness that the second in the line of succession to the throne is indeed the child of the Crown Princess, rather than a

changeling A changeling, also historically referred to as an auf or oaf, is a human-like creature found in folklore throughout Europe. A changeling was believed to be a fairy that had been left in place of a human (typically a child) stolen by other fairi ...

. She then attended the announcement of the Princess's names on 24 February.

Distinctions

National

SWE_Order_of_Vasa_-_Knight_2nd_Class_BAR

Member 1st Class of the

Royal Order of Vasa The Royal Order of Vasa () is a Swedish order of chivalry, awarded to citizens of Sweden for service to state and society especially in the fields of agriculture, mining and commerce. It was instituted on 29 May 1772 by King Gustav III. It was u ...

(6 June 1974) * Member of the Royal Family Order of King Carl XVI Gustaf * SWE_HM_The_King's_Medal_ribbon

H. M. The King's Medal, 12th size gold medal worn around the neck on a chain of gold (silver-gilt) (1990) * Commemorative_Ruby_Jubilee_Medal_of_His_Majesty_The_King_(15092013)

Commemorative_Ruby_Jubilee_Medal_of_His_Majesty_The_King_(15092013)

King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal II (23 August 2013) * Seraphimerorden_ribbon

Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel's Wedding Commemorative Medal (8 June 2010) * Seraphimerorden_ribbon

King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal I (30 April 1996) * SWE_Home_Guard_Royal_Medal_of_Merit_ribbon

Home Guard Medal of Merit in gold * Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Organization Royal Medal of Merit

Foreign

* Grand Cross of the

Royal Norwegian Order of Merit The Royal Norwegian Order of Merit (Norwegian: ''Den Kongelige Norske Fortjenstorden'' (Bokmål) or ''Den Kongelege Norske Fortenesteordenen'' (Nynorsk)) was instituted by King Olav V in 1985. It is awarded to foreigners, Norwegian citizens livi ...

(1 July 1992) * Grand Cross of the

Order of the Falcon The Order of the Falcon ( is, Hin íslenska fálkaorða) is the only order of chivalry in Iceland, founded by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland on 3 July 1921. The award is awarded for merit for Iceland and humanity and has five degrees. N ...

(26 October 1981) * Order_of_the_Dannebrog_S

Knight

Grand Cross Grand Cross is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia. Exceptionally, the highest class may be referred to as Grand Cordon or equivalent. In other cases, there may exist a rank even higher than Grand Cross, e.g. Grand ...

of the Order of the Dannebrog * ESP_Isabella_Catholic_Order_GC

Dame Grand Cross of the

Order of Isabella the Catholic The Order of Isabella the Catholic ( es, Orden de Isabel la Católica) is a Spanish civil order and honor granted to persons and institutions in recognition of extraordinary services to the homeland or the promotion of international relations a ...

(21 March 1983) * Knight Grand Cross of the

Order of Adolphe of Nassau The Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolph of Nassau (french: Ordre de Mérite civil et militaire d’Adolphe de Nassau) is an order of merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for meritorious service to the Grand Duke, the Grand-Ducal House ...

* Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry * Order_of_the_White_Elephant_-_1st_Class_(Thailand)_ribbon

Knight Grand Cross of the

Order of the White Elephant __NOTOC__ The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant ( th, เครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์อันเป็นที่เชิดชูยิ่งช้างเผือก; ) is an order of Thailand. It wa ...

EST_Order_of_the_White_Star_-_1st_Class_BAR

1st Class of the Order of the White Star (11 September 1995) *

Order of the White Rose of Finland The Order of the White Rose of Finland ( fi, Suomen Valkoisen Ruusun ritarikunta; sv, Finlands Vita Ros’ orden) is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. ...

Order of the Aztec Eagle The Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle ( es, Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca) forms part of the Mexican Honours System and is the highest Mexican order awarded to foreigners in the country. History It was created by decree on December 29, 1933 ...

* Brazilian Congress' Order * Order of the Sacred Treasure

References

External links