Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, Duke of Värmland (Carl Philip Edmund Bertil; born 13 May 1979) is the only son and the second of three children of
King Carl XVI Gustaf and
Queen Silvia. , Prince Carl Philip is fourth in the line of succession, after his older sister,
Crown Princess Victoria, his niece and goddaughter
Princess Estelle, and his nephew
Prince Oscar. He lives with his wife,
Princess Sofia, and three sons, Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel and Prince Julian in Villa Solbacken in
Djurgården
Djurgården ( or ) or, more officially, ''Kungliga Djurgården'' (), is an island in central Stockholm, Sweden. Djurgården is home to historical buildings and monuments, museums, galleries, the amusement park Gröna Lund, the open-air museu ...
,
Stockholm.
Early life and education
Prince Carl Philip was born on 13 May 1979 at
Stockholm Palace, Sweden.
He was baptised at the
Royal Chapel on 31 August 1979. His mother is of half
German and half
Brazilian descent.
Carl Philip was
heir apparent
An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...
to the throne of Sweden (and thus held the title Crown Prince) for seven months, until 1 January 1980 when a change in the constitution came into effect which made natural birth order the basis for succession to the throne, replacing the principle of
agnatic primogeniture. His elder sister
Victoria became heir apparent and Crown Princess, with Carl Philip becoming second in line.
During 1984–1986, Prince Carl Philip attended the Västerled parish preschool. In the autumn of 1986, he started school at Smedslättsskolan in
Bromma which he attended at junior level.
For the intermediate level, he attended Ålstensskolan in Bromma, proceeding from there, in the autumn of 1992, to senior level at
Enskilda Gymnasiet in Stockholm.
In the autumn of 1994, Carl Philip enrolled at
Kent School. He then continued his studies in a science programme at
Lundsbergs upper secondary school.
He graduated in the spring of 1999. In 2007–2008, he studied
graphic design at the
Rhode Island School of Design for one year. In 2011, Prince Carl Philip finished his studies in Agricultural and Rural Management at the
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in
Alnarp.
Carl Philip has
dyslexia, as do his father King Carl XVI Gustaf and his sister Crown Princess Victoria.
Interests
Prince Carl Philip has been a scout and is fond of outdoor life. He is keen on sport and athletics, especially
football, swimming, sailing and
skiing
Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow. Variations of purpose include basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee ...
. In 2003, he completed the historic Swedish "
Vasaloppet", the longest cross country ski race in the world. Carl Philip also enjoys car racing, a passion he inherited from his great-uncle and godfather,
Prince Bertil, and has a licence to compete. Prince Carl Philip has taken part in the racing series
Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia in a Porsche 911 GT3. Since
2013
File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment ...
he has raced in the
Scandinavian Touring Car Championship.
The prince completed his military service at the Amphibious Battalion at
Vaxholm Coastal Artillery Regiment as a combat boat commander (
Combat Boat 90) in the autumn of 2000. In December 2002, the Prince was promoted to
second lieutenant, and in 2004 to the rank of
lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
in the
Swedish Amphibious Corps
The Amphibious Corps ( sv, Amfibiekåren, Amf) is the maritime land force arm of the Swedish Navy, with an emphasis on coastal defence. Until 2000 it was known as the Coastal Artillery ( sv, Kustartilleriet), but the name was changed to reflect i ...
. In 2007 and 2008 he went to the
Swedish National Defense College. The course was divided in three weeks autumn 2007 and three weeks spring 2008. After that course he was appointed
captain. On 1 October 2014, Prince Carl Philip achieved the rank of
major.
With a great interest for design and drawing, the prince began studying graphic design in Stockholm in 2003, studies which he continues still.
Activities and charity work
Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia's Foundation was established to mark the occasion of the couple's marriage in 2015.
The foundation's purpose is to counteract bullying.
In 2013, the Prince Carl Philip Racing Cup was founded. The racing cup aims to help young people with karting talents progress within the sport.
The Prince with the
Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences conducts a range of visits to companies, with focus on the companies' creative work.
Prince Carl Philip is a patron of several organizations such as The Swedish National Dyslexia Association, The Swedish Rural Economy and Agricultural Societies, The International Union for Conservation of Nature, The Royal Swedish Motorboat Club and others.
Personal life and family
Prince Carl Philip dated Emma Pernald from 1999 to 2009.
Pernald worked at a
PR firm for several years. However, the prince and Pernald broke off their relationship in March 2009. She revealed in the Swedish newspaper ''
Expressen
''Expressen'' (''The Express'') is one of two nationwide evening newspapers in Sweden, the other being '' Aftonbladet''. ''Expressen'' was founded in 1944; its symbol is a wasp and its slogans are "it stings" or "''Expressen'' to your rescue". ...
'' that she and the prince mutually decided to go their separate ways. Pernald made no further comment as to the reason for the break-up.
In April 2010, Carl Philip was linked in the press with former
glamour model Sofia Hellqvist
Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and has ...
.
In August 2010, Royal Court spokesperson Nina Eldh confirmed the relationship between Carl Philip and Hellqvist in a statement released by the palace. On 27 June 2014, it was announced that Carl Philip and Hellqvist were engaged.
They
married on 13 June 2015 in Stockholm's Royal Palace chapel, and thousands of people lined the streets for the occasion.
In an interview he criticized the press for suggesting that Hellqvist was not welcome in the royal family. He told the press that the opposite was true and that his family easily accepted her into the family. He compared the "bullying" of her past to that of himself being bullied for having dyslexia.
The couple was due to move into the Villa Solbacken which had been vacant since the death of
Princess Lilian, and while it was being renovated, they lived in
Rosendal Palace
Rosendal Palace ( sv, Rosendals slott) is a Swedish palace pavilion located on Djurgården, an island in central Stockholm. It was built between 1823 and 1827 for King Karl XIV Johan, the first Bernadotte King of Sweden. It was intended as a ...
until 2017.
The couple has three sons:
* On 19 April 2016, Princess Sofia gave birth to a son, Prince Alexander Erik Hubertus Bertil, Duke of Södermanland, at Danderyd Hospital. He was baptised by Archbishop Antje Jackelén in the Palace Chapel at Drottningholm Palace on 9 September 2016.
* Their second child, Prince Gabriel Carl Walter, Duke of Dalarna, was born on 31 August 2017 at Danderyd Hospital. He was baptised by Archbishop Emeritus Anders Wejryd at Drottningholm on 1 December 2017.
* Their third son, Prince Julian Herbert Folke, Duke of Halland, was born on 26 March 2021 at Danderyd Hospital. His christening took place on 14 August 2021 in the Drottningholm Palace Chapel.
On 7 October 2019, Carl Philip's father, the king, issued a statement rescinding the
royal status of Prince Alexander and Prince Gabriel in an effort to more strictly associate Swedish royalty to the office of the
head of state
A head of state (or chief of state) is the public persona who officially embodies a state (polity), state#Foakes, Foakes, pp. 110–11 " he head of statebeing an embodiment of the State itself or representatitve of its international p ...
; they are still to be styled as princes and dukes of their provinces, and they remain in the line of succession to the throne. Carl Philip and his wife commented that their sons now will have more freedom of choice for their future lives.
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles and styles
*13 May 1979 – 31 December 1979: His Royal Highness
The Crown Prince of Sweden,
Duke of Värmland
*1 January 1980 – Present: His Royal Highness Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, Duke of Värmland
Military ranks
;
* December 2002:
Second Lieutenant
* 14 December 2004:
Lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
* December 2007:
Captain
* 1 October 2014:
Major
Honours
National honours
* :
**
Knight of the
Royal Order of the Seraphim (RoKavKMO)
**
Commander of the
Royal Order of the Polar Star (KNO)
**
Knight of the
Royal Order of Charles XIII (RCXIII:sO, not worn as Prince Carl Philip is not a Freemason)
**
Recipient of the
King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal I (30 April 1996)
**
Recipient of the
Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel's Wedding Commemorative Medal (8 June 2010)
**
Recipient of the
King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal II (23 August 2013)
**
Recipient of the
King Carl XVI Gustaf's Jubilee Commemorative Medal III (30 April 2016)
** Recipient of the
Uppland Medal of Merit
**
Recipient of the
Swedish Armed Forces Conscript Medal
** Recipient of the
Swedish National Defence College Commemorative Medal (''Försvarshögskolans minnesmedalj'')
**
Recipient of the
Swedish Veterans Federation - Peace Berets Medal of Merit in gold (''Fredsbaskrarna Sveriges förtjänstmedalj i guld'') (22 January 2013)
Foreign honours
* :
**
1st Class of the
Order of the Balkan Mountains
* :
**
Grand Cross of the
Order of Rio Branco
* :
**
Grand Cross of the
Order of Merit
* :
**
Member 1st Class of the
Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
* :
**
Grand Cross of the
Order of the White Rose
* :
**
Grand Cross 1st Class of the
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...
* :
**
Grand Cross of the
Order of Honour
*:
**
Grand Cross of the
Order of the Falcon
*:
**
1st Class / Knight Grand Cross of the
Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2 November 2018)
* :
**
Grand Cordon of the
Order of the Star of Jordan
* :
**
Grand Officer of the
Order of the Three Stars
Order of the Three Stars ( lv, Triju Zvaigžņu ordenis) is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvija ...
* :
** 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 ...
* :
** Honorary Commander of the
Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (2005)
* :
**
Grand Cross of the
Order of the Crown (11 October 2022)
* :
**
Grand Cross of the
Order of St. Olav
The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav ( no, Den Kongelige Norske Sankt Olavs Orden; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II ...
(1 September 2005)
* :
**
Knight Grand Cross of the
Order of Civil Merit (16 November 2021)
* :
**
Grand Cross of the
Order of Faithful ServiceRecipients of Order of Faithful Service (excel file)
/ref>
* :
** Grand Officer of th
Arms
File:Coat of arms of Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland.svg, Coat of arms
Prince Carl Philip's coat of arms is based on the greater coat of arms of Sweden
The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Sweden ( sv, Sveriges riksvapen) has a greater and a lesser version.
Regulated usage
The usage of the coats of arms is regulated by Swedish Law, Actbr>1970:498 which states (in unofficial translation) tha ...
. It features in the first and fourth quarters, the Three Crowns
Three Crowns ( sv, tre kronor, links=no) is the national emblem of Sweden, present in the coat of arms of Sweden, and composed of three yellow or gilded coronets ordered two above and one below, placed on a blue background. Similar designs are ...
; in the second, the lion of the House of Bjelbo; and in the third, the eagle of the arms of Värmland
Värmland () also known as Wermeland, is a ''landskap'' (historical province) in west-central Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland, and Närke, and is bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are ...
, representing the titular designation of his dukedom. In the centre, on an inescutcheon, is the dynastic arms of the House of Bernadotte. Surrounding the shield is the chain of the Order of the Seraphim.
Ancestry
References
External links
The Royal Court of Sweden: Prince Carl Philip
Bernadotte and Galliera princely inheritance
(in Swedish)
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carl Philip, Sweden, Prince of
1979 births
Living people
Varmland
Heirs apparent who never acceded
House of Bernadotte
Kent School alumni
Rhode Island School of Design alumni
Swedish Lutherans
Swedish people of Brazilian descent
Swedish people of German descent
Carl Philip 1979
Crown Princes of Sweden
People educated at Enskilda Gymnasiet
People from Stockholm
Knights of the Order of Charles XIII
Grand Crosses of the National Order of Faithful Service
Grand Crosses of the Order of Honour (Greece)
Grand Crosses 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class
Honorary Commanders of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia
Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon
Order of Civil Merit members
People with dyslexia
Royalty and nobility with disabilities
Sons of kings
Swedish racing drivers
Grand Crosses of the Order of the Crown (Netherlands)