Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland

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Princess Madeleine , Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland Princess Madeleine at Soliden, 14 July 2005 Born Madeleine Thérèse Amelie Josephine 10 June 1982 (1982-06-10) (age 26) Stockholm, Sweden Residence Stockholm, Sweden Nationality Swedish Title Princess of Sweden Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland Parents Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden Queen Silvia of Sweden Relatives Crown Princess Victoria Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland

Swedish Royal Family HM The King HM The Queen HRH The Crown Princess HRH The Duke of Värmland HRH The Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland HRH Princess Birgitta of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen HRH The Duchess of Halland

Styles of Princess Madeleine of Sweden Reference style Her Royal Highness Spoken style Your Royal Highness Alternative style Ma'am

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Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland (Madeleine Thérèse Amelie Josephine; born 10 June 1982) is the youngest child and second daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. Many royal watchers describe her as the most beautiful princess in the world^[who?].

She is third in line to the Swedish throne (behind her sister, Crown Princess Victoria and brother, Prince Carl Philip), and 193rd in the Line of Succession to the British Throne through her father, who is a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Her fourth name, Josephine, is in honour of her ancestress Josephine of Leuchtenberg (later Queen of Sweden and Norway under the name Josefina) the daughter of Eugène de Beauharnais, son of Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife Joséphine by her first husband. Princess Madeleine was born at Drottningholm Palace.

The Princess was christened at The Royal Palace Church on 31 August 1982. Her godparents are Prince Andreas of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Walther Sommerlath, Princess Benedikte of Denmark, and Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson.

Contents 1 Education 2 Leisure pursuits 3 Charity work 4 Royal duties 5 Ancestry 6 See also 7 External links

[edit] Education

From 1985-89, the Princess began her education at Västerled Parish Pre-School. In the autumn of 1989, she entered Smedslättsskolan in Bromma, attending at the junior level. For the intermediate level, the Princess proceeded to Carlssons School in Stockholm, and then went on to Enskilda Gymnasiet in Stockholm, which she attended at the senior level. She also completed upper secondary school at Enskilda, from which she graduated in 2001.

During the autumn of 2001, the Princess lived in London where she studied English. In the spring of 2002, she took a basic course in law and studied for the European Computer Driving Licence. In January of 2003, the Princess enrolled at the University of Stockholm where she began studies in the History of Art. She took 60 Swedish academical points in the subject (three terms). In the autumn of 2004, the Princess began a course in ethnology at the same university. She speaks English, German, and Swedish fluently, and also mid-level French. The Princess is currently taking graduate classes at University of Stockholm.

[edit] Leisure pursuits

Princess Madeleine is an enthusiastic rider. For many years, she owned several horses of her own (they were stabled at the Royal Mews) and also competed in showjumping under the name "Anna Svensson". She also enjoys skiing, and is very interested in the cultural world, particularly theatre, dance and art. In recognition of her age of majority in 2001, a scholarship fund was created in her name by the Gävleborg province, which comprises her duchies of Hälsingland and Gästrikland. It encourages and supports young people involved in horse riding. In 2001, Princess Madeleine first distributed such awards as 'Pony Rider of the Year with trainer in Gävleborg' and 'Gold Rider'.

[edit] Charity work

The Princess is the patron of the organisation Min Stora Dag (the Swedish equivalent of Make-A-Wish Foundation, more commonly known as My Big Day, its translation into English). In 2006, she interned for UNICEF for six months in New York City and worked for the division of Child Protective Services.

[edit] Royal duties

The Princess undertakes royal duties on behalf of her father and the people of Sweden.

[edit] Ancestry

16. Gustav V of Sweden

8. Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden

17. Victoria of Baden

4. Prince Gustav Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten

18. Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn

9. Princess Margaret of Connaught

19. Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia

2. Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

20. Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany

10. Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

21. Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont

5. Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

22. Frederick Ferdinand, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

11. Princess Victoria Adelaide of Schleswig-Holstein

23. Princess Caroline of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg

1. Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland

24. Carl Sommerlath

12. Moritz Sommerlath

25. Anna Tille

6. Walther Sommerlath

26. Johann Waldau

13. Erna Waldau

27. Sophie Schmidt

3. Silvia Renate Sommerlath Soares de Toledo

28. Joaquim Floriano de Toledo

14. Arthur Floriano de Toledo

29. Maria Julia de Barros

7. Alice Soares de Toledo

30. Emiliano Baptista Soares

15. Elisa Novaes Soares

31. Joaquina Dias Novaes

[edit] See also

• Swedish Royal Family

[edit] External links

• The Royal Court of Sweden: Princess Madeleine
• Princess Madeleine fan website and Photo Gallery
• Princess Madeleine fan website

Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland House of Bernadotte Born: 10 June 1982
Preceded by Prince Carl Philip	Line of succession to the Swedish throne 3rd position	Succeeded by —
Preceded by Princess Victoria	Line of succession to the British throne 193rd position	Succeeded by Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler