Quick Facts
Biography
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.As of 2016, 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 two sons, Prince Alexander and Prince Gabriel, in Villa Solbacken in central Stockholm.
Early life and education
Prince Carl Philip was born on 13 May 1979 at the 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 to the throne of Sweden 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, 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.
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. 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 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 fänrik (midshipman), and in 2004 to the rank of löjtnant (sub-lieutenant) in the Swedish Navy. 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 kapten in the Swedish Navy (lieutenant). 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.
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 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. 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.
On 19 April 2016, Princess Sofia gave birth to a son, Prince Alexander, Duke of Södermanland. Their second child, also a son, was born on 31 August 2017, titled Prince Gabriel, Duke of Dalarna.
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; 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, and honours
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
Honours
National honours
Sweden: Knight with Collar of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (RoK av KMO)- Sweden: Knight Commander of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (KNO2kl)
- Sweden: Knight Grand Officer of the Royal Order of Charles XIII (RCXIII:sO)
- Sweden: Recipient of the Uppland Medal of Merit
- Sweden: Recipient of the Armed Forces Service Medal
- Sweden: Recipient of the Defence College Medal, Bronze
- Sweden: Recipient of the Swedish Military Peace Medal
- Sweden: Recipient of the 50th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
- Sweden: Recipient of the Wedding Medal of Crown Princess Victoria to Daniel Westling
- Sweden: Recipient of the Ruby Jubilee Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
- Sweden: Recipient of the 70th Birthday Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
Foreign honours
Bulgaria: 1st Class of the Order of Stara Planina
Brazil: Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco
Chile: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
Estonia: Member 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose
Germany: Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour
Iceland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Jordan: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Star of Jordan
Latvia: Grand Officer of the Order of the Three Stars
Luxembourg: Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
Malaysia: Honorary Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (2005)
Norway: Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav
Romania: Grand Cross of the Order of Faithful Service
Tunisia: Grand Officer of the Order of Merit
Arms
Prince Carl Philip's coat of arms is based on the greater coat of arms of Sweden. It features in the first and fourth quarters, the Three Crowns; in the second, the lion of the House of Bjelbo; and in the third, the eagle of the arms of Värmland, 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.