Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland
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Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland, (Madeleine Thérèse Amélie Joséphine), born on June 10, 1982, is the youngest child and second daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden.
She is third in line to the Swedish throne (behind her sister, Crown Princess Victoria and brother, Prince Carl Philip) and 184th in line to the British throne. 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, the son of Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife Joséphine. Princess Madeleine was born at Drottningholm Palace.
She was christened at the Palace Chapel on 31 August 1982. Her godparents are Prince Andreas of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Walter Sommerlath, Princess Benedikte of Denmark, and Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson.
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[edit] Education
During the years 1985-89, the Princess attended Västerled Parish Pre-School. In the autumn of 1989, she started Smedslättsskolan in Bromma, which she attended at the junior level. For the intermediate level, the Princess attended Carlssons School in Stockholm, and then proceeding from there to Enskilda Gymnasiet in Stockholm, which she attended at the senior level. Her upper secondary school was also spent at Enskilda Gymnasiet, from where she graduated in 2001.
During the autumn of 2001, the Princess lived in London where she studied English. Then in the spring of 2002, she took a basic course in law and studied for the European Computer Driving Licence. During the autumn of 2002, the Princess prepared for her coming university studies by deepening her knowledge in various subjects. In January 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. As of January 2006, she is living in New York City, working for UNICEF.
[edit] Leisure Pursuits
Princess Madeleine is an enthusiastic rider, and for many years she owned several horses of her own (they were placed at the Royal Mews) and also competed in showjumping. She also enjoys skiing, and is very interested in culture, such as theatre, dance and art. In recognition of her majority in 2001 she was presented a scholarship fund by the Gävleborg province, which is made up of her duchies of Hälsingland and Gästrikland. It encourages and supports young people involved in horse riding, and for the first time in 2001 Princess Madeleine distributed awards such as 'Pony Rider of the Year with trainer in Gävleborg' and 'Gold Rider'.
[edit] Charity Work
The Princess is the protector 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).
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Prince Carl Philip |
Line of succession to the Swedish throne | Succeeded by — |
| Preceded by Princess Victoria |
Line of succession to the British throne | Succeeded by Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler |
