Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland
Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland (born Sofia Kristina Hellqvist; 6 December 1984), is a member of the Swedish royal family. Before marrying Prince Carl Philip and becoming a princess of Sweden in 2015, Sofia was a glamour model and reality television contestant. They have two children, Prince Alexander and Prince Gabriel, who are fifth and sixth in the line of succession to the Swedish throne, respectively.
Princess Sofia | |||||
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Duchess of Värmland | |||||
![]() Sofia in June 2015 | |||||
Born | Sofia Kristina Hellqvist 6 December 1984 Danderyd Hospital, Danderyd, Sweden | ||||
Spouse | |||||
Issue |
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House | Bernadotte (by marriage)[1][2] | ||||
Father | Erik Oscar Hellqvist | ||||
Mother | Marie Britt Rotman[3] |
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Early life and education
Sofia Hellqvist was born in 1984 at Danderyd Hospital in Danderyd, to a Swedish mother, Marie Britt Rotman (born 1957), a marketing manager in the plastics industry,[4] and a Danish–Swedish father, Erik Oscar Hellqvist (born 1949), an employment counsellor at the Swedish employment agency.[4] She was christened on 26 May 1985 in Tibble Church. She moved to Älvdalen at the age of six.[5][6] She has two sisters, Lina Frejd (humanitarian project coordinator, born 1982) and Sara Hellqvist (criminologist,[4] born 1988).[7] She attended Älvdalen Montessori School and Älvdal School. She studied the arts programme at Vansbro Education Centre.
Career
At the age of 20, Hellqvist was published in photos in the men's magazine Slitz wearing only a bikini bottom and a live boa constrictor around her upper body[8] and was later voted Miss Slitz 2004 by readers.[9] When her relationship with Prince Carl Philip was revealed in 2010, Expressen republished the photos.[10] Following the Miss Slitz win, Hellqvist was cast in the Paradise Hotel reality show on TV4[11] where she made it to the final.[10] In the show, she had a much publicised feud with Olinda Castielle[12][13] and finally voted Castielle off the show.[14][15]
In 2005,[16] she moved to New York to study accounting, specialising in business development. She has also studied global ethics, child and youth science, children's communication and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in theory, and in Swedish practice at Stockholm University.[17] She is also a certified yoga instructor and worked as such in New York.[7]
Back in Sweden she studied in Stockholm, where she also worked part-time as a waitress and glamour model.[9]
Hellqvist was mentioned in some newspapers for having kissed American adult film star Jenna Jameson while in Las Vegas to do a Swedish version of reality show Paradise Hotel.[18][19]
Marriage and motherhood
![](../I/Prince_Carl_Philip_and_Princess_Sofia_2015-8064.jpg.webp)
In July 2010, the Swedish Royal Court confirmed the relationship between Hellqvist and Prince Carl Philip.[20] In April 2011, the couple moved in together in Djurgården of Stockholm,[21] which was confirmed by the palace.[22]
On 27 June 2014, the couple's engagement was announced,[23] and in December, Hellqvist made an appearance at the Nobel Banquet with her future husband. In May 2015, it was announced that she would receive the title of princess.[24][25][26] The couple married at Slottskyrkan in Stockholm on 13 June 2015.[27][28][29]
On 19 April 2016, Sofia gave birth to their first child, Prince Alexander, Duke of Södermanland.[30][31] Their second child, Prince Gabriel, Duke of Dalarna, was born on 31 August 2017.[32]
On 7 October 2019, Sofia's father-in-law, 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.[33][34][35] Sofia and Carl Philip commented that their sons now will have more freedom of choice for their future lives.[36]
On 11 December 2020, the Royal Court announced that the couple are expecting their third child, due in late March or early April 2021.[37]
Charity work
In 2010, Hellqvist was one of the co-founders of non-profit organisation Project Playground, a charity that assists underprivileged children in South Africa.[16] Princess Sofia is the honorary chair.[38]
To mark the occasion of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia's marriage in 2015, the couple founded Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia's Foundation.[38] The foundation's purpose is to counteract bullying.[38]
Princess Sofia is an honorary chair of Sophiahemmet since 2016. She succeeded Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson, who had been honorary chair since 1972.[38]
In April 2020, the Princess completed a three-day emergency online training course from Sophiahemmet University, created to help hospitals amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It was announced that she would work as a volunteer at the Sophiahemmet Hospital in Stockholm, where she would support "doctors and nurses through kitchen shifts, disinfecting instruments and cleaning."[39] On 26 November 2020, the palace announced Sofia and Carl Philip had tested positive for coronavirus. They said the couple were "feeling relatively well", experiencing some flu-like symptoms.[40][41]
Titles, styles and honours
Sofia is styled as Her Royal Highness Princess Sofia of Sweden, Duchess of Värmland.[42]
Honours
National honours
Sweden:
Member of the Royal Order of the Seraphim
Member of the Royal Family Decoration of King Carl XVI Gustaf, 2st Class
Recipient of the 70th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
Foreign Honours
Iceland:
Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon
Italy:
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic [43]
References
- "Royal Family - Sveriges Kungahus". Archived from the original on 14 November 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- "The Bernadotte Dynasty - Sveriges Kungahus". Archived from the original on 30 October 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- Hoelseth, Dag T. (3 July 2014). "Dag Trygsland Hoelseth: Sofia Hellqvist's ancestry". Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- Kvarnkullen, Tomas (11 June 2015). "Sofias mormor: "Vi önskar dem lycka till"". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017.
- Forsberg, Malin (24 January 2010). "Det här är Sofia - lär känna prinsens flickvän". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 4 May 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Prinsen ofta på besök i Älvdalen". dt.se. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- "Princess Sofia biography". Kungahuset. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017.
- Squires, Nick (8 April 2010). "Swedish prince has relationship with glamour model". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- Lindwall, Johan T (13 January 2010). "Sofia Hellqvist har vikt ut sig i Slitz". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 28 August 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- Joo, Nathalie (14 January 2010). "Bilderna Silvia knappast sett på prinsens nya romans". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Swedish prince to marry 'Paradise Hotel' girlfriend". Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- Edvardsson, Anja; Pettersson, Mats (18 March 2005). "Hatattacker mot Paradise -Olinda". Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- Wik, Karin (25 March 2005). "Här blir Olinda mobbad". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- Juhlin, Anders; Wik, Karin (18 March 2005). "Hämnden på Olinda". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 19 October 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- "Sweden royal wedding: Prince Carl Philip to marry ex-reality star". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- "Swedish prince weds Sofia Hellqvist, commoner and former glamour model". Reuters. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- "Sofia Hellqvist Info" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 February 2015.
- Hammarlund, Pontus (17 April 2005). "Kysstes med porrstjärnan". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
- "Sofia Hellqvist is the former glamour model about to marry a Swedish prince". Metro. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- "Palace confirms Prince Carl Philip's romance after blocking nude photos". Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
- "Prins Carl Philip & Sofia Hellqvist flyttar!". Posh24.se (in Swedish). 15 April 2011. Archived from the original on 18 April 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
- Bönnelyche, Åsa (10 June 2011). "Carl Philip och Sofia nu sambor – officiellt". Svensk Damtidning (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
- "Sweden's Prince Carl Philip Proposed to Sofia Hellqvist With 1 Carat Engagement Ring". Closer Weekly. 29 May 2015. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- "Modeexperten om nobelfestens snackisar". svt.se. Archived from the original on 13 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- "Så ska Sofia sitta under Nobelfesten". Expressen. Archived from the original on 26 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- "Hovet: Sofia blir prinsessa". dn.se. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
- "Vigsel mellan Prins Carl Philip och fröken Sofia Hellqvist". Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- "Reality starlet to wed prince in Swedish fairytale". Yahoo News. 11 June 2015. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- "Reality starlet weds Swedish prince". Yahoo News. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- "Announcement from the Marshal of the Realm". Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- "Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia have had a son". Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- "Announcement from the HE The Marshal of the Realm - Sveriges Kungahus". www.kungahuset.se. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
- Swedish communiqué of king's decree 7 October 2019.
- English communiqué
- "Sweden's king removes five of his grandchildren from royal house". euronews. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- Linda Johansson in Expressen 8 October 2019 p. 17
- "Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia are expecting a child - Sveriges Kungahus". www.kungahuset.se. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
- "Princess Sofia — Royal Engagements". www.kungahuset.se. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
- Stimson, Brie (17 April 2020). "Princess Sofia of Sweden volunteers at hospital amid coronavirus outbreak". Fox News. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
- "Sweden's Prince Carl Philip and wife test positive for coronavirus". Reuters. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- "Sweden's Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip Test Positive for COVID After Gathering at Royal Funeral". People. 26 November 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
- H.K.H. Prinsessan Sofia, retrieved 8 October 2019
- "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana". www.quirinale.it. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
External links
Media related to Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland at Wikimedia Commons
- Princess Sofia, Duchess of Värmland at IMDb
- Royal Court of Sweden - Princess Sofia