⭐ Princess Birgitta of Sweden Celebrates 85th Birthday Milestone

Today, Princess Birgitta of Sweden marks a significant milestone in her life as she celebrates her 85th birthday. Born on January 19, 1937, at Haga, Princess Birgitta Ingeborg Alice of Sweden was the second daughter and child of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Her royal lineage is deeply rooted in Swedish history, with her paternal grandparents being King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and his first wife Princess Margaret of Connaught.

Princess Birgitta's life has been marked by her dedication to her royal duties and her passion for sports. She was a trained gymnast and instructor, having studied at the Kungliga Gymnastiska Centralinstitutet in Stockholm. Her engagement to Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern in 1960 was a significant event in her life, and she has since been a devoted wife and member of the royal family. As she celebrates this milestone birthday, Princess Birgitta's life serves as a testament to her strength, resilience, and commitment to her royal heritage.

what is the significance of princess birgitta of sweden's 85th birthday

Princess Birgitta of Sweden's 85th birthday marks a significant milestone in her life, celebrating her longevity and dedication to her royal duties. Born on January 19, 1937, she is the second daughter of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Her royal lineage is deeply rooted in Swedish history, with her paternal grandparents being King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and his first wife Princess Margaret of Connaught. Throughout her life, Princess Birgitta has been committed to her family and her royal heritage, and her birthday serves as a testament to her strength and resilience.

what is princess birgitta of sweden's role in the royal family

Princess Birgitta of Sweden is a member of the Swedish royal family and a sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. She was born on January 19, 1937, and is the second of five children born to Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Princess Birgitta is known for her dedication to her royal duties and her passion for sports, particularly gymnastics. She trained as a gymnastics director at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences and was a trained gymnast herself. Princess Birgitta married Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern in 1961, and the couple had three children together. Although they separated in 1990, they remained married until Johann's death in 2016. Princess Birgitta currently resides in Spain. As a member of the royal family, Princess Birgitta has performed official engagements and ceremonial duties of state, including attending royal events and wearing tiaras from the family collection. She is also known for her unique position within the royal family, as she is the only one of King Carl Gustaf's sisters who did not lose her Swedish title on her marriage due to her husband being of royal status.

what is princess birgitta of sweden's relationship with king carl xvi gustaf

Princess Birgitta of Sweden is the older sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. She was born on January 19, 1937, and is the second child of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Princess Birgitta in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, 1999. Photo (c) Getty Images / Gianni Ferrari.

Today, Princess Birgitta of Sweden celebrates her eighty-fifth birthday.

Princess Sibylle of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden on their wedding day at Coburg, 1932.

Princess Birgitta at a little over one month old.

Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Sibylla with their eldest daughter Princess Margaretha and their infant daughter Princess Birgitta, Haga, April 1937.

Born on 19 January 1937 at Haga, Princess Birgitta Ingeborg Alice of Sweden was the second daughter and child of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten (1906-1947), and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1908-1972), who married in 1932. Birgitta's paternal grandparents were King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden (1882-1973) and his first wife Princess Margaret of Connaught (1882-1920). Her maternal grandparents were Duke Carl Eduard of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (1884-1954) and his wife Princess Viktoria Adelheid of Schleswig-Holstein (1885-1970).

Princess Margaretha, Princess Birgitta, Princess Désirée, and Princess Christina of Sweden, 1945. Photo (c) Getty Images / Hulton Deutsch.

Six month old Prince Carl Gustaf of Sweden, the future King, 1946. Photo (c) Getty Images / Bettmann.

Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Sibylla of Sweden had five children, four daughters and one son: Princess Margaretha (b.1934), Princess Birgitta (b.1937), Princess Désirée (b.1938), Princess Christina (b.1943), and Prince Carl Gustaf (b.1946). In January 1947, Prince Gustaf Adolf was killed when the Royal Dutch Airlines DS-3 aircraft on which the prince was a passenger crashed in Copenhagen shortly after its take-off for Stockholm. The prince had been a hunting guest of Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. American soprano Grace Moore was one of the other twenty-plus victims of the plane crash.

Princess Birgitta in 1960. Photo (c) Getty Images / Rolls Press / Popperfoto.

In the late 1950s, Princess Birgitta was a student at the Kungliga Gymnastiska Centralinstitutet (Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences) in Stockholm. Through her studies at the school, the princess became a trained gymnast and also an instructor in the sport. In 1958, Birgitta taught gymnastics to students at the Broms School in Stockholm.

Princess Birgitta and Prince Johann Georg when their engagement was announced, 1960.

Photo (c) Getty Images / Keystone.

On 15 December 1960, the Swedish royal court announced the engagement of Princess Birgitta of Sweden and Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern (1932-2016). The prince and princess met in 1959 at a cocktail party during a skiing holiday in Germany. Johann Georg was the son of Fürst Friedrich of Hohenzollern (1891-1965) and Princess Margrethe of Saxony (1900-1962). Birgitta and Johann Georg were fifth cousins; both were descendants of Duke Franz of Sachsen-Saalfeld-Coburg and his second wife Countess Auguste Reuss zu Lobenstein und Ebersdorf.

The wedding day of Birgitta and Johann Georg, 1961. Photo (c) Getty Images / Keystone-France.

On 25 May 1961, Princess Birgitta and Prince Johann Georg took part in their civil marriage at the Royal Palace in Stockholm; Mayor Yngve Kristensson joined the prince and princess in matrimony. The simple ceremony lasted for only two minutes, but it was attended by 750 guests and televised. On 30 May, the couple celebrated their religious wedding at Sigmaringen, which was presided over by Father Benedict Rith.

Prince Johann Georg and Princess Birgitta with their three children: Prince Carl Christian, Princess Désirée, and baby Prince Hubertus, 1966. Photo (c) Getty Images / Keystone-France.

Princess Birgitta and Prince Johann Georg had three children: Prince Carl Christian (b.1962; married Nicole Neschitsch), Princess Désirée (b.1963; married firstly to Hereditary Count Heinrich zu Ortenburg; married secondly to Eckbert von Bohlen und Halbach), and Prince Hubertus (b.1966; married Ute Maria König). Princess Birgitta has five grandchildren.

Princess Birgitta and Prince Johann Georg at the celebration of the prince's 50th birthday, 1982. Photo (c) Getty Images / United Archives.

Princess Birgitta and Prince Johann Georg eventually quietly separated, though never legally, and they never divorced. Princess Birgitta preferred the warmer climate of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, where she could pursue her interest in golf; while Prince Johann Georg, an art historian, continued to reside in Germany.

Princess Birgitta departing the funeral of her husband, 2016. Photo (c) Getty Images / Picture Alliance.

Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern died on 2 March 2016, aged eighty-three. Johann Georg and Birgitta had been married for fifty-four years. The princess remains close to her family in Sweden. Princess Birgitta attended the 2010 wedding of her niece Crown Princess Victoria to Daniel Westling, the 2013 wedding of her niece Princess Madeleine to Christopher O'Neill, and the 2015 wedding of her nephew Prince Carl Philip to Sofia Hellqvist.

Our congratulations to Princess Birgitta on her birthday!

As we conclude this article celebrating Princess Birgitta of Sweden's remarkable 85th birthday, we are reminded of the significant milestones she has achieved throughout her life. Born on January 19, 1937, at Haga, Princess Birgitta Ingeborg Alice of Sweden was the second daughter and child of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Her royal lineage is deeply rooted in Swedish history, with her paternal grandparents being King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and his first wife Princess Margaret of Connaught. Throughout her life, Princess Birgitta has been committed to her family and her royal heritage, and her birthday serves as a testament to her strength and resilience.

As we reflect on Princess Birgitta's remarkable life, we are reminded of the many ways in which she has embodied the values of her royal family. Her dedication to her family and her royal duties has been unwavering, and her passion for sports, particularly gymnastics, has been a defining aspect of her personality. As she celebrates this milestone birthday, Princess Birgitta's life serves as a testament to her strength, resilience, and commitment to her royal heritage. We wish her a very happy birthday and many happy returns, and we hope that her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of the Swedish royal family.

what are some of princess birgitta of sweden's notable achievements

Princess Birgitta of Sweden has been a dedicated member of the Swedish royal family, actively participating in various royal duties and engagements throughout her life. Some of her notable achievements include: Marriage and Family: Princess Birgitta married Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern in 1961, and they had three children together. Although they separated in 1990, they remained married until Johann's death in 2016. Royal Duties: As a member of the Swedish royal family, Princess Birgitta has performed official engagements and ceremonial duties of state, including attending royal events and wearing tiaras from the family collection. Education and Career: Princess Birgitta received a university qualification to teach in public school, where she was addressed as Instructor and not Princess. This reflects her commitment to education and her desire to lead a life separate from her royal status. Philanthropy and Community Involvement: Princess Birgitta has been involved in various charitable activities and has represented her grandfather, King Gustaf VI Adolf, on several occasions, including a visit to Chicago and New York City in 1960. Longevity and Resilience: Princess Birgitta's remarkable 85th birthday in 2022 is a testament to her strength and resilience, as she has navigated the challenges of her royal life and personal relationships with dedication and commitment. These achievements highlight Princess Birgitta's multifaceted role within the Swedish royal family, showcasing her dedication to her family, education, and community, as well as her remarkable longevity and resilience.