PRINCE BERTIL, DUKE OF HALLAND

HRH Prince Bertil of Sweden

'Prince Bertil of Sweden', '''Bertil Gustaf Oskar Carl Eugén''' (February 28, 1912 – January 5, 1997), Duke of Halland, was the third son of King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden and his first wife, Princess Margaret of Connaught. Bertil was granted a very old dukedom, that carried already in Middle Ages by various Danish and Swedish royal relatives, such as Benedict, Duke of Halland. After his eldest brother Prince Gustav Adolf died in 1947, leaving a less than one-year-old son, and because other heirs had already given up their places in the succession (owing to unacceptable marriages), it seemed likely that Bertil would one day become Regent.
For this reason, Bertil chose not to marry Welsh commoner Lilian Davies, as that would have deprived him of his place in the succession, so the couple simply lived together discreetly. The arrangement was well known by all and intended to keep the linage until the heir to the throne was old enough. The then Mrs Davies was a known part of the royal family from their private perspective but not officially. However, his father lived long enough for Bertil's nephew Prince Carl Gustaf to come of age. The new King approved the couple's marriage, which took place on December 7, 1976. Still first in line to the throne (until the birth of Crown Prince Carl Philip in 1979), Bertil continued to act as the King's deputy. His widow now is known as HRH Princess Lilian, Duchess of Halland. It should be noted that he is a brother of the late Queen Ingrid of Denmark (''née'' Princess Ingrid of Sweden), mother of the current Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.

When the Act of Succession was changed in 1980, rights to the throne was restricted to Carl XVI Gustaf and his descendants; however, a special addendum was made for Bertil's case, so that he became third (and, after the birth of Princess Madeleine in 1982, fourth) in line to the throne.
Prince Bertil was a very popular person domestically. He was fond of cars and a keen supporter and practitioner of various sports, notably Tennis and Boules.

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See also

★ Swedish Royal Family
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