The Royal Court

Biography

Prinsessan Madeleine

Princess Madeleine. Photo: Bruno Ehrs

Madeleine, Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland, was born on 10 June 1982 at Drottningholm Palace.

She was baptised on 31 August 1982 at the Royal Chapel and was given the names Madeleine Thérèse Amelie Josephine.

H.R.H. Princess Benedikte, H.H. Prince Andreas von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha, Princess Christina, Mrs Magnuson, and Mr Walter L. Sommerlath were appointed godparents at the christening.

Princess Madeleine is the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.

In accordance with the 1979 Act of Succession, which entered into force on 1 January 1980, Princess Madeleine is fourth in the line of succession, following Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Estelle and Prince Carl Philip.
 

Education


Princess Madeleine began her education at Västerled Parish Preschool in 1985. She then completed her junior level schooling at Smedslättsskolan in Bromma. In 1989 she continued on to intermediate level at Carlssons School in Stockholm.

In autumn 1998, Princess Madeleine began her senior level studies at Enskilda Gymnasiet, following a social science programme. She graduated from upper secondary school in the spring of 2001.

Languages and Law


Princess Madeleine spent time in England in the autumn of 2001 for English language studies. In 2002 she studied courses in law.

Architecture and Design


In autumn 2003, Princess Madeleine attended a work experience programme focusing on architecture and design. The purpose of the programme was to provide solid, practical knowledge in architecture and furniture design, as well as modern and contemporary art.

Academic Studies


Princess Madeleine has been studying at the University of Stockholm since spring 2003. She has completed courses in Art History (60 credits), Ethnology (40 credits) and History (20 credits), as well as an introductory course in law (10 credits). Her art history essay (10 credits) focused on Queen Victoria of Sweden (1862-1930) and the establishment of Solliden Palace on the island of Öland.
 
Princess Madeleine completed her Bachelor of Arts Degree at Stockholm University in January 2006.
 
In autumn 2006, the Princess returned to the University of Stockholm to pursue postgraduate studies in Organisation and Leadership, in order to extend her knowledge of international humanitarian work.

 


Work experience


The second stage of the Princess' long-term educational programme began in January 2006 with work experience at the headquarters of UNICEF in New York.

While there she worked with and learned more about issues relating to humanitarian work, which she had prepared for by studying Ethnology and Modern History.
 
The Princess focused on areas of work that included:

  • children in institutional care
  • children in areas of conflict and vulnerability
  • sexually exploited children

While carrying out her work experience in New York, Princess Madeleine has been involved in information days at the UN headquarters in New York and participated in conferences, including one in Minneapolis on issues relating to support to programmes for sexually exploited girls.

She has also participated in the follow-up stage of projects in the Bronx, New York, which included an educational project for young mothers who have been sexually abused, and a trafficking project.

The Princess' work with World Childhood Foundation in autumn 2006 included some project follow-up work in Ukraine and St Petersburg.
 

Continued studies and work at World Childhood Foundation


Princess Madeleine worked at World Childhood Foundation's head offices in Stockholm in 2007, as she did during autumn 2006. In the spring of 2007 she continued her postgraduate studies at Stockholm University's Department of Social Work on the subject of "Children's Rights in Society". Her studies continued in autumn 2007 with a university course in child psychology.

In 2008, the Princess continued with both her work at World Childhood Foundation and her university studies. She participated with the Queen in the Third World Congress Against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, which took place in Brazil.
 
The Princess carried on with her studies and her work at World Childhood Foundation in spring 2009. The work at World Childhood Foundation continued into autumn 2009 and her work took her to World Childhood Foundation in the United States. She carried out project visits in New York and San Francisco and attended seminars and symposiums.

The Princess works at World Childhood Foundation in the United States since the fall of 2010. She continued her work during 2011 and the spring of 2012.

Engagement and wedding


The engagement between Princess Madeleine and Mr Christopher O'Neill was announced Thursday October 25, 2012.

The wedding took place on June 8, 2013, in the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.