Biography

HRH Crown Princess Victoria. Photo: Erika Gerdemark/Royal Court

Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland, was born on 14 July 1977 at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm. She was baptised at the Palace Church on 27 September 1977 and given the names Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée.

Crown Princess Victoria was baptised in September 1977. Photo: Clas Göran Carlsson

Crown Princess Victoria is the eldest child of His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf and Her Majesty Queen Silvia.



In accordance with the 1979 Act of Succession, which entered into force on 1 January 1980, Crown Princess Victoria is heir to the Swedish throne. The Crown Princess resides at Haga Palace together with Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle, and Prince Oscar. Education The Crown Princess attended Västerled parish pre-school from 1982-84. In autumn 1984 she started school at Smedslättsskolan in Bromma, where she completed her junior level. She completed her intermediate level at Ålstenskolan in Bromma and went on to pursue senior studies, following a Science and Social Studies programme at Enskilda Gymnasiet upper secondary school in Stockholm and graduated in June 1996. The Crown Princess was confirmed in the summer of 1992 at Räpplinge church on the island of Öland. She spent her summer holidays gaining additional foreign language experience with trips to countries such as Germany and the United States.

Crown Princess Victoria graduated in 1996. Photo: Gunnar Ask/TT

Continued studies

During the 1996-97 academic year, The Crown Princess studied French at the Centre International D'Études Françaises at the Université Catholique de L'Ouest in Angers, France. In autumn 1997, The Crown Princess followed a specially designed programme in order to gain a general insight into the workings of the Riksdag (the Swedish Parliament) and the Swedish Government.

Crown Princess Victoria visits Brazil in 2006. Photo: Leif R Jansson/TT

United Nations experience

In the spring of 1998, Crown Princess Victoria began academic studies in Political Science and History at Yale University in the United States. In conjunction with her stay The Crown Princess completed two periods of work experience at the United Nations in New York (June and September 2002) as well as one at the Swedish Embassy in Washington DC in May 1999. In autumn 2000 The Crown Princess completed studies in conflict resolution and international peace-building. In spring 2001 The Crown Princess studied the Swedish Presidency of the EU. Swedish Government Offices

In autumn 2001, The Crown Princess followed a study programme at the offices of the Swedish Government. During this time she visited the 'Swedish Style' exhibition in Tokyo and the west coast of the USA in connection with the Nobel Jubilee. In spring 2002, The Crown Princess completed a study programme at SIDA, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and spent time in countries such as Uganda and Ethiopia. During this time she also continued with her official engagements. In autumn 2002 she completed an internship with the Swedish Trade Council in Berlin and Paris.

The Crown Princess completed basic military training in 2003. Photo: Jan Collsiöö/TT

Basic Military Education

In 2003 The Crown Princess continued her education on Swedish trade and industry with a study and work experience programme in Swedish agriculture and forestry, as well as completing basic military training at SWEDINT (the Swedish Armed Forces International Centre). In 2004 The Crown Princess participated in a state visit to Iceland , and visited Saudi Arabia and Hungary with official Swedish delegations. She also visited the Rome branch of the UN, made field trips to various companies in Sweden and continued with her official engagement duties. The Crown Princess also studied at the Swedish National Defence College in Stockholm in 2004, focusing on Political Science, International Relations and Conflict Resolution. International aid work in Asia

In spring 2005 The Crown Princess travelled extensively, including a trip to Australia in connection with the 'Swedish Style' exhibition, and a trip to Japan to attend the World Exposition in Aichi. The Crown Princess also travelled to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to study international aid efforts in these countries. In June 2005 she visited Turkey with Thomas Östros, the Swedish Minister for Trade and Industry, in order to promote relations between Sweden and Turkey. Social Science studies

During the autumn 2005 The Crown Princess spent a month in China where she followed the work of the Swedish Embassy as well as traveled in order to gain insights in the Chinese community. The Crown Princess also continued her studies on Social Science in 2005.

Crown Princess Victoria with her classmates at the diplomatic programme at the Swedish Foreign Ministry. Photo: Bertil Ericson/TT

Diplomatic studies In September 2006 the Crown Princess embarked upon the diplomatic programme at the Swedish Foreign Ministry. The programme lasts for one academic year and includes lectures, seminars and group work. The Crown Princess also took part in field trips to various different authorities and institutions. Engagement, wedding and motherhood The Crown Princess announced her engagement to Daniel Westling on Tuesday 24 February 2009. The wedding took place on 19 June 2010 in Storkyrkan, Stockholm.

More about the wedding.

The Crown Princess Couple was married in June 2010. Photo: Alexis Daflos/Royal Court

On 23 February 2012, Princess Estelle was born. On 2 March 2016 Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel had a son, Prince Oscar.