THE BRIDAL COUPLE

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

Crown Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland was born at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm on 14 JUly 1977. She was the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and his wife Queen Silvia née Sommerlath. Victoria was christened at the Royal Chapel on 27 September 1977. Her godparents were Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Princess Désirée baroness Silfverschiöld, King Harald V of Norway and Mr Ralf Sommerlath. She has two siblings: Carl Philip (* 1979) and Madeleine (* 1982).

From 1982 to 1984 Victoria attended Västerled parish pre-school. She moevd to the Smedslättsskolan in Bromma in the Autumn of 1984 and completed her junior level there. She completed her intermediate level at Ålstenskolan in Bromma. She followed a Science and Social Studies programme at the Enskilda Gymnasium in Stockholm, and graduated from secondary school in 1996. In the Summer of 1996 she travelled among others to Germany and the USA. In 1996-1997 she studied French at the Centre International d'Etudes Francaises at the Université Catholique l'Ouest at Angers, France. She started studying Political Science and History at Yale University in the USA in the Spring of 1998. Victoria also spent time at the Swedish Embassy in Washington DC and had work experience at the United Nations in New York. She completed studies in Conflict Resolution and International Peace-building in Uppsala, Sweden, in the Autumn of 2000. She embarked upon a diplomatic programme at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs in September 2006 and completed it in June 2007. She was awarded a B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies at Uppsala University in the Spring of 2009.

Victoria followed a special programme to gain a general insight into the work of the Swedish Parliament and Government in the Autumn of 1997. In the Autumn of 2001 she followed a study programme at the offices of the Swedish government. In the Spring of 2002 she completed a study programme at the Swedish International Development Cooperation. In the Autumn of the same year she completed an internship at the Swedish Trade Council in Berlin and Paris. She completed a few weeks of basic military training for soldiers in international service at SWEDINT in Almnäs, Södertälje, in 2003. She made study visits to the Swedish industry, and followed a study and work experience programme in agriculture and forestry. She studied Political Science, International Relations and Conflict Resolution at the Swedish National Defence College in Stockholm in the Autumn of 2004.

Crown Princess Victoria lives in her own appartments at the Drottningholm Palace. Her interests include nature and outdoor activities, walking, skiing, gardening, bee-keeping, art, painting and animals (dogs).

Her engagement to Daniel Westling was announced on 24 February 2009.



Daniel Westling

Daniel Olof Westling was born at Örebro University Hospital in Örebro on 15 September 1973 as son of Olle Gunnar Westling and his wife Ewa Kristina. He was christened in 1973 at Almby church. His elder sister is called Anna.

Daniel attended Rabo primary school and Perslunda school in Ockelbo. He attended the Hammargymnasiet in Sandviken where he graduated in 1992. During his schooltime and before his military service Daniel worked with elderly in Ockelbo. After his military service he worked for a year at a school and recreation centre for children with special needs. He studied at the Gymnastics Federation's Folk High School in Stockholm from 1994 to 1996 and studied the youth recreation leader programme, focusing on sport.

Daniel Westling worked for a fitness company during his studies, and worked for it fulltime afterwards. He also teached a course for personal trainers and body building coaches there. He started his own company in 1997 and worked as a consultant in the fitness industry. Afterwards he ran his own gym, Master Training. In 2006 he started his gym company Balance in central Stockholm.

He is interested in social issues, health, sport and entrepreneurship. His other interests are skiing, golf and theatre.

The couple will reside at Haga Palace after the wedding. The exact date of the move hasn't been set yet.
  • Haga Park