Prince Philip

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Carl Philip's early life was defined by a significant constitutional turning point. Born heir apparent at 07:20 on 13 May 1979, he held the title Crown Prince for exactly seven months until 1 January 1980. On that date, Sweden replaced agnatic primogeniture with absolute primogeniture, making his sister Victoria the new heir and reducing Carl Philip to second in line. He attended Smedslättsskolan from autumn 1986 before moving to Ålstensskolan and finally Enskilda Gymnasiet for senior level studies in autumn 1992. Confirmed on 9 July 1994 at Vadstena Abbey Church, he later studied graphic design at Kent School and Lundsbergs upper secondary school, graduating in spring 1999. He shares a lifelong struggle with dyslexia with his father and sister.

In Their Own Story

In the autumn of 2000, Carl Philip completed military service as a combat boat commander at the Amphibious Battalion in Vaxholm. His dedication to sport saw him complete the historic Vasaloppet cross-country ski race in 2003. He also pursued a passion for car racing inherited from his godfather, Prince Bertil, earning a license and competing in the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia in a Porsche 911 GT3 starting in 2013. Professionally, he studied graphic design at the Rhode Island School of Design (2007–2008) and finished studies in Agricultural and Rural Management at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp in 2011. In 2012, he founded Bernadotte & Kylberg with Oscar Kylberg to design products for various brands. His military rank advanced from Captain in December 2007 to Major on 1 October 2014.

Reader's Guide

Prince Carl Philip's personal life became public in April 2010 when linked to Sofia Hellqvist, confirmed by palace spokesperson Nina Eldh in August 2010. They married on 13 June 2015 at the Royal Palace chapel in Stockholm. During a renovation of Villa Solbacken, the couple lived at Rosendal Palace until 2017. Their four children were born at Danderyd Hospital: Prince Alexander (born 19 April 2016), Prince Gabriel (born 31 August 2017), Prince Julian (born 26 March 2021), and Princess Ines (born 7 February 2025). On 7 October 2019, King Carl XVI Gustaf rescinded the royal status of Alexander and Gabriel to better associate royalty with state office, though they remain in the line of succession. The Prince is a patron of organizations including The Swedish National Dyslexia Association and The International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Did You Know?

• Prince Carl Philip was the heir apparent to the Swedish throne for only seven months before a constitutional change in 1980 made his sister Victoria the Crown Princess.
• He shares dyslexia with both his father, King Carl XVI Gustaf, and his sister, Crown Princess Victoria.
• In 2003, he became one of the few royals to complete the Vasaloppet, the world's longest cross-country ski race.
• On 7 October 2019, his father issued a statement rescinding the royal status of his first two sons, Alexander and Gabriel, while keeping them in the line of succession.
• He holds the rank of Major in the Swedish Armed Forces, having achieved this promotion on 1 October 2014.