Princess Lilian, Duchess of Halland

Princess Lilian Duchess of Halland Spouse Walter Ivan Craig (1940-1945) Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland (1976-1997) Full name Lilian May Father William John Davies Mother Gladys Mary Curran Born 30 August 1915 (1915-08-30) Swansea, Wales

Swedish Royal Family HM The King HM The Queen HRH The Crown Princess HRH The Duke of Västergötland HRH The Duchess of Östergötland HRH The Duke of Värmland HRH The Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland HRH Princess Birgitta HRH The Duchess of Halland

Princess Lilian, Duchess of Halland (born Lillian May Davies on 30 August 1915) is a Welsh former fashion model who has been a member of the Swedish Royal Family since marrying Prince Bertil (1912–1997), an uncle of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, in 1976.

Biography

Early life

Born in Swansea, Wales, the daughter of William John Davies and wife Gladys Mary Curran, she originally spelled her first name Lillian, but she dropped one 'l' when she became a fashion model. She was seen in reputable fashion magazines like Vogue. Her parents separated in the 1920s, but they did not divorce formally until 1939.

First marriage and World War II

From 1940 to 1945, she was married to British actor Ivan Craig. In World War II, Lilian Craig worked at a factory that made radios for the Royal Navy and at a hospital for wounded soldiers.

Second marriage

In 1943, she met Prince Bertil of Sweden, in London, reportedly at a cocktail party held in honour of her 28th birthday. Soon after their meeting, they became lovers, although she was at that time married to her first husband.

It seemed likely that Bertil would one day become Regent after his eldest brother Gustaf Adolf died in 1947, leaving a less than one-year-old son, and because other heirs had given up their places in the succession (owing to unacceptable marriages). For this reason, Bertil chose not to marry Lilian, as that would have deprived him of his place in the succession, so the couple simply lived together discreetly for more than 30 years. In 1946 Prince Bertil acquired a house in Sainte Maxime, France that became their private retreat. However, Bertil did not become Regent since his father, the King, lived long enough to see his grandson Carl Gustaf come of age. Carl Gustaf soon afterwards ascended to the throne, and having married a commoner himself, he approved Bertil's and Lilian's marriage. They were married on 7 December 1976 at the Palace Church of Drottningholm Palace in the presence of the King and the Queen.

Prince Bertil's death

Prince Bertil died on 5 January 1997 in their home, with Princess Lilian at his side. From 1997 until 2010, she continued to represent the Royal Family at official engagements and other occasions. She was the protector of many organisations, and also an honorary member of several clubs and societies which belonged to Prince Bertil's areas of interest.

Styles of Princess Lilian Reference style Her Royal Highness Spoken style Your Royal Highness Alternative style Ma'am

Present

In 2000, Princess Lilian released a biography of her life with Prince Bertil.

Born 30 August 1915 (1915-08-30) , Princess Lilian is the oldest living member of the Swedish or any European royal family. In August 2008 the Princess fell and broke her hip in her apartment, and in February 2009 she again suffered a fall in her home. It was announced on June 3, 2010 that the princess is afflicted with Alzheimer's and is no longer able to appear in public.

External links

• The Royal Court of Sweden: Princess Lilian, Duchess of Halland