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Queen Silvia of Sweden

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Her Majesty Queen Silvia (Silvia Renate Sommerlath), styled Her Majesty The Queen (born December 23, 1943) was born in the German city of Heidelberg, daughter of Walther Sommerlath and his Brazilian wife Alice Soares de Toledo. Silvia was raised in São Paulo, Brazil, between 1947 and 1957 before her family returned to Germany.

During the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, where she served as educational host, she met Crown Prince Carl Gustaf of Sweden. She married him, who had then become King, on June 19, 1976 and thus became Queen consort. Just like her husband however, she is not crowned.

The Queen is devoted to charity, especially in the area of disabled children, and has made several statements about Human rights and the sexual exploit of children. She was a co-founder of the World Childhood Foundation in 1999.

During her initial years as Queen, Silvia managed to bring back popular support for the monarchy, which had been fading for a number of years before her marriage due to the unpopularity of her husband, who was seen as being a rather unintellectual "party boy" who did not take his duties very seriously.

It has been acknowledged by many in the royal court, that she is in many ways the true power behind the throne. She has been able to portray a regal image of correctness at all times, while still remaining down to earth and keeping strong contacts with her roots.

She is also known to be a conservative in her political and social opinions. She was outraged when several of her husband's friends divorced and remarried younger women, and she was furious when a popular gay mens' magazine listed her son, Carl Philip, as Sweden's premier gay sex symbol.

The Queen is devoted to charity, especially in the area of disadvantaged children, and has made several statements about Human rights and the sexual exploitation of children. She was a co-founder of the World Childhood Foundation in 1999. She also works actively for handicaped, among other things as the Chairman of the Royal Wedding Fund and Queen Silvia's Jubilee Fund. In 1990, The Queen was awarded the prestigious German prize "Deutsche Kulturpreis" for her work for the handicapped. The Queen is also a honorary board member of the international Mentor Foundation, that works against drugs.

Her commitment for the work with dementia and the care of elderly people at the end of life is also well known and respected. On her initiative, Silviahemmet is established in Stockholm. It works to educate hospital personnell in how to work with people suffering from dementia, and also initiates research on the area. The Queen also has a children hospital in Gothenburg named after her, Drottning Silivas Barn- och Ungdomssjukhus (Queen Silvias Children and Youth Hospital).

The Queen is a protector of many organisations, honorary board member and member of organisations and societies, holds a number of honorary doctorates, and has received many international prizes and medals for her work.

Her marriage with the King has produced three children:

  1. HRH Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Westrogothia (1977- )
  2. HRH Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Wermelandia (1979-)
  3. HRH Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Helsingia and Gestricia (1982-)

Her namesday on August 8 and her birthday on December 23 are official flag days in Sweden.

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