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A New Swedish Duke

Posted: 28 Mar 2021, 11:23
by Chris Green
The Duke and Duchess of Värmland's third son, born on Friday 26 March, has been created Hertig av Halland (Duke of Halland). His Christian names are Julian Herbert Folke. He is 7th in line of succession, but not Hans Kunglig Höghet (His Royal Highness).

The present King's uncle Prins Bertil (1912-97) was the last Duke of Halland. His arms were these:

Image

the royal arms with the arms of Halland in Q3. Prince Julian's arms will presumably be the same. They will be announced in connection with the baptism.

When the present King ascended the throne of Sweden in 1973 the only person left in the official line of succession was Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland, all others having lost the right through "unsuitable" marriages. Prince Bertil had served as Naval Attaché at the Swedish Embassy in London during World War 2 and formed an attachment with a Welsh woman, Lillian Craig. They would probably have married had not Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf died in an air crash in 1947 leaving an infant son Karl Gustaf (the present King) as heir. Prince Bertil was the obvious choice as potential Regent (and indeed potential King should the infant prince die), but only if he remained in the line of succession (i.e. did not marry Lillian). Thus it was not until after King Carl XVI Gustaf had himself married a commoner, Silvia Sommerlath, and thus put an end to "suitable" and "unsuitable" royal marriages, that Prince Bertil was able to marry Lilian (as her name was spelt following the marriage), who thus became a Swedish princess and Duchess of Halland.

Re: A New Swedish Duke

Posted: 30 Mar 2021, 13:55
by Martin Goldstraw
Thank you for the heraldry and the back story. I am rather pleased that such things as "suitable" and "unsuitable" have had their day, I'm sure that the gene pool has benefited greatly.

Re: A New Swedish Duke

Posted: 01 Apr 2021, 08:03
by Michael F. McCartney
Ditto Martin! - and kudos to the King who married a commoner.