Christopher O'Neill (Husband of Princess Madeleine of Sweden)
Posted: 13 Oct 2015, 13:47
Subsequent to my contacting the Swedish Royal Court about the Duke of Ångermanland's coat of arms, I enquired whether, to their knowledge, the Duke's father, Mr Christopher O'Neill, had been granted arms by the College of Arms. As far as they know he has not.
http://amateurheralds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=913
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_O%27Neill
Mr O'Neill chose not to take Swedish nationality upon marriage to Princess Madeleine, and thus did not become a Prince of Sweden nor Duke of Hälsingland and Gästrikland nor receive the Order of the Seraphim which tradition suggests he would otherwise have been granted. He is however a Commander of the Order of the Polar Star, which is not restricted to Swedes.
Heraldically this creates an enormous void and a conundrum that could in theory keep the lights burning late at Queen Victoria Street. Mr O'Neill is English born and an American citizen by descent. He is the husband of a Princess and Duchess, the father of both a Princess and Duchess and a Prince and Duke. His father-in-law is a King, his sister-in-law is a Crown Princess. Mr O'Neill himself is - potentially but not actually - armigerous. But how would/should he be treated heraldically by the College of Arms? He is clearly a Gentleman, though he might not seem to fulfill the criteria for an Esquire, though one may I think allow the possession of a Swedish Order of Chivalry as granting that status. Moreover, were he granted English arms should he be able to impale his wife's (Swedish) arms? We know already that his children would not inherit his arms since they have been (or will shortly be) granted Swedish arms as Royal Duchess/Duke.
I fear that this is a conundrum with no solution, save that Mr O'N might some day become Swedish and be granted the Ducal status that he has so far avoided. The College of Arms may well have breathed a collective sigh of relief when they realised that a petition for a grant of arms was not forthcoming. Pity though.
http://amateurheralds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=913
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_O%27Neill
Mr O'Neill chose not to take Swedish nationality upon marriage to Princess Madeleine, and thus did not become a Prince of Sweden nor Duke of Hälsingland and Gästrikland nor receive the Order of the Seraphim which tradition suggests he would otherwise have been granted. He is however a Commander of the Order of the Polar Star, which is not restricted to Swedes.
Heraldically this creates an enormous void and a conundrum that could in theory keep the lights burning late at Queen Victoria Street. Mr O'Neill is English born and an American citizen by descent. He is the husband of a Princess and Duchess, the father of both a Princess and Duchess and a Prince and Duke. His father-in-law is a King, his sister-in-law is a Crown Princess. Mr O'Neill himself is - potentially but not actually - armigerous. But how would/should he be treated heraldically by the College of Arms? He is clearly a Gentleman, though he might not seem to fulfill the criteria for an Esquire, though one may I think allow the possession of a Swedish Order of Chivalry as granting that status. Moreover, were he granted English arms should he be able to impale his wife's (Swedish) arms? We know already that his children would not inherit his arms since they have been (or will shortly be) granted Swedish arms as Royal Duchess/Duke.
I fear that this is a conundrum with no solution, save that Mr O'N might some day become Swedish and be granted the Ducal status that he has so far avoided. The College of Arms may well have breathed a collective sigh of relief when they realised that a petition for a grant of arms was not forthcoming. Pity though.