When King Carl XVI Gustaf Confronts History: From the Passing of Princess Désirée to the French Roots of the Bernadottes

Over two centuries of Swedish monarchy, originating in Pau, France, still embodied by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.

Sweden values discretion, even in its most significant moments. The recent passing of Princess Désirée of Sweden, the elder sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf, was announced almost silently. This news reminds us how Swedish history is sometimes shaped by unexpected—and very French—connections.

Born in 1938, Princess Désirée was one of the famous Haga princesses, symbols of a monarchy close to its people and modern in its approach. In 1964, she married Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld and renounced her royal title, embodying a form of monarchy that is present yet understated.

Her brother, King Carl XVI Gustaf, has reigned since 1973 with a balance of tradition and openness. Deeply committed to environmental issues, youth initiatives, and cultural heritage, he represents the Scandinavian idea of leadership: stable, pragmatic, discreet, yet deeply connected to his family and legacy.

This legacy traces back to southwestern France. The Bernadotte dynasty began with Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, born in Pau in 1763, the son of a lawyer who became a Marshal of France under Napoleon. In 1810, to widespread surprise, he was elected heir to the Swedish throne and ascended in 1818 as King Charles XIV John. This blend of French origin and Scandinavian assimilation has allowed the dynasty to endure for over two centuries, right up to the present reign.

From Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte to Princess Désirée and King Carl XVI Gustaf, the thread is the same: a family from afar, deeply Swedish, embodying a monarchy that accompanies the nation without ever overpowering it. A story of multiple roots, transmission, and anchoring—values still exemplified today by the King and Queen Silvia.