HRH Princess Sofia
SOFIA Kristina, Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Värmland, born on 6 December 1984. Married on 13 June 2015 to HRH Prince Carl Philip.
Official duties
HRH Princess Sofia's official duties
HRH Princess Sofia carries out official duties each year on behalf of HM the King. As Duchess of Värmland, Princess Sofia shares Prince Carl Philip's close relationship with the duchy and visits Värmland regularly.
In September 2016, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia visited Hykjeberg Nature Reserve in Älvdalen. During their visit, The Prince Couple unveiled the stone bench they had received as a wedding gift from Dalarna. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT
The Princess, together with the rest of the Royal Family, also takes part each year in the celebration of Sweden's National Day, the birthdays of The King and The Crown Princess, the Nobel festivities and other events.
A number of years ago, Princess Sofia took over from Princess Christina, Mrs Magnuson as honorary chair of Sophiahemmet, and spends a lot of time working with the organisation. The Princess is also involved in the work of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia's Foundation, which works with issues relating to dyslexia and a safer everyday online life for children and young people.
Princess Sofia is also active as honorary chair of the non-profit organisation Project Playground, which she co-founded.
Princess Sofia is a member of the Church of Sweden.
Biography
HRH Princess Sofia's biography
HRH Princess Sofia was born at Danderyd Hospital on 6 December 1984. She is the middle child of Erik Hellqvist and Marie Hellqvist, née Rotman. The Princess has two sisters: Lina Hellqvist and Sara Hellqvist.
Princess Sofia was christened at Tibble Church in Täby on 26 May 1985.
She grew up in Älvdalen in Dalarna County.
Princess Sofia was christened at Tibble Church in Täby on 26 May 1985. Photo: Family photo
Education and work
Princess Sofia attended Älvdalen Montessori School and Älvdal School. She studied the upper secondary arts programme at Vansbro Education Centre, specialising in music.
During the summers, The Princess worked in shops and factories, and as a waitress. During her teenage years and as a young adult, she carried out voluntary work in South Africa, Senegal and Ghana.
In 2005, The Princess moved to New York where she studied accounting and business development at the New York Institute of English and Business.
While in the United States, The Princess also studied yoga and qualified as a yoga instructor.
After returning to Sweden, The Princess took independent courses at Stockholm University on global ethics, child and youth studies, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in theory and Swedish practice, and gender and international relations.
In 2010, Princess Sofia and Frida Vesterberg established Project Playground.
Princess Sofia and Frida Vesterberg at the opening of a Project Playground centre in Hallonbergen, near Stockholm. Photo: Lubbe Garell
Family
The engagement between HRH Prince Carl Philip and Miss Sofia Hellqvist was announced on 27 June 2014. The banns of marriage were published on 17 May 2015 in the Royal Chapel, where the wedding took place on 13 June 2015.
The Prince Couple's wedding ceremony in the Royal Chapel. Photo: Alexis Daflos/The Royal Court of Sweden
Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia's first child, Prince Alexander, was born in 2016. Their second child, Prince Gabriel, was born in 2017, followed by their third son, Prince Julian, in 2021.
Prince Julian's christening, Drottningholm. August 2021. Photo: Elisabeth Toll/The Royal Court of Sweden
Interests and commitments
HRH Princess Sofia's personal interests and commitments
Princess Sofia has long been interested in issues relating to conditions for children and young people. This commitment is expressed in the work of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia's Foundation, in which The Princess plays an active role. The Princess has also developed an interest in medical and social care issues.
Sophiahemmet
Princess Sofia has been honorary chair of the Sophiahemmet non-profit association since 2016, and is deeply committed to the work of the hospital and its university college. During the pandemic in 2020, The Princess worked part-time as a volunteer at the hospital, which has royal links dating back many years. Sophiahemmet was built by King Oskar II and Queen Sofia. In accordance with its statutes, The King appoints its honorary chair.
Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia's Foundation
Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia's Foundation was established to mark the wedding of HRH Prince Carl Philip and Miss Sofia Hellqvist. The Princess devotes much of her time to the foundation, which focuses on issues relating to safer everyday online life for young people and greater respect for and understanding of people with dyslexia.
The Prince Couple and Kim Waller, Secretary General of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia's Foundation, at the #NoToOnlineHate 2.0 summit on 1 November 2021 at Fotografiska in Stockholm. Photo: Pelle T Nilsson/SPA
Project Playground
Princess Sofia is a co-founder of Project Playground. The non-profit organisation operates in South Africa and Sweden, and works to improve opportunities for children and young people through organised physical activity, sports and social activities with a focus on the individual. The Princess works actively as honorary chair of Project Playground.
Personal interests
Health and exercise are important to Princess Sofia. The Princess enjoys winter sports and skiing. She has completed the Tjejvasan women's cross-country skiing event and the Stafettvasan relay ski race.
The Prince Family like to spend their free time at their holiday cottage in Södermanland. Princess Sofia also enjoys private visits to Dalarna, where she grew up. Part of the summer is traditionally spent with the rest of the Royal Family at Solliden on Öland.
The Princess through the years
Symbols
Princess Sofia's crown
Princess Sofia Albertina's crown, made in Stockholm 1772 by Johan Adam Marcklin.
Princess Sofia's seraphim shield
HRH Princess Sofia's seraphim shield, made by royal coat of arms painter Leif Ericsson.
Princess Sofia's monogram
HRH Princess Sofia's monogram and The Prince Couple's joint monogram.
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Orders
HRH Princess Sofia's orders
List of HRH Princess Sofia's foreign order holdings.
Republic of Chile
- The Order of Bernardo O'Higgins, Grand Cross
Republic of Finland
- Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
Republic of France
- The Legion of Honour, Grand Officier
Republic of Iceland
- The Order of the Falcon, Grand Cross
Republic of Italy
- The Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy, Grand Cross
Kingdom of Netherlands
- Order of the Crown, Grand Cross
Kingdom of Spain
- The Order of Civil Merit, Grand Cross
Princess Sofia's recent speeches
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HRH Princess Sofia's speech at the inauguration of Avicii Experience
24 February 2022It's an honour to be here at the inauguration for Avicii Experience. I am actually just going to quote Avicii himself. ...
Speeches -
HRH Princess Sofia's speech at Global Child Forum Action Lab 4: Data Mining in the Sandbox: Children’s Safety Online
18 November 2020It is my pleasure to introduce this final Action Lab in Global Child Forum’s Action Lab series – “Data Mining in the San...
Speeches -
HRH Princess Sofia's speech at Reach for Changes 10th anniversary
2 October 2020We all have moments in our lives that define us. Moments where we can choose to protest an injustice, act with kindness,...
Speeches
