Welsh-born Princess Lilian of Sweden Dies, Aged 97

BBC: Princess Lilian of Sweden, whose romance with husband Prince Bertil became one of Sweden's best-known love stories, has died at the age of 97.

Welsh-born Lilian met Prince Bertil in London during World War II, but they faced objections to their relationship because of the prince's obligations to the throne and Lilian's status as a divorced commoner. They had to wait until 1976 to get married.

In 2010, it was announced she had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

James Savage, managing editor of English-language online newspaper The Local in Sweden, told BBC Radio Wales she was one of the most senior members of the Swedish royal family. (+ BBC audio) » | Monday, March 11, 2013

THE LOCAL SWEDEN: Princess Lilian funeral details released: Sweden's British-born Princess Lilian, who died on Sunday at the age of 97, will lie in state for well-wishers to pay their last respects on Friday, the Royal Court announced on Monday. » | Monday, March 11, 2013

BBC: Tributes have been paid to one of Swansea's "most famous daughters", Princess Lilian of Sweden, who has died at the age of 97. » | Monday, March 11, 2013

THE FIJI TIMES ONLINE: Love story ends as Princess Lilian dies: WELSH-BORN Princess Lilian of Sweden, whose decades-long love story with the king's uncle was one of the better kept secrets of the royal household, has died aged 97. » | News.Com.Au | Tuesday, March 12, 2013

TIMES HERALD RECORD: Princess whose forbidden love gripped Sweden dies » | The Associated Press | Sunday, March 10, 2013

BBC: The commoners who married royalty: Despite her Welsh background and fairytale life, the late Princess Lilian of Sweden was not a household name in the UK. She was also not the first commoner to marry royalty. The BBC looks at others, including the Duchess of Cambridge. » | Monday, March 11, 2013

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Sweden's Welsh-born Princess Lilian dies in Stockholm at 97
THE GUARDIAN: One of royal households best-kept secrets, her relationship with Prince Bertil was seen as threat to Bernadotte dynasty

She was one of the better-kept secrets of Sweden's royal household: a commoner and divorcee whose relationship with Prince Bertil was seen as a threat to the Bernadotte dynasty.

In a touching royal romance, Welsh-born Princess Lilian and the prince kept their love unofficial for decades and were both in their 60s when they finally received the king's blessing to get married.

Lilian died in her Stockholm home on Sunday at the age of 97. The royal palace didn't give a cause of death but Lilian suffered from Alzheimer's disease and had been in poor health for several years.

She met Sweden's Prince Bertil in 1943, but his obligations to the throne and Lilian's status as a divorced commoner prevented them from making their love public. The couple's sacrifices and lifelong dedication to one another gripped the hearts of Swedes.

"If I were to sum up my life, everything has been about my love," the princess said of her husband when she turned 80 in 1995. "He's a great man, and I love him." » | Associated Press | Monday, March 11, 2013

THE DAILY BEAST: Princess Lilian of Sweden: Beloved Princess who was banned from marrying her royal sweetheart for 30 years » | Tom Sykes | Monday, March 11, 2013


Related »

Sweden's Princess Lilian Dies Aged 97
BBC: Princess Lilian of Sweden, whose romance with husband Prince Bertil became one of Sweden's best-known love stories, has died at the age of 97.

Welsh-born Lilian met Prince Bertil in London during World War II.

However, they faced objections to their relationship because of the prince's obligations to the throne and Lilian's status as a divorced commoner. They had to wait until 1976 to get married.

In 2010, it was announced she had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Princess Lilian was born Lilian Davies in Swansea in August 1915 and moved to London aged 16 to follow a modelling career. She was married to actor Ivan Craig when she met Prince Bertil in London in 1943.

The couple fell in love in what Swedish media described as a real-life Cinderella story. She divorced her British husband two years later.

However, Prince Bertil's father, King Gustaf VI Adolf, refused to give his blessing for the couple to get married. » | Sunday, March 10, 2013



Swansea-born Swedish Princess Dies Peacefully in Her Sleep »