La princesse Madeleine de Suède- biographie-

La princesse Madeleine de Suède est la dernière enfant du roi Carl Gustav et de la reine Silvia. Elle est donc la soeur de la princesse Victoria de Suède.

Madeleine Thérèse Amelie Josephine, Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland, was born on 10 June 1982.

She is the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. She has two older siblings, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Carl Philip.

Madeleine, Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland, was born on 10 June 1982.

She was baptised on 31 August 1982 at the Palace Church and was given the names Madeleine Thérèse Amelie Josephine.

She is the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. She has two older siblings, Crown Princess Victoria, born 14 July 1977 and Prince Carl Philip, born 13 May 1979.

In accordance with the 1979 Act of Succession, which entered into force on 1 January 1980, Princess Madeleine is third in the line of succession, following Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Carl Philip.

Education

Princess Madeleine began her education at Västerled Parish Preschool in 1985. She then completed her junior level schooling at Smedslättsskolan in Bromma. In 1989 she continued on to intermediate level at Carlssons School in Stockholm.

In 1998, Princess Madeleine began her senior level studies at Enskilda Gymnasiet, following a social science programme. She graduated from upper secondary school in the spring of 2001.

Language and Law

Princess Madeleine spent time in the United Kingdom in the autumn of 2001 for English language studies. In 2002, she studied courses in law and computer studies and received ECDL certification (European Computer Driving Licence).

Architecture and Design

In autumn 2003, Princess Madeleine attended a work experience programme focusing on architecture and design. The purpose of the program was to provide solid, practical knowledge in architecture and furniture design as well as modern and contemporary art.

Academic Studies

Since spring 2003, Princess Madeleine has been studying at the University of Stockholm. She has completed courses in Art History, Ethnology and History. One of her main course essays focused on Queen Victoria of Sweden (1862-1930) and the establishment of Solliden Palace on the island of Öland.

In January 2006 she completed her degree at the University. Later in 2006 she returned to the University of Stockholm to pursue postgraduate studies in Organisation and Leadership, in order to deepen her knowledge of international humanitarian work.

Work experience

The second stage of the Princess's long-term educational programme began in January 2006 with work experience at the headquarters of UNICEF in New York.

While there she worked with and learned more about issues relating to humanitarian work, which she had prepared for by studying Ethnology and Modern History.

The Princess focused on areas of work including children in institutional care; children in areas of conflict and vulnerability; and sexually exploited children.

In the autumn of 2006 The Princess began work at the headquarters of the World Childhood Foundation in Stockholm. She is continuing her Master's degree in Organisation and Leadership alongside this work.

Official Duties

In August 2005, Princess Madeleine presented the "Min Stora Dag" (My Big Day) volunteer prizes at the foundation's five-year anniversary.

She went on a one-day field trip to her duchy in September 2005, visiting the Hälsingland Museum and presenting the "Golden Rider" prize in Hudiksvall.

In the same month she also presented "Her Majesty The Queen's Prize" at the Taby Racecourse.

Official Duties in 2006

As part of her work experience in New York, Princess Madeleine has attended information meetings at the UN Headquarters and has participated in conferences in various locations on the subject of support for programmes for girls who have faced sexual exploitation.

She has also participated in the follow-up stage of projects in the Bronx in New York, including a project offering educational programmes for young mothers who have been sexually abused and a project on trafficking.

The Princess's work with Childhood in autumn 2006 includes some project follow-up overseas, including visits to projects in Ukraine and St Petersburg.

Royal Engagements

Princess Madeleine, along with other members of the Royal Family, participates in the celebration of Sweden's National Day, The King and The Queen's birthdays, the festivities surrounding the Nobel Prize Ceremony, and other official events and state visits.

Due to the fact that she is studying full-time at the University of Stockholm, The Princess is limited as to the number of other official duties in which she can participate.

Interest in Art

In the autumn of 2003, The Princess presented several awards relating to art and design, including a major design prize at the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg. In spring 2004, she inaugurated the “Treasure from Romania" exhibition at the Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities.

Europa Nostra Award

In late 2004, The Princess made her second official visit to her duchy, this time to Hälsingland. She visited a number of farms of historic interest and presented the "Europa Nostra" European cultural heritage prize to one of them.

Since June 2005, The Princess has been patron of Europa Nostra in Sweden. Europa Nostra is a pan-European federation whose purpose is to preserve European cultural heritage.

In autumn 2005, The Princess took part in a seminar on historical buildings in Gävle and visited the “Folk Art" exhibition at the Hälsingland Museum in Hudiksvall.

Min Stora Dag

One of Princess Madeleine's main commitments is to the "Min Stora Dag" foundation, which means "My Big Day". The foundation aims to make dreams come true for children in long-term hospital care. In her role as Patron of the foundation, she has visited Huddinge Hospital, Uppsala University Hospital and Linköping University Hospital.

Commitment to Social Issues

The Princess is also interested in social issues. On several occasions she has visited the St Klara Parish in Stockholm, which works with homeless and disadvantaged people in Stockholm.

Interests

Since childhood, one of Princess Madeleine's main interests has been horses and riding.

At the time of the declaration of Princess Madeleine's majority she was presented with a scholarship fund by the Gävleborg province, which is made up of both the duchies of Gästrikland and Hälsingland.

The purpose of the fund is to support and encourage young people involved in horse riding. In 2001, Princess Madeleine gave out two awards for the first time - the award for "Pony Rider of the Year", for riders (and their trainers) in Gävleborg County, and the “Gold Rider" award.

The Princess is also very interested in art, culture, dance and theatre as well as social issues.

Like her sister, Princess Madeleine loves spending time in nature. Long walks and skiing are among the Princess's favourite outdoor activities.