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| Princess Lilian | |
|---|---|
| Duchess of Halland | |
 Lilian in the 1940s | |
| Born | Lillian May Davies (1915-08-30)30 August 1915 Swansea, United Kingdom |
| Died | 10 March 2013(2013-03-10) (aged 97) Stockholm, Sweden |
| Burial | 16 March 2013 Royal Cemetery,Solna, Sweden |
| Spouse | |
| Father | William John Davies |
| Mother | Gladys Mary Curran |
Princess Lilian, Duchess of Halland (bornLillian May Davies, laterCraig; 30 August 1915 – 10 March 2013), was a British socialite who became a princess of Sweden through her 1976 marriage toPrince Bertil, Duke of Halland (1912–1997). As such, she was an aunt of KingCarl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and QueenMargrethe II of Denmark.
Lillian May Davies was born on 30 August 1915, inSwansea,Wales, the daughter of William John Davies, who had a market stall after working in a coal mine, and his wife Gladys Mary (née Curran), a shop assistant. The site of the terraced house where they lived is now beneath theQuadrant Shopping Centre. Her parents separated in the 1920s, but they were not divorced until 1939. She moved to London when she was 16.[1] She dropped one 'l' from her first name when given work as a model, dancer and singer; she also was a hostess at a gambling club.[2]
She was photographed for magazines such asVogue.[citation needed]
In 1940 Lilian married theScottish actorIvan Craig (1912–1995) inHorsham,West Sussex.[3] Shortly after their wedding, Craig joined the British Army and left forAfrica, where he saw active service during theSecond World War.[3] In his absence, Lilian worked in a factory that made radios for theRoyal Navy and at a hospital for wounded soldiers.[citation needed]
In 1943, she met the SwedishPrince Bertil, Duke of Halland, inLondon, reportedly at acocktail party for her 28th birthday. Soon after their meeting, they became lovers although she was still married to Craig.[3] When she and her husband were reunited after the war, Craig expressed his wish to marry another woman, and they were amicably divorced on 7 November 1947.[4]
Bertil's older brother,Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, was second in line to the Swedish throne; but he died in 1947. As Gustaf Adolf's son,Carl Gustaf, was less than one year old, it seemed likely that, when Bertil's grandfather, KingGustaf V, and father (Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf, the future KingGustaf VI Adolf) died, he would have to serve asregent (other heirs having given up their places in the line of succession because of marriages not acceptable to the king). For this reason, Bertil chose not to marry Lilian, so the couple simply lived together discreetly for more than thirty years. In 1946, Prince Bertil acquired a house inSainte-Maxime, France, that became their private retreat.[citation needed]
Bertil never had to become regent, since his father, who ascended the throne in 1950, lived long enough to see his grandson, Carl Gustaf, come of age. Carl XVI Gustaf ascended the throne in 1973, and, having married a commoner himself, he approved Bertil's and Lilian's marriage, meaning that Bertil would be able to keep his titles and place in the line of succession, and that Lillian would become a princess. They were married on 7 December 1976 at the church ofDrottningholm Palace in the presence of the king andthe queen.[citation needed]
Prince Bertil died on 5 January 1997 in their home. From 1997 until 2010, Lilian continued to represent the royal family at various engagements and other occasions. She was the patron of many organizations. In 2000, Lilian released a biography of her life with Bertil.[5]
In August 2008, Lilian fell and broke her femur in her apartment;[6] and, in February 2009, she again suffered a fall in her home. It was announced on 3 June 2010, that Lilian was afflicted withAlzheimer's disease and was no longer able to appear in public.[7] She lived her final years at Villa Solbacken, her longtime home in theDjurgården area of Stockholm, attended by three nurses.[3]
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Lilian died inStockholm on 10 March 2013, aged 97, sixteen years after her husband. The Royal Palace did not give a cause of death, but she had been in poor health for several years.[3][8][9] Her death came as theroyal family was preparing forPrincess Madeleine's wedding, and the family interrupted what they were doing to spend her last moments together with her.[10]
Her 16 March funeral was broadcast live onSVT. It was attended by her nephew and niece-in-law the King and the Queen of Sweden; her nieces theQueen of Denmark,Princess Margaretha,Princess Birgitta,Princess Désirée, andPrincess Christina; her grandniecesCrown Princess Victoria andPrincess Madeleine; and her grandnephew and grandnephew-in-lawPrince Carl Philip andPrince Daniel.[11]Princess Astrid of Norway was also in attendance, as were her friendsRoger Moore and his Swedish wife Kiki Tholstrup.[12]
Member and Commander of theRoyal Order of the Seraphim_-_Commander_Grand_Cross.svg)
Commander Grand Cross of theRoyal Order of the Polar Star Member of theRoyal Family Decoration of King Carl XVI Gustaf, 2nd Class Recipient of the50th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
Argentina: Grand Cross of theOrder of the Liberator General San Martín[13]
Austria:Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Sash for Services to the Republic of Austria (25 September 1997)[14]
Denmark: Grand Cross with Diamonds of theOrder of the Dannebrog
Estonia: First Class of theOrder of the Cross of Terra Mariana[15]
France: Grand Cross of theNational Order of Merit[16]
Finland: Commander Grand Cross of theOrder of the White Rose of Finland[17]
Germany: Grand Cross 1st Class of theOrder of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany[18]
Iceland: Grand Cross of theOrder of the Falcon[19]
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic[citation needed]
Japan: Paulownia Dame Grand Cordon of theOrder of the Precious Crown[20]
Jordan: Grand Cordon of theOrder of the Star of Jordan[21]
Latvia: Grand Officer of theOrder of the Three Stars[citation needed]
Lithuania: Grand Cross of theOrder of Grand Duke Gediminas[citation needed]
Portugal: Grand Cross of theOrder of Christ[22]
Norway: Grand Cross of theOrder of St. Olav[23]
Spain: Dame Grand Cross of theOrder of Isabella the Catholic (15 October 1979)[24]
Sweden: Honorary Grand Cross of theSocial Order of Innocence[25]Sweden: Patron of theSocial Order of Innocence
Media related toPrincess Lilian, Duchess of Halland at Wikimedia Commons
