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Carl Johan BernadotteSwedish aristocrat, uncle of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
Date of Birth: 31.10.1916
Country:  Sweden |
Content:
- Biography of Carl Johan Bernadotte
- Marriages and Children
- Adoption and Family
- Titles and Associations
- Legacy
Biography of Carl Johan Bernadotte
Early LifeCarl Johan Bernadotte was born on January 31, 1916, in Stockholm, Sweden. He was the fifth and youngest child of King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and Princess Margaret of Connaught. As a member of the Swedish aristocracy, he was the uncle of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and a maternal uncle to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.
Marriages and Children
In 1946, Carl Johan lost his right to the Swedish throne and renounced all his titles after marrying a woman of lower rank in New York. His first wife, Elin Kerstin Margareta Wijkmark, passed away in 1987. He later remarried on September 29, 1988, to Countess Gunnila Marta Louise Wachtmeister. Carl Johan did not have any biological children but adopted two children, giving them his surname.
Adoption and Family
Carl Johan adopted Monica Christina Margaretha Bernadotte, born on March 5, 1948. She married Count Johan Peder Bonde af Björnö in 1976 and had three children: Countess Ebba Kristina Bonde af Björnö (born on October 20, 1980), Countess Marianne Cecilia Bonde af Björnö (born on September 29, 1982), and Count Carl Johan Peder Bonde af Björnö (born on April 14, 1984).
He also adopted Christian Carl Henning Bernadotte, born on December 3, 1949. Christian is married to Marianne Jenny since September 13, 1980, and they have three children: Christina Margaretha Sofia Bernadotte (born on May 28, 1983), Richard Carl Jakob Bernadotte (born on June 8, 1985), and Philip Carl William Bernadotte (born on May 18, 1988).
Titles and Associations
On July 2, 1951, Carl Johan was granted the title of Count of Wisborg by Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. He was also the last surviving great-grandson of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, following the death of Princess Catherine of Greece and Denmark in 2007. From 1948 to 1963, he served as the Chairman of the Swedish Nobility Association.
Legacy
On June 29, 2011, Carl Johan became the longest-lived male descendant of Queen Victoria. He passed away on May 5, 2012, in Stockholm, Sweden, leaving behind a notable legacy in both Swedish and European royalty.
