Royal Profile: Prince Daniel of Sweden, The Duke of Västergötland

Prince Daniel of Sweden, The Duke of Västergötland was born as Olof Daniel Westling on 15 September 1973 as the son of Ewa Westling and Olle Gunnar Westling{Source}. He has a sister, a former brother-in-law, a brother-in-law, and two nieces{Source}:

  1. Anna Westling Söderström
    1. (unknown) Blom
      1. Hedvig Blom
      2. Vera Blom
    2. Mikael Söderström


The future Prince Consort attended schools in Sweden, including Rabo Primary School, Perslunda School and Hammargymnasiet upper secondary school {Source}. He graduated upper secondary school in 1991 {Source}.

During his summers, he would work at a home for the elderly{Source}. Prince Daniel was also a member of the Swedish military group 114 in Gävle {Source}. After completing his military service, he worked at a centre for children with special needs {Source}. In 1994, he moved to Stockholm, Sweden to study at the Gymnastics Federation's Folk High School {Source}.During his time at Gymnastics Federation's Folk High School, he studied the youth recreation leader programme {Source}.While studying there, he worked for a fitness company, and after completing his education, he continued to work for the company full time{Source}.

In 1997, he created his own fitness consulting company {Source}. He opened his own fracise gim Master Training shortly thereafter {Source}. The future Consort started up the company Balance in 2006 {Source}. Since becoming the heir's consort, he has given up his business practices as required by law {Source}.

Prince Daniel partakes in many activities in his spare time, many of which are sports related. He is an avid skiier and golfer{Source}. Some of his passions and favorite activities include: social issues, health, sport and entrepreneurship, and enjoys going to the theatre {Source}.

Prince Daniel met his would-be bride in 2001, when he was hired as her personal trainer{Source}. Reportedly, in the beginning, King Carl XVI Gustaf was against his heir's budding romance with her trainer, however, eventually he warmed up to the relationship {Source}. After his engagement was annouced to the future Queen of Sweden, he began tutoring sessions in several languages including English, French and German, Swedish history and political science {Source}. Upon their engagement, royal watchers and the Swedish people began to speculate what-if any-title he would receive upon marriage. It was decided by the Swedish courts that he would receive the male equalivent of Crown Princess Victoria's titles-making his official title His Royal Highness Prince Daniel of Sweden, Duke of Västergötland{Source}. On 19 June 2010, he became the first future male consort in Swedish history{Source}.

Over the years, Prince Daniel has "collected" many national and international honors. Upon marrying into the Swedish Royal Family, he was granted the honor of knight of the order of the Seraphim {Source}. Prince Daniel holds numerous honors, both domestically and abroad {Source}{Source}{Photo}. In addition to Sweden, he holds orders from Estonia, and Finland {Source}{Photo}

On 17 August 2011, his life changed once again, when he and his wife announced that they were expecting their first child {Source}. In August 2015, it was announced that he and his wife are expecting their second child in 2016 {Source}. Their two children are{Source}{Source}:
  1. Princess Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary of Sweden, The Duchess of Östergötland (2012)
  2. Prince Oscar Carl Olof of Sweden, The Duke of Skåne (2014)
The Swedish National Archives published an account of Westling's ancestors, most of whom were farmers in the province of Hälsingland {Source}.In June 2010, genealogist Björn Engström published Daniel's ancestors as far back as to the 14th century, and showed that Daniel shares some ancestors in the region of Stora Kopparberget with noble families living today, among these Svinhufvud{Source}.His paternal grandfather Anders Andersson (1900–1980) adopted the surname of Westling from his mother{Source}.

He is the 2nd commoner to marry into the royal family, breaking traditions of royals marrying royals. His mother-in-law was the first.

Since becoming a prince, he has undertaken many patronages, some of which includes International Society of Nephrology, World Transplant Games 2011, UEFA Women's EURO 2013, patron of the initiative 'Make A Healthy Heart Your Goal' campaign partnership for UEFA Women's EURO 2013 {Source}{Source}{Source}{Source}.

The future Swedish consort has visited Russia, The USA on solo official capacity visits {Source}{Source}{Source}. He shares a birthday with Queen Letizia of Spain & Prince Harry of Wales.

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