HRH Prince Daniel

HRH Prince Daniel

HRH Prince Daniel. Photo: Linda Broström/The Royal Court of Sweden

Olof DANIEL, Prince of Sweden, Duke of Västergötland, born on 15 September 1973. Married on 19 June 2010 to HRH The Crown Princess.

Official duties

HRH Prince Daniel's official duties

HRH Prince Daniel assists HRH The Crown Princess in her role as heir to the Swedish throne. The Prince often carries out journeys and visits together with The Crown Princess.

Every year, Prince Daniel – together with other members of the Royal Family – takes part in the celebration of Sweden's National Day, the birthdays of The King and The Crown Princess, the Opening of the Parliamentary Session and the Nobel festivities.

In addition to his official programs, Prince Daniel is involved in issues related to entrepreneurship and the health of children and young people. This takes place partly within the framework of The Crown Princess Couple's Foundation, whose purpose is to counteract exclusion and promote good health for children and young people in Sweden, and partly within The Prince Daniel Fellowship and its entrepreneurship program. Through these commitments, the Prince regularly visits various activities in Sweden and abroad.

Prince Daniel is a member of the Church of Sweden.

Biography

HRH Prince Daniel's biography

HRH Prince Daniel was born at Örebro Regional Hospital on 15 September 1973. He is the youngest child of Olle Westling and Ewa Westling, née Westring. The Prince has one older sister, Anna Westling Söderström.

Prince Daniel, then called Olof Daniel Westling, was christened at Almby Church on 19 January 1974.

Olof Daniel Westling was christened on 19 January 1974.

Olof Daniel Westling was christened on 19 January 1974. Photo: The Westling Family/Family photo

The Prince grew up in Ockelbo in Gävleborg County.

Education, confirmation, military service and entrepreneurship

Prince Daniel attended Rabo School and Perslunda School in Ockelbo.

The Prince was confirmed at Ockelbo Church in 1988.

He completed his upper secondary studies at Hammar Upper Secondary School in Sandviken, graduating in 1991.

As a teenager, The Prince spent many of his summers working, including at a home for the elderly in Ockelbo.

After graduating from upper secondary school, The Prince worked within elderly care in Ockelbo again while waiting to begin his military service.

HRH Prince Daniel carried out his military service at Hälsinge Regiment (I 14) in Gävle.

After completing his military service, The Prince worked for just over a year at a school and recreation centre for children with special needs.

Prince Daniel moved to Stockholm in 1994 to study at the Lillsved Sports Folk High School. Here, he studied the youth recreation leadership programme from 1994 to 1996, focusing on sport.

Mr Daniel Westling during a sports competition.

Mr Daniel Westling during a sports competition. Photo: The Westling Family/Family photo

While working at the fitness company, The Prince also taught on a course for personal trainers and body building coaches.

Prince Daniel started his own company in 1997 and worked as a consultant in the fitness industry. He then went on to run his own gym, Master Training, together with a colleague. In 2006, The Prince started the company Balance.

Family

In 2001, Mr Daniel Westling got to know HRH The Crown Princess. The couple's engagement was announced at the Royal Palace on 24 February 2009.

The Crown Princess and Mr Daniel Westling, as he was then known, meet the media on the announcement of their engagement in 2009.

The Crown Princess and Mr Daniel Westling, as he was then known, meet the media on the announcement of their engagement in 2009. Photo: Leif R Jansson/TT

The wedding took place in Stockholm Cathedral on 19 June 2010.

Prince Daniel gives a speech during the wedding banquet in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace on 19 June 2010.

Prince Daniel gives a speech during the wedding banquet in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace on 19 June 2010. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

In autumn 2010, The Crown Princess and Prince Daniel moved into Haga Palace in Solna, near Stockholm.

The Crown Princess and Prince Daniel's first child, Princess Estelle, was born in 2012. Their second child, Prince Oscar, was born in 2016.

The Crown Princess Family in 2019.

The Crown Princess Family in 2019. Photo: Anna-Lena Ahlström/The Royal Court of Sweden

Further studies

Between 2011 and 2013, Prince Daniel studied various courses at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm. These studies were in the form of commissioned education, and included physiology, physical activity and health, as well as geriatrics and pathology.

Interests and commitments

HRH Prince Daniel's personal interests and commitments

HRH Prince Daniel has a great interest in issues concerning the physical and mental health of children and young people.

With his background as an entrepreneur, The Prince is also actively involved in entrepreneurship issues. With time, The Prince has become increasingly interested in art and culture, and the role they play in society.

Public health

The Princes' programme features a focus on health issues, ranging from organ donation to health equality. Sports Day was arranged at Haga Park in 2013–2017 and Prince Daniel's Race is held annually, both with the aim of inspiring and encouraging children and young people to exercise more.

Prince Daniel opens Prince Daniel's Race in 2016.

Prince Daniel opens Prince Daniel's Race in 2016. Photo: Anders Wiklund/TT

Prince Daniel is Honorary Chairman of the Board of the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation and has given his name to Prince Daniel's Grant for Promising Young Researchers. The grant is awarded for pioneering Swedish cardiopulmonary research which is deemed to be of great significance to patients.

The Crown Princess and Prince Daniel established The Crown Princess Couple's Foundation in connection with their wedding in 2010. The purpose is to promote good health and prevent social exclusion among children and young people in Sweden. The foundation's vision is that all children and young people in Sweden, regardless of their circumstances, should be able to grow up into confident individuals with hopes and believes for the future.

The Crown Princess Couple took the initiative for Generation PEP, a non-profit organisation that works to raise awareness of and encourage commitment to issues relating to the health of children and young people.

Entrepreneurship

Prince Daniel is committed to enterprise and works to promote entrepreneurship among young people.

Prince Daniel speaks during a school visit with Prince Daniel's Fellowship and its entrepreneurial programme in 2017.

Prince Daniel speaks during a school visit with Prince Daniel's Fellowship and its entrepreneurial programme in 2017. Photo: Pelle T Nilsson/SPA

Prince Daniel is an honorary board member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA). In association with IVA, Prince Daniel launched Prince Daniel's Fellowship and its entrepreneurial programme in 2013. The project involves Prince Daniel, together with entrepreneurs and business leaders, visiting upper secondary schools, universities and university colleges several times a year to inspire young people to take up entrepreneurship.

The Prince also visits the Swedish Young Enterprise Championships each year, and is an active member of Young Enterprise's national board.

Culture

Sculpture exhibitions have been arranged on Royal Djurgården in Stockholm at Prince Daniel's initiative. Princess Estelle's Cultural Foundation was established in 2019 to stage temporary exhibitions and to set up a permanent sculpture park in Djurgården, for the benefit of visitors.

Prince Daniel and artist Tony Cragg at the opening of the 'Tony Cragg on Djurgården' sculpture exhibition in 2016.

Prince Daniel and artist Tony Cragg at the opening of the 'Tony Cragg on Djurgården' sculpture exhibition in 2016. Photo: Marc Femenia/TT

Personal interests

Prince Daniel enjoys devoting his spare time to sport and training, including golf, skiing and strength training.

The Crown Princess Couple walking in the Jämtland Triangle.

The Crown Princess Couple walking in the Jämtland Triangle. Photo: The Royal Court of Sweden

The Prince also enjoys spending time in nature, either hunting or walking. In the summer, he likes to spend time on the water with his family.

Prince Daniel has a keen interest in art and culture, and enjoys visiting galleries, art exhibitions, the theatre and concerts.

The Prince through the years

Symbols

Prince Daniel's crown

Prince Wilhelm's crown, made in Stockholm 1902 by C. G. Hallbergs Guldsmeds AB.

Prince Daniel's seraphim shield

HRH Prince Daniel's, seraphim shield, made by royal coat of arms painter Leif Ericsson.

Prince Daniel's monogram

HRH Prince Daniel's monogram and The Crown Princess couple's joint monogram.

Orders

HRH Prince Daniel's orders

List of HRH Prince Daniel's foreign order holdings.

Republic of Chile

  • The Order of Bernardo O'Higgins, Grand Cross

Kingdom of Denmark

  • The Order of the Elephant, knight

Republic of Estonia

  • The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class

Republic of Finland

  • The Order of the White Rose, Grand Cross

Republic of France

  • The Legion of Honour, Grand Officier

Federal Republic of Germany

  • The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Grand Cross

Republic of Iceland

  • The Order of the Falcon, Grand Cross

Republic of Italy

  • The Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Grand Cross.

Republic of Korea

  • The Order of Diplomatic Service Merit, 1st Class

Kingdom of Netherlands

  • Order of the Crown, Grand Cross

Kingdom of Norway

  • Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav

Kingdom of Spain

  • The Order of Civil Merit, Grand Cross

Republic of Tunisia

  • The Order of Merit, Grand Officer

Prince Daniel's recent speeches