Swedish princess Birgitta dead at 87: King Gustaf pays tribute to ‘colourful’ sister who died at home in Majorca

PRINCESS Birgitta of Sweden, the second sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf, has died at the age of 87, the Swedish Royal Palace announced.

The royal, who was married to the late Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern, had been living in Majorca.

Princess Birgitta of Sweden in her villa in Santa Ponsa, Majorca
Princess Birgitta of Sweden in her villa in Santa Ponsa, MajorcaCredit: Getty
A young Princess Birgitta of Sweden and her fiancee Prince Johann of Hohenzollern at the Royal Palace on May 17, 1961 in Stockholm, Sweden
A young Princess Birgitta of Sweden and her fiancee Prince Johann of Hohenzollern at the Royal Palace on May 17, 1961 in Stockholm, SwedenCredit: Getty
The Princess pictured in 2015 attending the Pre-Wedding Dinner for Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist in Stockholm
The Princess pictured in 2015 attending the Pre-Wedding Dinner for Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist in StockholmCredit: Getty

Her cause of death has not been made public, but the palace made an announcement on Instagram confirming her passing and mentioning that she is survived by three children and their families.

King Carl XVI Gustaf shared his grief in a statement, saying, “I am deeply saddened by the news of my sister Princess Birgitta’s passing.”

“My sister was a colourful and straightforward person who will be deeply missed by me and my family.

“Together with my entire family, I send my condolences to Princess Birgitta’s children and grandchildren.”

Princess Birgitta, who studied gymnastics at the Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, had three children – Prince Carl, Princess Desiree, and Prince Hubertus – with her husband, an art historian.

Unlike her sisters, she retained her royal title after marriage, as her husband was of equal royal rank.

Princess Birgitta, born in 1937 at Haga Castle, was the second eldest child of Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Sibylla.

The royal spent much of her life outside Sweden, primarily in Majorca, Spain.

She was known for her relaxed and colourful lifestyle, which set her apart from other members of the royal family.

Eminem’s mom Debbie Nelson dead at 69 after battle with ‘advanced lung cancer’

Dedicated to charitable causes, she co-founded the HELP Foundation, which supports vulnerable children worldwide.

A passionate golfer, she also organised her own tournament, the Princess Birgitta Trophy, held at her home course in Spain.

In a 2009 Summer Program on P1, Birgitta expressed her commitment to children’s welfare, saying: “Whenever people ask what I want to do for charity, I always reply: only if it’s about children, because they are our future.”

Although Birgitta separated from her husband, Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern, in 1990, the two remained married.

Johann lived in Munich while Birgitta resided in Spain and passed away in 2016 at 83.

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.

You May Also Like

700 Injured and 5 Dead in Iranian Port Explosion from Ballistic Missile Fuel; Tehran Increases Security Measures

More than 700 people have been injured after a massive explosion at…

What Donald and Melania’s clothing differences at Pope Francis’ funeral really meant

Donald and Melania Trump arrived at Fiumicino Airport last night for Pope…

Why Meghan Markle hesitated about Netflix: Duchess of Sussex didn’t want to showcase her passion for jam making on the platform, which received a poor reception.

Meghan Markle has showcased a variety of activities on her Netflix show,…

Joe Biden Attends Pope Francis’ Funeral in Rome with 200,000 Mourners Remembering a Peace-Seeking Saintly Figure Today

World leaders, dignitaries and tens of thousands of mourners are gathering in…

How Ghislaine Maxwell recruited a young runaway for Jeffrey Epstein’s group and caused a major royal scandal

Virginia Giuffre, a central figure in the downfall of disgraced paedophile Jeffrey…

BBC Arabic Guest Calls for Burning Jews Like Hitler and Brags About Terrorist Attacks on Children, Prompting Fresh Antisemitism Controversy

A journalist who featured on the BBC’s Arabic channel has called for…

Pope Francis’s funeral seating arrangement: Donald Trump in the front row, while Prince William and Keir Starmer seated in the back rows.

The death of Pope Francis saw the world’s leaders and great dignitaries…

“End of Era: Environmental Activists Conclude Oil Protest March in London, Stirring Controversy and Costs”

Just Stop Oil recently concluded their final march in London. This news…

Jet2 flight to popular vacation destination changes course in the sky to remove unruly passengers causing a three-hour delay

A JET2 flight from Alicante to Manchester Airport was reportedly diverted mid-air to…

Trump casts doubt on Putin’s intent to end Ukrainian war following private meeting with Zelensky

President Donald Trump is now questioning whether Russian President Vladimir Putin truly…

Virginia Giuffre’s family issues a full statement as Prince Andrew accuser, aged 41, succumbs to the toll of abuse

THE heartbroken family of Virginia Giuffre have described her as a “fierce…

Prince Andrew’s ex sparks outrage with inappropriate response to Virginia Giuffre’s death

PRINCE Andrew’s ex has been slammed for sharing a “sick” response to…