Published: 29 Mar, 2021 CET.Updated: Mon 29 Mar 2021 11:29 CET
STOCKHOLM 2021-03-26 Prins Carl Philip och prinsessan Sofia lämnar förlossningen vid Danderyds sjukhus efter att Sofia fött en son. Foto: Pontus Lundahl / TT / kod 10050
Sweden's king welcomed a new grandchild to the family over the weekend, but due to a recent change in the make-up of the Royal House, the prince will not be a Royal Highness.
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Prince Julian Herbert Folke was born on Friday, the son of Sweden’s Prince Carl Philip — the king’s second oldest child and only son — and Princess Sofia. He was also given the title of Duke of Halland.
Despite being a prince, and unlike his two older brothers, the baby was not born into the Royal House or with the style of Royal Highness.
That's down to a big change to the Swedish royal family in 2019. King Carl XVI Gustaf announced that five of his seven grandchildren had been removed from the Royal House, for practical reasons linked to the family's growing size.
Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip with their two older children at Prince Gabriel's christening in 2017. Photo: Anders Wiklund/TT
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All the king's grandchildren, including the newest prince, are still considered part of the royal family, the term which covers all members of the King's extended family.
But only those in the direct line of succession retained the titles of Royal Highness and be part of the Royal House. That's Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar, the children of Crown Princess Victoria, heir to the throne, and her husband Prince Daniel.
The other grandchildren, including Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia's two older sons, Prince Alexander and Prince Gabriel, were removed from the Royal House. This means that they won't be eligible for the taxpayer-funded income that comes with being part of the Royal House, and in return they won't perform official royal duties or be official representatives of Sweden — and can choose to take any job, start a business, and openly hold political opinions.
The same now applies to Prince Julian.
Prince Julian in an official photo taken by his father and distributed by the Royal Court. Photo: Prince Carl Philip / Kungliga Hovstaterna
As for their titles, yes, the king's grandchildren are still princes or princesses, even those without the style of Royal Highness.
But unlike members of the Royal House, these titles are personal so will not be transferred or inherited by any future family members such as spouses or children.
Prince Julian, like the other grandchildren, has a second title of Duke, and these titles of Duke and Duchess remain hereditary.
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Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip with their two older children at Prince Gabriel's christening in 2017. Photo: Anders Wiklund/TT
Prince Julian in an official photo taken by his father and distributed by the Royal Court. Photo: Prince Carl Philip / Kungliga Hovstaterna
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