Princess Christina, sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, has written a book about their paternal grandmother to mark the centenary of her death. And she’s had some very royal help – her cousins, Queen Margrethe II and Princess Benedikte of Denmark have been involved in the project, too.
‘She was Called Daisy’ will tell the story of Princess Margaret of Connaught who was grandmother to all three royal women. Margaret married Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden in 1905 after a famous royal romance. The couple, who became Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden in 1907, were notoriously happy together and had five children. However, Margaret died on May 1st 1920 while pregnant with their sixth baby who also passed away. She was buried in Solna.
Princess Christina’s work will be published in April next year, just ahead of the 100th anniversary of Margaret’s death. The book aims to shine a light on the real Margaret and discover just why she was so loved by her family as well as the people of her adopted country – when she died it was said that ”the ray of sunshine at Stockholm Palace has gone out”.
Christina has had access to her family’s archives and has studied Margaret’s letters and photo albums as well as documents written by her royal relations to find out more about the grandmother she never knew. She will look at Margaret’s passion for art and culture as well as the way she reached out to all parts of Swedish society and she will discuss how her grandmother modernised her adopted country’s monarchy.
That debate will include input from Queen Margrethe and Princess Benedikte who have spoken extensively to Princess Christina for the book.
Princess Christina has written the work alongside journalist and author Carl Otto Werkelid. ‘She was Called Daisy’ will be published by Bonnier on April 4th 2020.
