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Silvia Sommerlath)
Her Majesty Queen Silvia (Silvia Renate Sommerlath) (born 23 December 1943). She is the Queen of Sweden, and wife of King Carl XVI Gustaf.
She was born in Heidelberg, Germany to Walther Sommerlath and his Brazilian wife Alice (born Soares de Toledo), and was raised in São Paulo, Brazil, between 1947 and 1957 when her family returned to Germany. She is an educated interpreter and speaks six languages: Swedish, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and English. Her work experience (before her marriage) included working at the Argentinian Consulate in Munich, being an educational host during the Summer Olympics in Munich, and serving as the Deputy Head of Protocol for the Winter Games in Innsbruck in Austria.
It was during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich that Silvia Sommerlath met then-Crown Prince Carl Gustaf of Sweden. The couple were married on June 19, 1976, and she thus became Queen Consort (as Carl Gustaf had succeded to the throne in 1973). The Swedish singing group ABBA premiered (in Sweden) the song 'Dancing Queen' for the event.
She is devoted to charity, especially in the area of disadvantaged children, and has made several statements about human rights and the sexual exploitation of children. She was a co-founder of the World Childhood Foundation in 1999. She also works actively for handicapped, among other things as the Chairman of the Royal Wedding Fund and Queen Silvia's Jubilee Fund. In 1990, she was awarded the prestigious German prize "Deutsche Kulturpreis" for her work for the handicapped. The Queen is also an honourary board member of the international Mentor Foundation, that works against drugs.
Her commitment for the work with dementia and the care of elderly people at the end of life is also well known and respected. On her initiative, Silviahemmet was established in Stockholm. It works to educate hospital personnel in how to work with people suffering from dementia, and also initiates research in the area.
The Queen is a protector of many organisations, honourary board member and member of organisations and societies, holds a number of honorary doctorates, and has received many international prizes and medals for her work.
Her marriage with the King has produced three children:
- Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Westrogothia (born 1977)
- Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Wermelandia (born 1979)
- Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Helsingia and Gestricia (born 1982)
Her namesday on August 8 and her birthday on December 23 are official flag days in Sweden.
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