Funeral service for Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld

The funeral service for Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld, who died on 11 April 2017, 82 years old, took place today at Erska Church at Sollebrunn in Alingsås municipality.

Attending the service were of course the late baron's widow Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld and her immediate family. King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia came directly from the celebrations in Oslo, and they were accompanied by Princess Märtha Louise, who represented the Norwegian royal house.

The Swedish Princesses Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler, Princess Birgitta and Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson and her husband Tord Magnuson and other family members were also present for the funeral service. According to Svensk Damtidning, the Danish Royal House was represented by Princess Benedikte. Princess Madeleine and her husband Chris O'Neill are currently in Florida, USA, and where thus unable to attend.

After the funeral service a reception took place at Koberg Palace.

So far it has not been revealed where Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld will be buried. One possibility is the Royal Burial Ground at Haga outside Stockholm. Another possibility is the Silfverschiöld family grave in Sahlgrenska gravkoret (the Sahlgren Grave Chapel) at Tölö Cemetery at Kungsbacka south of Gothenburg. Svensk Damtidning seems to suggest the latter in an article published today: «De närmaste fortsatte sedan till familjegraven för gravsättningen och just nu pågår mottagningen hemma hos familjen Silfverschiöld på Koberg.» («The closest [family members] continued to the family grave for the funeral and just now a reception is taking place at the Silfverschiöld's home at Koberg.») It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes from Sollebrunn to Kungsbacka.

Postscript: Niclas Silfverschiöld was interred at Lagmansered Cemetery in Trollhättan municipality, not at the Royal Burial Ground.

Updated on Thursday 11 May 2017 at 21:25 (more people in attendance were added, as well as information about the burial place), last time on Wednesday 21 January 2026 at 20:40 (postscript added).

Funeral service for Gunnila Bernadotte, Countess of Wisborg

The funeral service for Gunnila Bernadotte, Countess of Wisborg, who died on 12 September 2016, 93 years old, took place at the Palace Church in Stockholm today. As previously told it was a private ceremony for the closest family members and friends and thus with no media coverage inside the church.

Gunnila Bernadotte was the second wife of Carl Johan, Count of Wisborg, an uncle of King Carl Gustaf.

The king, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia represented the royal house. According to Expressen, also the King's sister, Princess Christina Mrs. Magnuson, and her husband Tord Magnuson, were present, in addition to among others Princess Benedikte of Denmark.

The service was officiated by Lars-Göran Lönnermark, Bishop Emeritus and head predicate and Michael Bjerkhagen, pastor of the Royal Court Parish.

After the service the coffin was taken to the Royal Burial Ground at Haga outside Stockholm, where Count Carl Johan is also buried. For a couple of photos from the church service, go here.

According to the death announcement, which was published in among others Svenska Dagbladet and Helsingborgs Dagblad on 22 September, there will be a memorial gathering at Norrvikens Trädgård in Båstad on 6 October 2016.

Both the death announcement as well as Expressen earlier today listed Bärbo (i.e. Tistad Castle) as Countess Gunnila's place of birth. This contradicts the information from the church books of both Bärbo and Engelbrekt, which said she was born in Stockholm, something I discussed earlier this month. The churchbooks are much closer to the event, so for the time being I think Stockholm is the most likely place of birth, but I would still like to find an independent source, like for instance a midwife report, to get the question settled once and for all.

Expressen also repeats the claim that Gunnila Bernadotte in her first marriage with Carl-Herman Bussler had 3 children, while they in fact had four. Their second daughter Catharina was born on 21 July 1946 and died shortly after on 8 August.

The last interview the weekly magazine Svensk Damtidning made with Gunnila Bernadotte took place in 2014. The interview was republished at its website today. In the interview she told among others about her life after the death of her husband, her new apartment in Båstad and her five grandchildren.

Updated on Thursday 29 September 2016 at 9.55 p.m. (photo link added), last time on Sunday 23 April 2017 at 14.15 (minor typo corrected).