Sweden: Graves of Princess Désirée and Silfverschiöld family members, Lagmansered church ruins, Trollhättan municipality

Grave of Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld (1938–2026).

Last Friday, while on my way to a genealogy conference (Släktforskardagarna 2026) in Borås, I made a short stop at the Lagmansered church ruins in the municipality of Trollhättan. Next to the ruins lies a small cemetery which has a seperate section for the baronial family of Silfverschiöld, whose principal seat is at Koberg Castle not far away.

Princess Désirée, an elder sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, died in January this year and was later interred at the cemetery next to her husband Baron (Friherre) Niclas Silfverschiöld (1934–2017). Her grave plate has not been put in place yet, so I will have to visit the cemetery again another time, maybe next year when I plan to attend Släktforskardagarna 2027 in Jönköping. Naturally I also took photos of the other Silfverschiöld graves before I took off again.

There used to be a stave church built at Lagmansered farm in 1465. It was burned down by the Danes in 1612. A new church was erected during the years 1639–1647, but it was destroyed by fire several times, and afte the last fire in 1929 the community decided to erect a new church at another location closer to Koberg. The new church also has a cemetery, so please have this in mind if you wish to visit the Silfverschiöld graves as they are, as already mentioned, situated in the cemetery at the ruins of the old church.

Her name has oddly enough been misspelt (it should be Désirée, not "Désireé").

Grave of Baron (Friherre) Niclas Silfverschiöld (1934–2017), husband of Princess Désirée.

Grave of Baron Otto Silfverschiöld (1871–1951), grandfather of Niclas.

Grave of Baroness Ingeborg Silfverschiöld, née vom Horn (1873–1953), wife of Otto.

Grave of Baron Carl-Otto Silfverschiöld (1899–1955), father of Niclas.

Grave of Baroness Madeleine Silfverschiöld, née Bennich (1906–1994, first wife of Carl-Otto and mother of Niclas.

Grave of Ambassador Carl Swartz (1920–2008), who was married to Niclas' elder sister Ulla Margareta Silfverschiöld, b. 1932.

Grave of Ebba Ribbing, née Baroness Silfverschiöld (1873–1914), younger sister of Otto, b. 1871.

Grave of Tekla Johansson (1883–1969), who had the title of Kammarjungfru - I suppose that she was employed at Koberg.

The section with the Silfverschiöld graves.

The ruins of the church which was destroyed by fire in 1929.

Updated on Thursday 17 September 2026 at 11:21 (name of Ambassador Swartz corrected).

Sweden: Princess Désirée's funeral service to take place on 19 February 2026

The Swedish Royal Court announced today that the funeral service for Princess Désirée, who died on 21 January 2026, will take place in the Royal Palace Church in Stockholm on Thursday 19 February 2026. After the funeral service the king will held a reception in Princess Sibylla's Apartment at the Royal Palace. The burial will take place at Koberg, but the time has not been disclosed. As mentioned earlier, Princess Désirée's husband Niclas Silfverschiold (1934-2017) is buried with other family members at Lagmansered Cemetery not far from Koberg Palace in Trollhättan municipality.

Sweden: Princess Désirée has passed away

The Swedish Royal court has issued the following statement concerning the death of Princess Désirée, sister of King Carl Gustaf.

21 January 2026

Princess Désirée has passed away

HM The King’s sister Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld, passed away peacefully in her home at Koberg in Västergötland on Wednesday, 21 January 2026, surrounded by her family. The Princess was 87 years old.

On the occasion of the death of Princess Désirée, the following statement is made by HM The King:

With great sadness, I have today received the news that my sister, Princess Désirée, has passed away.

Many warm family memories were created in the home of the Silfverschiöld family in Västergötland – a place in Sweden that came to mean a great deal to my sister.

Together with my family, I send my condolences to Princess Désirée’s children and their families.

Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld, was the widow of Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld (1934–2017) and lived at Koberg Castle in Västergötland. The Princess leaves behind her three children and their families.

Flags at half mast

HM The King has ordered the flags at Drottningholm Palace and Haga Palace to be flown at half mast on 21 January.

Funeral arrangements

Information regarding Princess Désirée’s funeral will be provided at a later date.

Désirée Elisabeth Sibylla was born at Haga outside Stockholm on 2 June 1938 as the third daughter of Prince Gustaf Adolf (1906–1947) and Princess Sibylla (1908–1972). She married Baron Nils August Otto Carl Niklas Silfverschiold (b. Koberg, Sweden 31 May 1934–d. 11 April 2017), son of Baron Carl-Otto Nils Henning Silverschiöld by his first wife Elsa Madelaine Bennich, in Stockholm on 5 June 1964. The couple had 3 children.

Niclas Silfverschiold (*) is buried with other family members at Lagmansered Cemetery not far from Koberg in Trollhättan municipality.

(*) The baron went by the name Niclas with a "c" even if he legally was named Niklas with a "k".

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).

Sweden: Date of funeral service for Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld announced

Erska Church, Sollebrunn. Photo: Artifex, Wikimedia Commons.

According to the death announcement published in among others Svenska Dagbladet on 22 April 2017, the funeral service for Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld, who died on 11 April 2017, will take place at Erska Church in Sollebrunn on Thursday 11 May 2017 at 2 p.m. There will be a reception at Koberg Palace after the funeral service.

The announcement was signed by Silfverschiöld's wife Princess Désirée, their children Carl, Christina Louise (Hans) and Hélène, grandchildren Anna Margreta, Estelle, Ian and Fred as well as «släkt och vänner» («family and friends»).

It is expected that Niclas Silfverschiöld will be laid to rest at the Royal Burial Ground at Haga outside Stockholm.

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

Updated on Wednesday 21 January 2026 at 20:36 (postscript added).

Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld (1934–2017)

Baron (Friherre) Niclas Silfverschiöld, husband of the Swedish Princess Désirée, died today, 82 years old, the Swedish Royal Court has announced.

Friherre Niclas Silfverschiöld har avlidit

Tisdagen den 11 april 2017 avled friherre Niclas Silfverschiöld, make till H.M. Konungens syster Prinsessan Désirée, friherrinna Silfverschiöld.

Med anledning av friherre Niclas Silfverschiölds bortgång gör Kungen följande uttalande:

– Jag och min familj har med stor sorg tagit emot beskedet att friherre Niclas Silfverschiöld, Prinsessan Désirées make, har gått ur tiden. Våra tankar går till Prinsessan Désirée med familj.

Friherre Niclas Silfverschiöld blev 82 år.

In translation:

Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld has died

Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld, husband of HM The King's sister Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld, has died.

In connection with the death of Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld's death the King has made the following statement:

– My family and I have with great sorrow received the news that Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld, Princess Désirée's husband, has passed away. Our thoughts are with Princess Désirée and her family.

Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld was 82 years old.

Baron Niclas Silfverschïold, whose full name was Nils August Otto Carl Niklas* Silfverschïold, was born at Gåsevadholm on 31 May 1934 as the son of Baron Carl-Otto Silfverschiöld (1899–1955) and Baroness Madelaine Silfverschiöld, née Bennich (1906–1995). He married Princess Désiree, third daughter of Prince Gustaf Adolf  of Sweden (1906–1947) and Princess Sibylla of Sweden, née Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1908–1972), in Storkyrkan (The Great Church/Church of St. Nicholas) in Stockholm on 5 June 1964. The couple had 3 children (Carl, Christina and Hélène) and four grandchildren.

Niclas and Désirée lived at Koberg Castle at Sollebrunn in the municipality of Trollhättan. Both Koberg Castle and the other Silfverschiöld family-owned castle, Gåsevadholm, are entailed property (fideikommis), the latter have been in the family since 1818.

At the time of death, Baron Niclas was listed as either chairman or member of the board of three limited companies – Koberg Förvaltning AB, Gåsevadholms Fideikommiss AB and Borgudden Vind AB.

According to Ratsit.se, both Koberg Förvaltning AB («Koberg Management Ltd.») and Gåsevadholms Fideikommiss AB are registered as businesses in agriculture and forest management as well as capital and property management. Borgudden Vind AB, which is a daughter company of Gåsevadholms Fideikommis AB, is an energy production company (wind turbine company).

*While the Swedish Royal Court and most genealogies spell his name Niclas with a c, he is in the Public Register listed with the spelling Niklas with a k, cf. Ratsit.se.

Updated on Wednesday 12 April 2017 at 00.05 (link added, ownership to Gåsevadholm amplified).