Sweden’s royal family entered 2026 with another profound loss as Princess Désirée, sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf, died at age 87. Her passing marks more than a family tragedy. It underscores the gradual disappearance of the Haga Princesses, a generation shaped by duty, personal loss, and a changing monarchy. Long removed from formal royal responsibilities, Désirée lived quietly outside the spotlight, reflecting Sweden’s evolving approach to royalty.
Her death follows closely after the loss of her sister, Princess Birgitta, reinforcing how swiftly a historic chapter is closing. Together, these moments reveal how the monarchy has steadily transitioned toward a smaller, more streamlined royal circle. Here’s what’s happening as that transformation continues.
A Final Chapter at Koberg Castle
Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld, died on 21 January 2026 at the age of 87. She spent much of her later life at Koberg Castle in Västergötland, where she lived with her husband Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld until his death in 2017 and later remained surrounded by her children and their families.
In a statement released by the Royal Court, King Carl XVI Gustaf said: “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.”
Flags at Drottningholm Palace and Haga Palace were flown at half mast on 21 January, with funeral arrangements to be announced later.
Echoes of a Sister’s Passing
Princess Désirée’s death follows closely after the loss of her sister, Princess Birgitta, who died on 4 December 2024 on the island of Mallorca at age 87. At the time, the King described Birgitta as “a colorful and forthright person who will be deeply missed,” while extending condolences to her children and grandchildren.
Both sisters were daughters of Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Sibylla and belonged to the group known as the Haga Princesses, raised at Haga Palace in Stockholm. Birgitta, the widow of Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern, spent many years living in Spain while maintaining close ties to Sweden.
With Désirée’s death, only Princesses Margaretha and Christina remain from that generation. Their passing highlights how the senior royal circle surrounding the King continues to narrow.
Growing Up Royal Amid Tragedy
The childhood of the Haga Princesses was shaped by sudden loss and public responsibility. Their father, Prince Gustaf Adolf, died in an air crash at Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport in January 1947, leaving Princess Sibylla widowed with 5 young children.
The tragedy placed the family at the center of national sympathy while reinforcing expectations tied to the throne. Sibylla raised her children under constant public attention, while Carl Gustaf later became heir and eventually King. These shared experiences forged a strong bond among the siblings, something reflected in the King’s emphasis on family memories in his statements following both deaths.
The blend of grief and royal duty influenced the quieter, more private lives some sisters later chose, a contrast to the visible role of Crown Princess Victoria today.
Marriage and a Shift from the Throne
Born on 2 June 1938, Princess Désirée carried a name honoring Sweden’s 19th century Queen Desideria. In 1964, she married Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld in Stockholm, choosing a partner from the Swedish nobility rather than a reigning royal house.
Under the rules governing the royal house at the time, the marriage meant she no longer used the style “Her Royal Highness” and stepped away from the line of succession, though she retained the title Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld. This change marked her transition into a private role.
From Koberg Castle in Västergötland, she and her husband raised 3 children and lived largely outside public life. Her path mirrored broader shifts toward a smaller working monarchy.
The Legacy of the Haga Princesses
In later life, Princess Désirée remained part of the extended royal family, attending select gatherings and maintaining close ties with her siblings and their descendants. As the King’s sister, she represented a link to an era when Sweden’s royal household included multiple public-facing princesses.
Today, the monarchy centers on King Carl XVI Gustaf and his children Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip, and Princess Madeleine, with Victoria serving as heir under absolute primogeniture introduced in 1980. As this modern structure continues, the deaths of Princess Birgitta and Princess Désirée highlight the passing of a generation that bridged mid-20th century royal life and the present.
Their lives, shaped by loss, marriage, and adaptation, help explain why Sweden’s monarchy now appears more focused and streamlined than during the era of the Haga Princesses.
Sources:
Swedish Royal Court Official Statement. Swedish Royal Court, January 21, 2026
Press Releases and Biography Pages. Kungahuset.se, 2024–2026
Sweden’s Act of Succession 1979:152. Riksdag, date published 1979
KLM Douglas DC-3 Crash At Kastrup Airport Records. Swedish National Archives, date published unknown
Princess Birgitta Death Coverage. Reuters, December 4, 2024