Lennart Bernadotte

Prince Lennart Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg (born Prince Lennart of Sweden, Duke of Småland; 8 May 1909 – 21 December 2004) was a Swedish-German landscaper, filmmaker, photographer and was a grandson of King Gustaf V of Sweden. He was also the eldest great-grandchild of King George I of Greece.

He was born at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, to Prince Wilhelm, Duke of Södermanland, and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia. At birth Bernadotte was a Swedish prince and was titled Duke of Småland. In 1932, he married Karin Nissvandt, an unequal marriage, and thereafter ceased to be a Swedish dynast. Thus, he was called Mr. Bernadotte as a result. Nineteen years after he lost his Swedish royal titles, he was given titles of nobility in Luxembourg.

He published two memoirs: Käre prins, godnatt (1977) and Mainau min medelpunkt (1995).

Title

Lennart Bernadotte with his fiancée Karin Nissvandt (1911-1991) in 1932.

Bernadotte on his new yacht Stella Polaris at Gripsholm with grandson Friedrich Lennart Straehl, August, 1965

Under the Swedish Act of Succession, a prince or princess marrying without the consent of the monarch and government forfeits the right of succession for themselves and their descendants. In a new policy adopted in the case of Lennart Bernadotte, they were also forbidden to use their titles<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and told to use the surname of Bernadotte. By his marriage on 11 March 1932 Prince Lennart consequently, as far as Swedish records were concerned, was to be called Mr. Lennart Bernadotte.

He considered himself for several decades subjected to very cruel treatment from the Royal Court of Sweden due to his first marriage, and his wife developed a worsening psychosis from it which eventually led to their divorce in 1971.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Beginning in 1892, Swedish princes who lost their succession rights received noble titles conferred by other reigning monarchs. On 2 July 1951, for himself, his wife and his marital descendants, Bernadotte was admitted by Grand Duchess Charlotte (head of state at the time) into the nobility of Luxembourg as Count of Wisborg<ref name="OAF">Template:Cite book</ref> and in that conferral was also called Gustaf Lennart Nicolas Paul Prince Bernadotte.<ref>Mémorial du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg No 48, Government of Luxembourg, 13 August 1951, entry dated 18 July 1951</ref> Counts of Wisborg are considered to be part of the Swedish unintroduced nobility.<ref name="OAF"/>

It has been reported (without accuracy) that Lennart and his cousin Sigvard Bernadotte wanted King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden to restore their royal titles, which he could have done, but that he chose not to do so; no such request was actually ever made however.

Career

In 1944 Bernadotte portrayed the young Crown Prince Carl of Sweden and Norway in the historical film Prince Gustaf, Bernadotte's only screen acting role. He served as head of the Sveriges Scoutförbund (Scouting Association of Sweden) from 1948 to 1951<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Lennart Bernadotte concentrated his energy on his estate on the island of Mainau in Lake Constance, Germany, where he died, and on his charitable fund, the Lennart Bernadotte Stiftung. He was considered a major gardening and landscaping talent and expert and turned his island into a popular tourist attraction.

He inspired the Green Charter of Mainau, which then became the template for the International Ski Federation's Mainau Forums and Mainau Manifesto's and the sports commitment to the environment and climate change.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He received the Eduard Rhein Ring of Honor from the German Eduard Rhein Foundation in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Family

In London on 11 March 1932, Bernadotte married firstly Karin Emma Louise Nissvandt (7 July 1911 – 9 September 1991). They had four children before divorcing in December 1971: Birgitta (1933), Marie-Louise (1935-1988), Jan (1941-2021),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Cecilia (1944-2024).

In Mainau on 29 April 1972, Bernadotte married Sonja Anita Maria Haunz (7 May 1944 – 21 October 2008). They had five children: Bettina (1974), Björn (1975), Catherine (1977), Christian (1979), and Diana (1982).

Bernadotte died on 21 December 2004. His remains, and four years later those of his second wife, were interred in a crypt under the palace chapel on Mainau. His first wife's remains were buried in his father's grave in Flen.

Honours and arms

Orders and decorations

• Template:Flagicon Knight of the Order of Charles XIII (8 May 1909)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Template:Flagicon Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star (10 April 1952)<ref name="Sköldenberg (1969), p. 150">Template:Cite book</ref>
• Template:Flagicon King Gustaf V's Jubilee Commemorative Medal (1928)<ref name="Sköldenberg (1969), p. 150"/>
• Template:Flagicon King Gustaf V's Jubilee Commemorative Medal II (1948)<ref name="Sköldenberg (1969), p. 150"/>
• Template:Flagicon Knight of the Order of Vasa<ref name="Sköldenberg (1969), p. 150"/>

Arms

• 
  Lennart's coat of arms as prince of Sweden
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  Arms of the Counts of Wisborg<ref name="OAF"/>
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  Arms as described by the Government of Luxembourg for Princes and Princesses Bernadotte in 1951