28/2/1912 - 5/1/1997
Record updated 04-Jan-07
Prince Bertil of Sweden was a tremendous athlete in his youth, specializing in track and field. In the 1930's he successfully competed in motor racing. His interest in Motor Sport is honoured by Princess Lilian through the presenting of medals at the Royal Swedish Automobile Club's annual meeting and the trophies at the annual Prince Bertil Memorial Race at Djurgården in Stockholm.
Prince Bertil of Sweden, Bertil Gustaf Oskar Carl Eugén Duke of Halland, was the third son of King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden and his first wife, Princess Margaret of Connaught.
In his youth the Prince was a tremendous athlete, specializing in track and field. His standing high jump was just 1 1/2" short of the world record at that time. He was twice Swedish Junior Speed Skating Champion. In the 1930's he successfully competed in motor racing. His sporting interests also included golf, where his handicap was 12.
After his eldest brother Gustaf Adolf had died in 1947, leaving a less than one-year-old son, and every other heir to the throne had lost their right to it due to untolerated marriages, it seemed likely that Bertil would one day become Regent. For this reason, Bertil chose not to marry Lilian Davies, who was Welsh, as that would violate his succession. However, his father lived long enough for Bertil's nephew Carl XVI Gustaf to achieve full age, and under the views of the new King, he was permitted to marry her, and did so on December 7, 1976. Still first in line to the throne until the birth of Crown Prince Carl Philip in 1979, Bertil continued to be the King's deputy.
Princess Lilian shared her husband´s interest in sports. Prince Bertil was Chairman of the Swedish Sports Confederation for 44 years (1947-91). After his death, Princess Lilian took over many of his honorary duties.
Every year she distributes grants from the “Prince Bertil and Princess Lilian's Sports Foundation". The purpose of the foundation is to promote Swedish sport through grants to leaders and instructors towards their further education and distributes grants at the Friends of the Swedish Sports Confederation's annual meeting.
Prince Bertil's interest in Motor Sport is honoured by Princess Lilian through her distribution of medals at the Royal Swedish Automobile Club's annual meeting. She also presents the trophies at the annual Prince Bertil Memorial Race at Djurgården in Stockholm and at the Stockholm Open international tennis competition.