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Carl Gustav and Silvia of Sweden

Queen Silvia was born in Heidelberg, Germany on Dec. 23, 1943. She is the daughter of late German businessman Walther Sommerlath and his Brazilian wife Alice. Silvia's father was president of the Brazilian subsidiary of the Swedish steel-parts manufacturer Uddeholm Tooling after World War II.

During the 1972 Summer Olympics, Silvia Sommerlath met Crown Prince Carl Gustav of Sweden. After the death of King Gustaf VI Adolf on Sept. 15, 1973, Carl XVI Gustav was enthroned on September 19, 1973.

The King and Silvia on June 19, 1976 in the Stockholm Cathedral in Sweden. It was the first marriage of a reigning Swedish monarch since 1797. If he had married Silvia during the reign of his grandfather, King Gustav VI Adolf, he would have lost his position as heir to the Swedish throne. This was due to the inflexibility of his grandfather, who believed that royalty must marry royalty.

The King and Queen of Sweden have three children.