Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland
A Swedish prince who traded royal protocol for the roar of racing engines, forging a public identity as a champion of design and motorsport.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Swedish prince·Birthday: May 13·Generation X
Biography
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden carved out a space for himself that feels distinctly modern and hands-on. Born the heir to the throne, a change in the law made his older sister, Victoria, crown princess when he was just a baby. Freed from the weight of direct succession, he pursued his own passions with intensity. He is a skilled competitive driver, having raced in the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia and the Swedish GT Championship, often under the pseudonym 'Carl Philip Bernadotte.' His love for speed is matched by an eye for aesthetics; he studied graphic design and product design at college, and has worked professionally as a designer. He and his wife, Princess Sofia, a former model and reality TV contestant, represent a new generation of the Swedish monarchy—approachable, entrepreneurial, and focused on charitable work, particularly in support of children and people with disabilities. They live with their young family in Stockholm, balancing royal duty with a visibly normal family life.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Prince was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Prince Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Prince's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Competed professionally in the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia and the Swedish GT Championship.
- Graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from Forsbergs School of Design and studied Agricultural and Rural Management.
- Co-founded the Bernadotte & Kylberg design brand with Oscar Kylberg, creating homeware and furniture.
- Serves as the patron of the Swedish Sports Confederation for the Disabled and several other charities.
Did You Know?
He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting, fishing, and skiing.
For his racing career, he often used the alias 'Carl Philip Bernadotte' to maintain some privacy.
He and his wife, Princess Sofia, named their first son Alexander, breaking a long tradition of Swedish princes being named Carl.
He completed military service with the Amphibious Corps (Amfibiekåren) of the Swedish Navy.
“I prefer working with my hands in the workshop.”
