The Swansea girl who became a Swedish princess
Tributes have been paid to Princess Lilian, both in Scandinavia and in Swansea where she was born, after her death at the age of 97.
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Image of Princess Lilian 'will stay for a long, long time'
Carl Otto Werkelid, the Cultural Affairs Counsellor at the Swedish Embassy, told our presenter Andrea Byrne that Princess Lilian made a great contribution to Swedish society, and her style and beauty will live long in the memory.
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Princess Lilian on being part of Sweden's royal family
These clips show Princess Lilian of Sweden and her husband Prince Bertil describing their sadness at not being able to have children together, but her happiness at becoming part of the extended royal family in Sweden.
Princess Lilian 'remained proud of her Swansea links'
– Cllr Dennis James, Lord Mayor of SwanseaPrincess Lilian was one of Swansea’s most famous daughters.
Despite moving to London as a 16-year-old and then to Sweden, she remained proud of her Swansea links and this helped raise the city’s profile across Scandinavia and the rest of the world.
Her relationship with Prince Bertil was one of Sweden’s most enduring and best-known love stories.
This is a time both to mourn her passing and celebrate her 97-year life.
On behalf of the City and County of Swansea, I’d like to send my condolences to her family and friends.
Sweden 'truly sad' at Princess Lilian's death
Princess Lilian's death has been met with a great deal of sadness in Sweden, where she was a central member of the royal family.
Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt took to Twitter to say: "We feel truly sad for passing away of Princess Lilian. She was a most pleasant and truly wise person. She served her family and Sweden."
Swedish English-language news website The Local described her as "much loved", and "the grand old lady of the Swedish royal family".
Lilian's cousin: Princess was 'a credit to Swansea'
Princess Lilian was "a credit to Swansea", her first cousin Barbara Davies, who was also born in the city, told ITV News.
"She had an exciting life. While living in Stockholm, she did have a degree of privacy."
"From my conversations with people in Sweden they were in high praise of her conduct."
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One of Sweden's best-known love stories
Princess Lilian’s decades-long love story with the king's uncle was one of Sweden's best-known love stories.
She died yesterday aged 97 after an eventful life:
- Born in Swansea, she moved to London at 16 to embark on a career as a model and an actress
- She showcased hats and gloves in commercials
- She met Prince Bertil in 1943 during WWII – he was stationed at the Swedish Embassy in the London as a naval attaché
- His obligations to the throne and Lilian's status as a divorced commoner prevented them from making their love public
- In 1976, some 33 years after they first met, they were finally given approval to get married
Lilian - the Welsh commoner who became Swedish royalty
Princess Lilian and Prince Bertil finally married in 1976, following a relationship of more than thirty years.
Bertil's father, King Gustaf VI Adolf, had ordered him to abstain from marrying commoner Lilian.
The couple were finally give royal approval to marry by King Carl XVI Gustaf, who took the throne in 1976.
Swansea-born Princess Lilian of Sweden dies
Princess Lilian of Sweden, who was born in Wales, has died at age of 97.
She met Sweden's Prince Bertil in London during the Second World War, although they did not marry until 1976.
She was born Lillian Davies in Swansea in 1915.
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