Christopher O' Neill turns 50 - His new life in Sweden
The husband of Princess Madeleine (42) is an exotic figure in the Swedish royal family: Christopher "Chris" O'Neill (50) belongs to the royal family but did not enter the service of the crown after marrying in 2013. He continues to work as a businessman, renounces royal titles and Swedish citizenship. The majority of their relationship was spent outside their wife's homeland, where Madeleine ranks eighth in the line of succession. The family lived in New York, London, and since 2018 in Miami, Florida. Now, on his 50th birthday, they are moving to Stockholm. This could be a big adjustment for the freedom-loving O'Neill.
Balancing public and private
In fact, the family is moving back more into the focus of Swedish public life - and up until now, it seemed that the London-born O'Neill was not particularly fond of this. In recent years, he could live quite undisturbed with his loved ones in the USA and only appear at a few select engagements. He often emphasized that he sees himself more as a private person than a public figure. Since he is not a member of the court, he does not receive an allowance and does not assume official duties. However, as the husband of the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf (78) and Queen Silvia (80), there is naturally some interest in him from the public.
This balancing act is now likely to be one of his main tasks in the coming period. "Given that my family is moving to Sweden, it is important for me to reconcile my career - which is a private matter - with the fact that I am married to Princess Madeleine," he explained at the end of May 2024 in a statement to the newspaper "Expressen". At the same time, he prepared Sweden for the fact that he would likely continue to travel frequently abroad for work. "I plan to have my main office in Stockholm, but I will travel as much as my job requires." Together with two friends, he has already founded a Swedish company in Stockholm that deals with financial consulting in the field of "alternative investments".
He is expected to attend the Victoriatag
Meanwhile, there is much speculation in Swedish media about when the son of an Irish-American investment banker and a native Austrian will be seen in his new homeland Sweden for the first time. Madeleine and their children, Princess Leonore (10), Prince Nicolas (9), and Princess Adrienne (6), have already flown to Sweden on June 13. O'Neill is expected to follow shortly. The head of the information department of the court, Margareta Thorgren, informed the Swedish magazine "Svensk Damtidning" that he will celebrate his 50th birthday in Sweden "privately with his family".
His first public appearance could then be on July 14, the 46th birthday of Madeleine's elder sister, Crown Princess Victoria. The Victoriatag is traditionally grandly celebrated - and Chris O'Neill is listed in the official calendar of the royal court for the occasion. Otherwise, it seems that the businessman will have to wait a while before he is allowed to settle in Sweden. The royal family currently has extensive summer vacations planned, which they will spend mainly on Öland and Solliden.
- Christopher O'Neill, originally from London, has spent the majority of his married life with Princess Madeleine outside of Sweden, where she ranks eighth in the line of succession to the Swedish throne.
- After living in New York and London, the O'Neill family moved to Miami, Florida, in 2018.
- Now, as Christopher O'Neill turns 50, the family is moving back to Stockholm, which could be a significant adjustment for him.
- Chris O'Neill, who is not a member of the Swedish court, does not receive an allowance and does not assume official duties, but is expected to reconcile his career with his role as the husband of Princess Madeleine.
- The husband of Princess Madeleine is an exotic figure in the Swedish royal family, having renounced royal titles and Swedish citizenship after marrying in 2013.
- Madeleine and their children, Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas, and Princess Adrienne, have already flown to Sweden, and O'Neill is expected to follow shortly for his 50th birthday celebration.
- There is much speculation in Swedish media about when Chris O'Neill will be seen in Sweden for the first time since he renounced his royal titles.
- The son of an Irish-American investment banker and a native Austrian, Chris O'Neill founded a Swedish company in Stockholm that deals with financial consulting in the field of "alternative investments".
- Chris O'Neill has often emphasized that he sees himself more as a private person than a public figure, but as the husband of a member of the Swedish royal family, there is natural interest in him from the public.
- The O'Neills' move back to Sweden comes at a time when Madeleine's elder sister, Crown Princess Victoria, is planning her 46th birthday celebration, known as the Victoriatag, which Chris O'Neill is listed in the official calendar to attend.
