Even without his title Prince Carl Philip of Sweden would attract plenty of attention. Dynamic, self-assured and bursting with energy, the royal has seen the design business that he started in 2012 under the professional name Carl Philip Bernadotte go from strength to strength.In fact, life couldn't be any sweeter for the son of King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia, who at 36, has also just celebrated the arrival of his first child with wife Princess Sofia, 31, on 19 April.
Prince Carl Philip has just welcomed his first son with wife Princess Sofia
Becoming a father has undoubtedly given the Prince even more impetus to expand the work of Bernadotte & Kylberg, his eponymous firm with partner Oscar Kylberg, whom he met at Forsbergs in Stockholm, a college well-known for graphic design.
Their collaboration came about after the dashing royal also spent a year at the Rhode Island School of Design in the US where, entering under a pseudonym, he won a competition to create a logo for the lighthouse at Martha's Vineyard.
The partners are so in tune creatively that they describe themselves as "one person with four eyes", according to German paper Frankfurter Allgemeine. Priding themselves on offering innovation and quality, the duo produce stylish down jackets, home furnishings and glassware, often inspired by the picturesque archipelago of their home city Stockholm and the ever-changing colours of the Baltic sea.
The royal couple married in 2015
"We both grew up by the sea," says the Prince, whose wedding celebrations with Sofia in 2015 featured a fairytale carriage ride around the magnificent harbour. "We love the sea and water sports. We are excited that the sea never looks the same, it is constantly changing."
A LOOK BACK AT PRINCE CARL PHILIP'S WEDDING TO SOFIA HELLQVIST
The Prince's other inspiration is his great-uncle Sigvard Bernadotte, a respected industrial designer who gave the world the Red Clara can opener, the EKA Swede 38 folding knife and the Bernadotte jug. The most iconic of his designs was the Margrethe mixing bowl, which to this day sits in homes across Europe and is named for his niece, who went on to become the Queen of Denmark.Bernadotte & Kylberg's own biggest success story has been a line of towels, bedspreads, pillows and carpets now sold in Ahlens, one of Sweden’s biggest department stores. Another coup is an award-winning collection of hand-finished aluminium and enamel bowls and vases, called Stockholm, which was a collaboration with Danish manufacturer Stelton. Meanwhile, their elegant wine glasses were featured in Forbes magazine's lifestyle section.Despite his royal heritage Carl Philip has been careful not to capitalise on his name. No information about his business activities appears on the palace website, nor is there any clue about his royal status in the company's promotional material.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince Carl Philip as a young boy with King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Princesses Victoria and Madeleine
Showing the courage of his convictions, the King's son is determined to plough his own furrow, just as he did in courting former reality TV star Sofia, despite media comments suggesting that she might not make a suitable royal bride. Time has proved him right, with the pretty brunette now recognised as a jewel in the Swedish crown and popular with the public for bringing such obvious happiness to their Prince.No one will be prouder of Bernadotte & Kylberg’s success than Carl Philip's wife, who describes him as "my best friend", adding: "He is the person I talk to the most. He's so smart and I feel so secure with him. "Ahead of their wedding he returned the compliment, saying: "I feel extremely confident, stable and balanced when Sofia is by my side."OTHER ROYAL SUCCESS STORIESPRINCESS MARIE-CHANTAL OF GREECEFifteen years after the American-born wife of Prince Pavlos created her Marie-Chantal Children clothing line to provide "affordable luxury", the company is thriving, with four shops and several concessions. Catering to the smart set, prices start at £65 and go up to £250. Beautiful pieces such as her signature 'angel' babygrow with wings on the back were inspired by her five cherubic children, who motivated her work in the first place. "My father [billionaire Robert Miller] taught me the discipline of an active professional life, which I have passed on to my children. I am very proud of that," she commented to HELLO!.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe mother-of-five and her family currently live in London
PRINCE FELIX OF LUXEMBOURGThe second in line to the throne of Luxembourg and his wife Princess Claire, of the Lademacher telecoms clan, have taken over her family's fairytale castle, Château Les Crostes in the fertile valleys of Provence, where they are producing award-winning wine and olive oil. Felix told HELLO!: "I've found the place where I feel I belong. I feel that my role in life was waiting for me."
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe royal and his wife welcomed a daughter in 2014
PRINCESS SIRIVANNAVARI OF THAILANDThe 29-year-old daughter of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn studied fashion at university in her native country. Princess Siri's intricate, beaded designs using brightly coloured brocades and silks marry Thai traditions with a modern look, often taking her impeccably turned out grandmother Queen Sirikit as an inspiration.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Thai princess is a regular at all the fashion weeks
PRINCE EMANUELE FILIBERTO OF SAVOYThe flamboyant grandson of the last King of Italy once worked in Switzerland as a banker. Now married to glamorous French actress Clothilde Courau, he won his country's version of Strictly Come Dancing before starting film production company Savoy and Gregory with an estimated £15 million in financing. Asked in an interview whether his title opens doors, the 43-year-old replied frankly: "It would be a lie to say it does not open doors, but if you don't have something interesting to sell or speak about, doors quickly close."
© Photo: Getty Images
