14 Facts About Lennart Bernadotte

Lennart Bernadotte was the eldest great-grandchild of King George I of Greece.

Lennart Bernadotte was born at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, to Prince Wilhelm, Duke of Sodermanland, and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia.

At birth Bernadotte was a Swedish prince and was titled Duke of Smaland.

Lennart Bernadotte published two memoirs: Kare prins, godnatt and Mainau min medelpunkt.

Lennart Bernadotte considered himself for several decades subjected to very cruel treatment from the Royal Court of Sweden due to his first marriage, and his wife developed a worsening psychosis from it which eventually led to their divorce in 1971.

In 1944 Lennart Bernadotte portrayed the young Crown Prince Carl of Sweden and Norway in the historical film Prince Gustaf, Lennart Bernadotte's only screen acting role.

Lennart Bernadotte served as head of the Sveriges Scoutforbund from 1948 to 1951.

Lennart Bernadotte concentrated his energy on his estate on the island of Mainau in Lake Constance, Germany, where he died, and on his charitable fund, the Lennart Bernadotte Stiftung.

Lennart Bernadotte was considered a major gardening and landscaping talent and expert and turned his island into a popular tourist attraction.

Lennart Bernadotte inspired the Green Charter of Mainau, which then became the template for the International Ski Federation's Mainau Forums and Mainau Manifesto's and the sports commitment to the environment and climate change.

Lennart Bernadotte received the Eduard Rhein Ring of Honor from the German Eduard Rhein Foundation in 1996.

In London on 11 March 1932 Lennart Bernadotte married firstly Karin Emma Louise Nissvandt.

In Mainau on 29 April 1972 Lennart Bernadotte married Sonja Anita Maria Haunz.

Lennart Bernadotte's remains, and four years later those of his second wife, were interred in a crypt under the palace chapel on Mainau.