Count Jan Bernadotte, the Much-Married Cousin of Sweden's King, Turns 80

Count Jan Bernadotte af Wisborg.

On 9 January 1941, Count Carl Johan "Jan" Gustaf Vilhelm Bernadotte af Wisborg was born at Stockholm. He was the son of Count Lennart Bernadotte af Wisborg (1909-2004; born Prince Lennart of Sweden) and his first wife Karin Nissvandt (1911-1991). Count Jan's paternal grandparents were Prince Wilhelm of Sweden (1884-1965), Duke of Södermanland, and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia (1890-1958). Count Jan Bernadotte is the second cousin of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

Count Jan Benadotte and his first wife Gunilla Stampe.

Count Jan Bernadotte and his second wife Anna Skarne.
Photograph (c) Getty Images.

Count Jan Bernadotte and his seventh and current wife Gunilla Stenfors.

Photograph (c) Svenskdam.

The count is well-known to royal genealogists for his reputation as the "Elizabeth Taylor" of the Gotha. Jan has been married seven times. From 1965 until their divorce in 1967, Jan Bernadotte was the husband of Gunilla Stampe (1941-2010). From 1967 until their divorce in 1970, Jan was the spouse of Anna Skarne (b.1944). From 1972 until 1974, the count was married to Annegret Thomssen (b.1938). From 1974 until 1987, Jan was married to Maritta Berg (1953-2001). From 1993 until their divorce in 2004, Jan Bernadotte was the husband of Gabrielle Kick (b.1949; née Hess). From 2004 until their divorce in 2011, the count was married to Christiane Grandmontagne (b.1944), a former partner of Prince Christian-Sigismund of Prussia. Finally, in 2012, Count Jan Bernadotte wed Gunilla Stenfors (b.1957), a teacher. 

Count Jan Bernadotte.

Count Jan Bernadotte has four children, two daughters and two sons. From his second marriage to Anna Skarne, Jan has a daughter, Countess Sophia Magdalena Bernadotte af Wisborg (b.1968). From his third marriage to Annegret Thomssen, Jan has a daughter, Countess Cia-Rosemarie Bernadotte af Wisborg (b.1972). From his fourth marriage to Maritta Berg, Jan has two sons, Count Alexander Wilhelm Bernadotte af Wisborg (b.1977) and Count Stephan Bernadotte af Wisborg (b.1980).


Our best regards to Count Jan on his birthday!

 

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