Prince Gustav, Nephew of Queen Margrethe II, Announces Impending Birth of Son

Congratulations to His Serene Highness Prince Gustav of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and his wife, Carina Axelsson for the impending arrival of their first child, reportedly a son, through surrogacy. 

Berleburg Castle, the official home of Prince Gustav in Germany, also released a statement that "Prince Gustav and Princess Carina are very grateful for this opportunity (of having a son) and thank everyone involved to find a legal path to follow (in surrogacy)".

The couple, both 54, got married in June last year, after 19 years of fighting for their love to be legalized. The prince is the only son of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's younger sister, Princess Benedikte. His father was Prince Richard, the 6th Prince of Sayn-Wettgenstein-Berleburg, who died in 2017.

Grandchildren of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark. From left: Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark, Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark, Princess Natalie of Sayn-Wettgenstein-Berleburg, Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wettgenstein-Berleburg, Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark, Prince Gustav, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, and Prince Joachim of Denmark 

Following his father's death, Prince Gustav inherited the title and became the 7th Prince of Sayn-Wettgenstein-Berleburg. However, he was prevented to claim his family's estate by the provisions in the Will of Testament left by his grandfather, Prince Gustav Albrecht.

The same provisions that prevented him from marrying Carina Axelsson because she is a non-aristocractic commoner. So they lived together for almost 20 years uncertain of what fate awaited them. However, Prince Gustav continues to fight for their love.

Prince Gustav and Carina Axelsson attend the wedding of his cousin, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

True Love Waits! 

The relationship between Prince Gustav and Carina Axelsson is one fascinating story to tell. Their royal love story is not the first to emerge in papers about a prince falling in love with a woman not born of royal or aristocratic blood, however, their love story is the only known case in the 21st European monarchy where a prince withheld his marriage plan due to complex marriage requirements to legally inherit his family estates. 

Prince Gustav married his long time partner in June 2022

There were precedents in the past, most notably his Swedish royal uncles, who lost their princely titles and inheritance due to inappropriate marriages by royal standards. However, Prince Gustav's case is different because his father's relatives were fighting to disinherit him for not meeting the requirements of his grandfather's Will.

Relatives contested the inheritance will and asked the German court to settle who will be the right heir. Only in June 2020 that the dispute was settled and declared Prince Gustav the rightful heir.

READ Related story: Prince Gustav and Carina Axelsson's nearly two decades of fighting for their love

The Prince and Princess of Sayn-Wettgenstein-Berlebrg

This paved the way for his plan to marry his longtime partner. Carina Axelsson. Although, this decision raised more concerns, as those relatives might still challenge him in court due to the clause in his grandfather's will about marriage, the impending birth of a son means his title would certainly never go to a male cousin.

Congratulations to Prince Gustav and Princess Carina for this good news!