Friday, August 3, 2012

(a sort of) Royal Engagement: Bernadotte-Manville




August 3, 1928

Miss Estelle Romaine Manville is engaged to Count Folke Bernadotte af Wisborg, reports the New York Times.   The engagement was announced by Miss Manville's parents, Mr.and Mrs. H. Edward Manville, at a dinner last night at their country home, Hi-Esmaro, in Pleasantville, New York.

Count Folke is a nephew of King Gustaf V of Sweden.   He is the second son of Prince Oscar Bernadotte, the king's eldest brother.
Miss Manville also has "distinguished ancestry." She is a descendant of Geoffrey de Magnavail of the Duchy of Magnavail in Normandy.  Geoffrey was one of William the Conqueror's allies "in the conquest of England.

She is also a descendant of John Manville, who emigrated to the United States in 1674.

Count Folke's father, Prince Oscar, lost his royal title and dynastic rights when he married a Swedish noblewoman, Ebba Munck. The Swedish constitution does not allow royal princes to marry commoners, and retain their rank.   He was created Prince Bernadotte and Count of Wisborg by his brother, King Gustav V.

Prince Oscar, a deeply religious man, is President of the Swedish YMCA.   His daughter Countess Elsa Bernadotte visited the United States four years ago at the time of the YMCA's convention.

The wedding will take place in November at the Manvilles' home in Pleasantville.

2 comments:

Victorianna said...

Thank you, Marlene for this interesting article. Did they ever marry?

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

oh yes, I have written several pots about them .. use the search box to look for other posts