Wilhelmine Schröder
Encyclopedia
Wilhelmine Schröder was a Swedish telegraphist, writer, and journalist
, and was also the confidant and royal mistress of King Charles XV of Sweden
.
Wilhelmine Schröder was the daughter of a ruined land owner. She met Charles when she met him in an audience regarding a murder attempt of her father, who died a couple of years after the attempt. Charles fell in love with her and courted her for several years until 1869, when she agreed to a relationship on the condition that she remain financially independent and retain her job at the telegraph office in Hällestad
rather than being "kept" by him. She moved to Stockholm
when she tired of travelling between the cities, but took the same job in the capital, still refusing to be supported by Charles. Charles did, however, give her an apartment at Drottninggatan 72. She is described as having been independent, serious, and practical, though she had a great interest in the supernatural
and in spiritualism
. Charles was fascinated by her interests, discussed existential issues with her, and called her "a priestess of pure and holy love", with whom he sought "forgiveness for his sins". Their relationship lasted until Charles's death in 1872. Charles left his brother
, who succeeded him, with instructions that Schröder should be financially provided for after his death, but she continued to insist on her economic independence.
Schröder eventually became a journalist in the paper Hemmet. In 1902, she published a book about the supernatural, Från det fördolda. Borg- och folksagor ("From the Hidden: Castle- and folktales").
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, and was also the confidant and royal mistress of King Charles XV of Sweden
Charles XV of Sweden
Charles XV & IV also Carl ; Swedish and Norwegian: Karl was King of Sweden and Norway from 1859 until his death....
.
Wilhelmine Schröder was the daughter of a ruined land owner. She met Charles when she met him in an audience regarding a murder attempt of her father, who died a couple of years after the attempt. Charles fell in love with her and courted her for several years until 1869, when she agreed to a relationship on the condition that she remain financially independent and retain her job at the telegraph office in Hällestad
Hällestad
Hällestad is a locality situated in Finspång Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 357 inhabitants in 2005....
rather than being "kept" by him. She moved to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
when she tired of travelling between the cities, but took the same job in the capital, still refusing to be supported by Charles. Charles did, however, give her an apartment at Drottninggatan 72. She is described as having been independent, serious, and practical, though she had a great interest in the supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
and in spiritualism
Spiritualism
Spiritualism is a belief system or religion, postulating the belief that spirits of the dead residing in the spirit world have both the ability and the inclination to communicate with the living...
. Charles was fascinated by her interests, discussed existential issues with her, and called her "a priestess of pure and holy love", with whom he sought "forgiveness for his sins". Their relationship lasted until Charles's death in 1872. Charles left his brother
Oscar II of Sweden
Oscar II , baptised Oscar Fredrik was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death and King of Norway from 1872 until 1905. The third son of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg, he was a descendant of Gustav I of Sweden through his mother.-Early life:At his birth in Stockholm, Oscar...
, who succeeded him, with instructions that Schröder should be financially provided for after his death, but she continued to insist on her economic independence.
Schröder eventually became a journalist in the paper Hemmet. In 1902, she published a book about the supernatural, Från det fördolda. Borg- och folksagor ("From the Hidden: Castle- and folktales").