The future Crown Princess of Jutland entry to the world was an unremarkable one. Born in the early afternoon of September 13th 1975, she weighed an unremarkable 6 lbs, 10 oz. The only child of Charles and Renee Swan, she was taken home a few days later to her strictly middle class neighborhood and for the next 18 years, raised as any other American child. Her father, the Chief of Police for the small town of Forks, Washington and her mother, a sculptor, sent their daughter to the local elementary school and then on to the local high school. Bella, as she was known to friends and family, was a quiet girl. A good student, she studied hard and make excellent grades. She wasn't active in school sports, but she did have a small, but close circle of friends she could depend on.
"Because we were all from this small town, we didn't have much to do," remembers a high school classmate who asked to stay anonymous for this interview. "Most days were spent trying to keep dry. On nice days, we would all head to the beach. We didn't drink or do drugs, it was very much small town America. Most of the time, we were just bored."
Bella didn't seem to go through the rebellious stage of many teenagers. She kept her mind on her studies and planned to attend University upon graduating from high school. Social issues were always a concern of the young woman. Perhaps nurtured at an early age by her mother, Bella took up causes for those less fortunate.
"I remember one time in 5th grade, she held a bake sale for the local animal shelter. I remember thinking at the time it was really something for someone her age to take on. You don't see that often in children, the desire to help others. But it was always there with Bella. You just knew her future would be devoted to helping others." Bella's 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Susan Jones.
Thousands of miles away, The Crown Prince of Jutland, Edward Anthony Louis was beginning his stage of what the press dubbed "The Party Prince" when Bella was in 5th grade. Born June 20th, 1967, to His Majesty The King of Jutland Carlisle Louis Edward and Her Royal Highness The Queen Esme Anne. He was the 2nd child of the royal couple. His elder sister Rosalie Lillian was born in 1965, his younger sister, Mary Alice was born in 1971. Jutland was a male primogeniture country, which meant that the oldest male child was automatically ordained the Crown Prince. A referendum in 1980 brought along by the sweeping changes for women's equal rights changed this to accept all first born children of the Royal House, regardless of sex. It was not retroactive, which meant the current line of succession was not changed. However, for all future royal births to a Crown Royal, the act will count toward them.
The Crown Prince was a very handsome young man. With his bronze hair, emerald green eyes and chiseled features, his pictures and posters hung on the walls of many Jutland teen girls who could only hope to one day snag the handsome prince. At age 19, he was in his first year at Political Science studies at the University of Jutland. He was also undergoing his military training as is the norm for a young royal prince. His life was completely different growing up than that of his future wife.
"Everybody thinks how wonderful it would be to be a royal. But the truth of the matter is that all the palaces and money cannot make up for the years of missing your parents while they are away on official functions and having nannies fill the gap and having to conform to the standards of this office you are born into," the Duke of Gnudson , brother of King Carlisle, says. "It is an incredible amount of pressure to be under, all these expectations on your shoulders, the weight of the world literally on your shoulders and all you want to do is go out to a party or have fun. No one understands the weight of the office. It is a heavy burden to carry, that of being a future King of a country."
If his every move was being scrutinized by the Jutland press, the Crown Prince made sure to keep his coverage limited. He went out of his way to keep his activities private. As private as a Crown Prince can keep them. For the 4 years of his University studies and military training, the press was allowed photo opportunities that were only allowed by their Royal Highnesses, the King and Queen. Photo ops were scheduled and an agreement that the Prince was off limits for his University years allowed the Prince some anonymity. For the first and only time, he was allowed some semblance of a normal life.
"He was raised in a royal household yes, but his mother and father were very generous with their affection and they both made sure that all their children grew up in as normal a way as possible. The children were all sent to public schools." The Duke of Gnudson remembers. "Jutland is a very open country. We are also a very small country, just under 4 million Jutlanders live here. There are expectations that the Royal Family, while holding a lofty office, be something like everyone else."
We've all seen the photos of Queen Esme walking her children through the parks of Jutland's capital, or of the children riding bicycles to school. The way that Royal Family melds themselves to be almost normal citizens endears them to their countrymen. They hold high approval rates and Jutlanders hold their Royal Family in high regard. King Carlisle and his wife, Queen Esme are highly respected and beloved. They frequently hold poll ratings of above 90%, no small feat for anyone in a public position.
When King Carlisle came to the throne in 1974, his young, beautiful family captivated the whole population of Jutland. His father had died a revered King and the expectations on the young King were high. He has performed the job of his office well. Although he holds minimal political power, he is involved in the day to day functions of the Parliament and has final say on bills and laws. He has a monthly meeting, one day a week with his subjects. He has a constitutional obligation to hear out the concerns of the citizens of his land.
The 80's and 90's saw Prince Edward stumbling toward his role. He completed military training for all three branches of the Jutland Military. The press captured his every move with his various dates and speculated on his love life. By spring of 1992, Prince Edward was seeing a daughter of Danish nobleman. Ingrid Anderson was a beautiful blonde who was well educated and moved in the same circles as Edward. For almost two years they dated and rumors of an engagement grew.
"It was probably his most serious romance so far." Mette Berg, editor for Jutland's biggest tabloid, Billed Tag, says. " We were all waiting for the engagement announcement anytime the Council resumed. She had the looks, the background for the job. We all thought it would she would be the One."
But as we know now, it wasn't to be. In summer of 1994, Bella graduated from high school and in the fall of that year, started studies at The University of Washington in social work. What she didn't know then and what we all know now, is that a powerful force was about to be headed her way. One that would put her life directly in the path of the Crown Prince. With an amazing stroke of good luck and the knack for being in the right place and the right time, Isabella Marie Swan was about to set the course that would eventually lead to that August afternoon in 2003, when the whole of Jutland welcomed her as the future Crown Princess and eventually Queen,