The Swedish aristocrat Gunilla von Bismarck has kicked off her summer in Marbella with a performance at Starlite and confesses her passion for backgammon, where she finds no rival.
Gunilla von Bismarck, the iconic muse of the Marbella jet set, has once again taken centre stage on the Costa del Sol. The Swedish aristocrat, known for her elegance and lifestyle, has confessed in an interview that her new great passion is backgammon, a board game in which, according to her, no one can beat her. "They have a hard time," she says with laughter, while boasting about organising games with friends in which she always comes out victorious.
The 'golden valkyrie', as she is known, remains a reference in Marbella's high society. Although she acknowledges that the Marbella of the golden years is no longer the same, Gunilla adapts to the new times and enjoys private parties and concerts. Just last Monday, she attended Ara Malikian's concert at Starlite, where some young people wondered who that elegantly dressed lady was. "My name still elevates 'The city of the song without an owner,'" she proudly states.
The aristocrat balances her life in Marbella with frequent trips to Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Part of her family resides in Germany, and there rests her husband, Luis, who passed away a few years ago. "I miss him. I no longer hear his fantastic ideas; I sometimes feel lonely without this companion on the road who meant everything to me," she confesses emotionally. However, Gunilla is starting to smile again and enjoys her role as a grandmother. "My grandchildren don't give me a break. These days, with football, we all still have our little Spanish flags up, they turn everything upside down. They love it when we play ping pong, and they always want to beat grandma," she shares with amusement.
One of the most emotional moments of the summer was the reunion with singer Miguel Ríos, who remembered Luis at Starlite. "It was the last concert Luis attended before he passed away, and it was very emotional. Miguel Ríos and they lived together and were very close friends," explains Gunilla. She also reveals that this autumn a documentary series about the 'Chorys', Luis's group of friends, will premiere, featuring images from his 50th birthday in Germany. "This way, many people will get to know him and see that there was no one like him," she points out.
Gunilla has also wanted to dispel the rumours linking her romantically with King Carl Gustav of Sweden. "The idea of our romance was made up. Nothing could be further from the truth: it was a hoax. We were always very close because we studied at the same school in Stockholm and have been friends forever," she clarifies. In fact, Queen Silvia is the godmother of her son Francisco, alongside Jaime de Mora.
The aristocrat continues to be an icon in Marbella, where her presence still attracts attention. At 70 years old, Gunilla proves that elegance and charisma never go out of fashion. Her life, marked by the loss of her husband, now focuses on family and enjoying the little pleasures, like a good game of backgammon. "You have to use imagination in the world so that it doesn't defeat us," she concludes.
On August 9, Gunilla is set to attend a gala at Starlite, where she will once again be one of the most prominent guests. In the meantime, she continues to organise private parties at her home in Marbella, where she gathers with lifelong friends. "This summer has been very generous to me. The trend of spectacular parties in private homes is back, with people from the old days coming to Marbella, even if they don't show themselves on the streets," she explains.
Gunilla von Bismarck, with her characteristic style, remains a symbol of Marbella's high society. Her legacy, forged alongside her husband Luis, endures in every corner of the city. Now, with backgammon as her new passion, the aristocrat shows that she still has much to offer.
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