gustaf vi was the eldest son of gustaf v and his wife, victoria of baden. before becoming king he had been crown prince of sweden. during this long period of time he became a scholar and an archaeologist. he was also a well regarded expert on chinese art. at his death he left his large collection of chinese art to the museum of far eastern antiquities ("östasiatiska museet") in stockholm, sweden. in world war ii gustaf, as crown prince, spoke out publicly against sending jews to auschwitz. this was after the public learned of the extermination camps in germany. he was the last king to rule under a constitutional monarchy with any power. gustaf vi died in 1973. his grandson, carl xvi gustaf, succeeded him as king.