Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar News Part 1: June 2016 - December 2023

[HereditaryPrincess]

It's nice to hear about Estelle from another member of the SRF. I'll put the interview on my mental "to watch" list - thank you for sharing, LadyFinn.

 

[LadyFinn]

Svensk Damtidning tells about Estelle's dance classes at Base23 dance school. Until now she has gone to the basic dance course in "BaseKids". But now she has been able to choose specialization to the next term, starting in January. The children can choose preparatory ballet, preparatory Showjazz, preparatory hip hop or Michael Jackson course.
- Princess Estelle has chosen jazz dance, says a source to Svensk Damtidning.
At BaseKids Showjazz the children practice dancing jazz dance to many different music styles such as musical, pop, rock and hip hop. They practice coordination and musicality.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

Thanks for sharing, LadyFinn. Cute to hear that Estelle has chosen jazz.

 

[LadyFinn]

The court has updated Estelle's and Oscar's pages at the website with a new photo, taken by Erika Gerdemark.
H.K.H. Prinsessan Estelle - Sveriges Kungahus
Biografi - Sveriges Kungahus

H.K.H. Prins Oscar - Sveriges Kungahus
Biografi - Sveriges Kungahus

Nya bilder på prins Oscar och prinsessan Estelle _ Kungligt _ Expressen

TV4 News had a short clip about the new photos of Estelle and Oscar
Här är nya bilderna på kungabarnen Estelle och Oscar

Sketch based on the newest photos of Estelle and Oscar.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbrj8ZLD9lF/?taken-by=ms.forester

 

[M. Payton]

What beautiful children and Princess Estelle is becoming one very gorgeous young lady. And it seems like yesterday that I watched her parents get married and leave for a honeymoon.......and Oscar has the looks already at this age of someone very strong and determined.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

Oh my goodness, I adore the new photos of Estelle and Oscar! Estelle looks a lot like her aunt Madeleine in the new photo, which is a connection I haven't really made before. I thought her hair would darken but it seems as if she is going to stay blonde for a little longer because she has fair eyebrows too. Oscar looks like such a little man now! So cute. The photos are beautifully taken too.

 

[Lady Nimue]

Nice pictures. Estelle is looking lovely in that long blond hair.

Oscar is resembling his father to my eye. He has Daniel's eyes.

 

[Countessmeout]

Wow they are both growing up.

Estelle looks so cute with her long blonde hair. Even in photos, so spirited

Oscar is turning into a real little man now. Handsome, showing some of dad.

 

[LadyFinn]

About Estelle and Oscar in Frau im Spiegel
Image Upper.com - Free Image Hosting - View Image

A beautiful painting of Estelle, made by talented artist Gabriella Norum, based in Stockholm area. Acrylic paint on canvas.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdVUutTF5Mr/?taken-by=norumgabriella

Swedish Gala Magazine's favourite photos of Estelle in 2017.
GALAs favoritbilder på prinsessan Estelle från året som gått

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

That is indeed a beautiful portrait, thank you for sharing LadyFinn. It looks really realistic.

 

[Countessmeout]

Wow lovely job by the artist

 

[M. Payton]

That is indeed one very gorgeous painting of Princess Estelle, very life like in many ways. What a beautiful young lady she is...

 

[princess gertrude]

A beautiful painting of Estelle, made by talented artist Gabriella Norum, based in Stockholm area. Acrylic paint on canvas.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdVUutTF5Mr/?taken-by=norumgabriella

The portrait is stunning. So lifelike and accurate. The artist is brilliantly talented.

 

[M. Payton]

Princess Estelle is a real stunning beauty even at this age, you can tell that she is going to be extremely gorgeous as she gets older. And already she is showing her self-confidence and strength of character.......

 

[LadyFinn]

Svenska Dagbladet Svd uses Estelle's photo at their article
"Children who make house work become more successful"
There are only a few children who will jump out of joy if you ask them to help with the dishes or clean more than their own room. But now, researcher and author Julie Lythcott-Haims tells that children that make house work simply become more successful.
Barn som gör hemmasysslor blir mer framgångsrika _ SvD Perfect Guide

Estelle in 2017
https://78.media.tumblr.com/64e6072ea9b38cb32f72865f00cb1712/tumblr_p1k7ijC6Yz1turje1o1_500.png

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

Thanks for sharing LadyFinn - I always like seeing yearly compilations as it makes me see how much little Estelle has grown! I can't believe she'll be six next month. Will she be starting school this year?

 

[LadyFinn]

Thanks for sharing LadyFinn - I always like seeing yearly compilations as it makes me see how much little Estelle has grown! I can't believe she'll be six next month. Will she be starting school this year?

Estelle will go to the preschool class (förskoleklass).
From the age of 6 children have the right to start in the preschool class. The preschool class is a school form in its own right with a large element of creative work and play. The preschool class is a voluntary school form, which the majority of six-year-olds in Sweden attend.
What is a preschool class

School attendance is compulsory for all children resident in Sweden. Children are required to attend school from the autumn term in the year they reach the age of 7, and the main rule is that compulsory school attendance ceases at the end of the spring term in the 9th year (10th year in the special school). In Sweden most children begin their first year at school in the autumn term when they reach the age of 7.
Compulsory school

Painting of Estelle in oil by Linn Danneman
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bds5JOUDiUk/?taken-by=l.m.dannemans.konst
Made of this official photo the court published on Estelle's first Christmas
https://www.kungahuset.se/images/20...rt_Sweden_Photo_Kate_Gabor_December_2012_.jpg

Svensk Damtidning writes that Victoria and Daniel have chosen Djurgårdsskolan as the school where Estelle goes to her preschool class. More about this at their paper issue.
Här ska prinsessan Estelle gå i skolan _ Svensk Damtidning

Because of Svensk Damtidning's article, Expressen has called Margareta Thorgren.
Margareta Thorgren said to Expressen that Victoria and Daniel have not decided the school yet. Princess Estelle will go to a preschool class, that is a fact. But no decisions about the school have been made, said Thorgren.
A person close to the family says the same and that Victoria and Daniel are interested in many schools. According to Expressen's information Victoria and Daniel have in the evenings visited many schools, among them Fredrikshovsskolan, Djurgårdsskolan and Christinaskolan.
Kronprinsessan Victoria letar förskola åt prinsessan Estelle _ Kungligt _ Expressen

We could see in Ockelbo, that Estelle has lost a tooth.
Image Upper.com - Free Image Hosting - View Image

 

[Countessmeout]

Reminded of the school differences. Majority of children here start at 5, though kindergarten isn't mandatory (some kids do pre-school before). 6 is mandatory, by seven you would be in your second year of mandatory school (grade 2).

I still remember the photos of Estelle on her first days of nursery school. She definitely had no fear

 

[Mbruno]

Svensk Damtidning writes that Victoria and Daniel have chosen Djurgårdsskolan as the school where Estelle goes to her preschool class. More about this at their paper issue.
Här ska prinsessan Estelle gå i skolan _ Svensk Damtidning

Because of Svensk Damtidning's article, Expressen has called Margareta Thorgren.
Margareta Thorgren said to Expressen that Victoria and Daniel have not decided the school yet. Princess Estelle will go to a preschool class, that is a fact. But no decisions about the school have been made, said Thorgren.
A person close to the family says the same and that Victoria and Daniel are interested in many schools. According to Expressen's information Victoria and Daniel have in the evenings visited many schools, among them Fredrikshovsskolan, Djurgårdsskolan and Christinaskolan.
Kronprinsessan Victoria letar förskola åt prinsessan Estelle _ Kungligt _ Expressen

Is preschool compulsory in Sweden ? I would assume it is not, but most children normally attend it these days ?

I also assume all the aforementioned schools must be public (i.e state) schools. Is that correct ?

 

[JR76]

Is preschool compulsory in Sweden ? I would assume it is not, but most children normally attend it these days ?

I also assume all the aforementioned schools must be public (i.e state) schools. Is that correct ?

Preschool have been made compulsory from the autumn semester of 2018.
All the three schools mentioned in the post are private schools.

 

[Iolanthe]

All the three schools mentioned in the post are private schools.

I always automatically expected Estelle and Osar to attend public/state schools - like the DRF-children (and at first also the NRF children). Did the Swedish press ever speculate about the kind of school the children will attend (before the speculations at the moment)?
Did Victoria and her siblings attend private schools? How popular/common are private schools in Sweden? I would have guessed that there aren't that many private schools (due to a good (public) education system). Do you or other Swedish members think that a private school will be critisized by the media and public?

 

[Countessmeout]

Upper class families with money often choose to send their kids to private schools. Why should royals be any different?

Only Fred and Mary send their kids to public school. Joachim's kids attended/attend private school. The older two attended Krebs like their dad and uncle, Nikolai later going to boarding school. The younger two attend a private catholic school. Like the Dutch royal children, the Norweigan kids started out in public and transferred to private school. The Spanish, Belgian and British kids attend private schools.

Victoria and her siblings did both. They spent their early years in municipal schools, and later years in private schools.

 

[Iolanthe]

Upper class families with money often choose to send their kids to private schools. Why should royals be any different?

Only Fred and Mary send their kids to public school. Joachim's kids attended/attend private school. The older two attended Krebs like their dad and uncle, Nikolai later going to boarding school. The younger two attend a private catholic school. Like the Dutch royal children, the Norweigan kids started out in public and transferred to private school. The Spanish, Belgian and British kids attend private schools.

Victoria and her siblings did both. They spent their early years in municipal schools, and later years in private schools.

Thanks, Countessmeout
I am not judging anyones school choice (escpecially not in a country I don't really know well), I just want to understand the choices and possible (public) expectations and reactions.

But as you yourself stated the children of both other Scandinavian CP couples initially went to state/public schools. (BTW - the school Amalia is attending now is not what I would call a private school in most other countries.) I just expected Victoria and Daniel to make the same decision. And especially when Victoria started at a public school herself I wonder why she would choose a different path for her daughter (if she really does). I am not saying that there can't be good reasons for different choices/private schools.

If German politicans who advocate public schools send their children to private schools, that is more often critisized by the media than not. I am just courious about the situation in Sweden and always assumed it would be similar - but now I'm wondering if that was a wrong assumption.

 

[camelot23ca]

Thanks, Countessmeout
I am not judging anyones school choice (escpecially not in a country I don't really know well), I just want to understand the choices and possible (public) expectations and reactions.

But as you yourself stated the children of both other Scandinavian CP couples initially went to state/public schools. (BTW - the school Amalia is attending now is not what I would call a private school in most other countries.) I just expected Victoria and Daniel to make the same decision. And especially when Victoria started at a public school herself I wonder why she would choose a different path for her daughter (if she really does). I am not saying that there can't be good reasons for different choices/private schools.

If German politicans who advocate public schools send their children to private schools, that is more often critisized by the media than not. I am just courious about the situation in Sweden and always assumed it would be similar - but now I'm wondering if that was a wrong assumption.

Maybe the private schools would be easier from a security or logistical standpoint? Or easier to make and enforce rules about the privacy of well known pupils? But I think the most likely scenario is just that many, (most?), of the families that make up their group of friends will have their children in private schools and that’s the environment they’re most comfortable with.

I think the public schools the Danish and Dutch royal kids attended are quite elite in that they draw from a financially privileged and well educated population base. I’m sure a hypothetical public school for Estelle would be similar.

It’s hard to believe she’s old enough for any type of school!

 

[Mbruno]

Thanks, Countessmeout
I am not judging anyones school choice (escpecially not in a country I don't really know well), I just want to understand the choices and possible (public) expectations and reactions.

But as you yourself stated the children of both other Scandinavian CP couples initially went to state/public schools. (BTW - the school Amalia is attending now is not what I would call a private school in most other countries.) I just expected Victoria and Daniel to make the same decision. And especially when Victoria started at a public school herself I wonder why she would choose a different path for her daughter (if she really does). I am not saying that there can't be good reasons for different choices/private schools.

If German politicans who advocate public schools send their children to private schools, that is more often critisized by the media than not. I am just courious about the situation in Sweden and always assumed it would be similar - but now I'm wondering if that was a wrong assumption.

I don't think that is an issue in the UK because most, if not all children from upper class or even upper middle-class families in the UK go to private schools, and private schools are far more common in the UK than in the continent. In fact, I suppose it would be unthinkable for any member of the British Royal Family to attend a state school.

On the other hand, since Sweden is a country with a socialist tradition and since Victoria herself went initially to a state school, I assumed Estelle would do the same, but I guess I was wrong. However, the royals are not politicians who, as you said, could be caught in a contradiction of defending the quality of public school while sending their kids to private ones. I don't see then why it should be controversial if they sent their kids to a fee-paying school, unless someone complains of course that the school is being somehow paid out of the King's apanage. That type of criticism would be quite silly though as the apanage (as the name itself implies) is also meant to pay for the maintenance of the King's and the heir's families since they are prevented from holding any other job that pays a salary.

 

[JR76]

Every child in Sweden receives a sum of money from their community that goes to finance their education. There are state guidelines but in general the community decides how big that sum is. This sum is payed out to whatever school they choose. The three schools above are so called friskolor "free schools" and run by different foundations although some free schools are run as businesses. Free schools are not allowed any fees besides the individual sum from the community.
The business run schools & business run care facilities, hospitals etc are at the moment a big issue in Swedish politics with the views of the politicians divided by party lines but in the general public about 75% of the public is against running schools for profit.
Besides that putting your child in a free school is not uncommon in Sweden and mostly uncontroversial.
20% of kids attending preschool are in a free school, 15% are in primary free school & 25% are in high (16-19 years) free schools.

 

[Mbruno]

Every child in Sweden receives a sum of money from their community that goes to finance their education. There are state guidelines but in general the community decides how big that sum is. This sum is payed out to whatever school they choose. The three schools above are so called friskolor "free schools" and run by different foundations although some free schools are run as businesses. Free schools are not allowed any fees besides the individual sum from the community.
The business run schools & business run care facilities, hospitals etc are at the moment a big issue in Swedish politics with the views of the politicians divided by party lines but in the general public about 75% of the public is against running schools for profit.
Besides that putting your child in a free school is not uncommon in Sweden and mostly uncontroversial.
20% of kids attending preschool are in a free school, 15% are in primary free school & 25% are in high (16-19 years) free schools.

Thanks, JR76. Your information changes the debate considerably.

So, if I understand it correctly, the 3 aforementioned schools are not state schools, but they don't charge fees directly to parents either. Instead, fees (or the equivalent thereto) are paid for by this so-called "community sum", which I assume, must be funded from local taxes, right ? In that situation, it looks to me like a government subsidy to parents who want to send their kids to not-for-profit private schools. Do those so-called "free schools" have selective admission though ?

In the United States and in many other countries, public schools (state schools for the Brits) are not selective, except some specialized schools that have separate programs in fine arts or sciences for example. The general rule, however, is that anyone can enroll at a local public school as long as the child is a resident of the school's designated catchment area. How does it work in Sweden? If the "community sum" is available to all families and assuming "free schools" are of better quality than ordinary state schools, then I would suppose the demand to get into one of those schools must be higher than the number of available places, meaning some sort of selective admission must be used. Please comment.

Finally, if the "community sum" is based on local taxes, does the amount change from one community to another ? If so, I assume wealthier communities should be able to fund a higher number of places in "free schools" than working-class communities. Is that the case ?

 

[loonytick]

Thanks, JR76. Your information changes the debate considerably.

So, if I understand it correctly, the 3 aforementioned schools are not state schools, but they don't charge fees directly to parents either. Instead, fees (or the equivalent thereto) are paid for by this so-called "community sum", which I assume, must be funded from local taxes, right ? In that situation, it looks to me like a government subsidy to parents who want to send their kids to not-for-profit private schools. Do those so-called "free schools" have selective admission though ?

In the United States and in many other countries, public schools (state schools for the Brits) are not selective, except some specialized schools that have separate programs in fine arts or sciences for example. The general rule, however, is that anyone can enroll at a local public school as long as the child is a resident of the school's designated catchment area. How does it work in Sweden? If the "community sum" is available to all families and assuming "free schools" are of better quality than ordinary state schools, then I would suppose the demand to get into one of those schools must be higher than the number of available places, meaning some sort of selective admission must be used. Please comment.

Finally, if the "community sum" is based on local taxes, does the amount change from one community to another ? If so, I assume wealthier communities should be able to fund a higher number of places in "free schools" than working-class communities. Is that the case ?

Many (but not all) states here in the US use a system very similar to what's being described here as "community sum" to fund charter schools. The charter is held by a private entity of some sort, whether for-profit or non-profit depends on the laws of a particular state, and that organization runs the day-to-day operations independently of the local school district. In my state, local public school districts are given state funding according to the number of students enrolled, with one unit of "per-pupil expenditure" earmarked for the specific school each child attends. Charter schools get that their students' allottment of "per-pupil" money (which has the ripple effect of leaving a neighborhood school suddenly with a much smaller budget if a lot of families from their school zone are successfully recruited to a charter).

 

[xenobia]

Thanks, JR76. Your information changes the debate considerably.

So, if I understand it correctly, the 3 aforementioned schools are not state schools, but they don't charge fees directly to parents either. Instead, fees (or the equivalent thereto) are paid for by this so-called "community sum", which I assume, must be funded from local taxes, right ? In that situation, it looks to me like a government subsidy to parents who want to send their kids to not-for-profit private schools. Do those so-called "free schools" have selective admission though ?

In the United States and in many other countries, public schools (state schools for the Brits) are not selective, except some specialized schools that have separate programs in fine arts or sciences for example. The general rule, however, is that anyone can enroll at a local public school as long as the child is a resident of the school's designated catchment area. How does it work in Sweden? If the "community sum" is available to all families and assuming "free schools" are of better quality than ordinary state schools, then I would suppose the demand to get into one of those schools must be higher than the number of available places, meaning some sort of selective admission must be used. Please comment.

Finally, if the "community sum" is based on local taxes, does the amount change from one community to another ? If so, I assume wealthier communities should be able to fund a higher number of places in "free schools" than working-class communities. Is that the case ?

I think I can answer at least some of your questions. Several of these "free schools" have a special profile. It could be sports/outdoors (extra hours of those), english/french schools (with lessons held in those languages) or Montessori schools. These schools normally have no extra charges for tuition, but most often parents will have to arrange and/or pay for the kids to get to their school. Bus or taxi to your school is free if you live a certain distance from the school, and it's your nearest school. School lunch is also included and free.

As a parent you can make an active choice and put your kids in the queue for a special school. If you don't, you child will go to the school that's closes to your home (your school catchment area).

 

[Mbruno]

Many (but not all) states here in the US use a system very similar to what's being described here as "community sum" to fund charter schools. The charter is held by a private entity of some sort, whether for-profit or non-profit depends on the laws of a particular state, and that organization runs the day-to-day operations independently of the local school district. In my state, local public school districts are given state funding according to the number of students enrolled, with one unit of "per-pupil expenditure" earmarked for the specific school each child attends. Charter schools get that their students' allottment of "per-pupil" money (which has the ripple effect of leaving a neighborhood school suddenly with a much smaller budget if a lot of families from their school zone are successfully recruited to a charter).

Yes, it sounds roughly similar to charter schools in the US, which are actually very controversial in many states.