Press Reports about Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist, Part 2: April 2012 - June 2014

[nascarlucy]

How awful the attack on Prince Carl Phillip. Just read about it. It seems these days no one is safe from being attacked or assaulted. It made me sick when I read this but it seems like worldwide, attacks like this on people whether they be famous, royal or whatever seems to be on the rise.

Royalty are not immune from such attacks it seems. Was the assault caught on tape? If there were cameras around, perhaps then they could identify who did this to him. I hope the book is thrown at the person who did this.

 

[nascarlucy]

Going back on topic. Females who are royals or who marry royals are judged more than their male counterparts. Previous boyfriends are always brought up or mentioned. If they went to school with someone who was a mistfit or bad, they are linked to them even though they had nothing to do with it. If they happened to date someone who did something bad, they are mentioned.

Seldom hear about the ex-girlfriends of men who aren't royal and who marry into royalty. Or a classmate who was a misfit or bad. If the man had several girlfriends or went to school with a misfit or a criminal, you might hear about it once or twice and then it's dropped. He's not judged by the actions of his ex's or the actions of his classmates.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

While my opinion of Sofia changed while she spent a lot of time smiling at the cameras during Estelle's baptism, even I am not bothered that she was a nude model and such. Some of the comments in this thread about her modeling, kissing Jenna Jameson, etc., upset me because they sound really misogynist. I can't believe some people still believe women should be virgins until their wedding night.

I think it's stretching things to suggest that people are against Sofia because she is not a virgin. I haven't read anything in this entire thread that makes me think posters feel that a woman's hymen must be intact on her wedding night....not one thing.

As for misogyny? Pornography IS a form of misogyny, and I am amazed that there are folks here who have no problem making the jump from nude and spread-eagled in the front of a car to nude and in bondage on a beach to nude with a python to....ROYAL PRINCESS OF SWEDEN.

I think she is an embarrassment to the House of Bernadotte and I won't apologize for it. One thing I give this girl grudging admiration for is that she has achieved her stated goal of becoming famous.

Who knew that when she went online a couple of years ago to boast "Wanna know a secret? I'm dating the Prince!" that she was so close to achieving her life's dream??

No, I won't be gnashing my teeth and tearing out my hair if and when the engagement is announced(sorry to disappoint posters eagerly awaiting the fallout)

I'll just officially write off the monarchy in Sweden, and continue to follow the men and women that I feel truly embody the concept of Royalty in the 21st century.

 

[Madame Royale]

I admit I made that assumption based on my observation. One can't help but notice that Victoria is devoted to duty, while the other two apparently slack off.

Maybe I was harsh to say "spoiled rotten", but the vast difference between Victoria and her siblings is noticable. None of them seem to mind, but I can't help but wonder how did only one out of the three end up being dutiful and aware about what royalty means, while the other two don't really seem to.

Obviously, the King and Queen can't be totally blamed. Their children had nannies while growing up. And also, we all make our own choices in life. Sometimes our bringing doesn't matter about our decisions in life.

And I don't see myself as "self-righteous". I don't know if you were directing that term to me, but I want to say that I don't go around with a holier-than-thou attitude. Sometimes I get confused and bewildered by some people's actions, but I don't tear my hair out over them.

But aren't 'we' then placing our own expectations on these people? Of what WE think is the right way to live and work according to our own prejudices. In my mind as long as they present well, look good, encourage tourism, trade and diplomatic strengths and maintain a sense of continuity then they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Yes there are societal expectations attatched to their priviliged positions, but these people are human first and foremost and no one is perfect.

One wonders what it would be like if you or I had to live our lives according to the demands of the general public's expectations. How easy do you think you would find it then one wonders? And none can justly answer that question for none of us know.

What I do know, or rather have come to observe, is that Carl Philip and Madeleine seem to do the vast majority of their work behind the glare of the publics gaze. In light of that, I fail to see how anyone can justly state that they are not committed or even devoted to duty.

And who are we, but commoners (and proud I'm sure), to think we know what it means to be royal? That to me is such a cheek. We are a bunch of inquisitive onlookers who more often than not think we know more about these people than they do themselves. It's laughable really.

FYI: Was not directing the righteous comment at you personally. It was a comment made in general terms

 

[Sonjapearl]

But aren't 'we' then placing our own expectations on these people? Of what WE think is the right way to live and work according to our own prejudices. In my mind as long as they present well, look good, encourage tourism, trade and diplomatic strengths and maintain a sense of continuity then they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Yes there are societal expectations attatched to their priviliged positions, but these people are human first and foremost and no one is perfect.

One wonders what it would be like if you or I had to live our lives according to the demands of the general public's expectations. How easy do you think you would find it then one wonders? And none can justly answer that question for none of us know.

What I do know, or rather have come to observe, is that Carl Philip and Madeleine seem to do the vast majority of the work behind the glare of the publics gaze. In light of that, I fail to see how anyone can justly state that they are not committed or even devoted to duty.

And who are we, but commoners (and proud I'm sure), to think we know what it means to be royal? That to me is such a cheek. We are a bunch of inquisitive onlookers who more often than not think we know more about these people than they do themselves. It's laughable really.

FYI: Was not directing the righteous comment at you personally. It was a comment made in general terms

What you said makes a lot of sense. Perhaps I should've stopped myself from making a flippant comment about the Swedish royals.

 

[Grandma828]

When you look at the big picture the line of succession is Victoria, Estelle, Carl, and then Madeline. That means the Carl and Madeline will never be King or Queen, unless something tragic happens. As with all royal extras, they need to build a life for themselves outside the royal limelight. Look back through history and you will find it was always that way. They become less and less important. Madeline is being very smart to build a life away from the limelight.

 

[Nice Nofret]

I don't know the couple other than what I read on the forums. But frankly I find it sad that Sofia gets given such a hard time. So she did some things in her younger years that are questionable. What about it? Everyone makes mistakes and I'm sure she had her reasons. Everyone also deserves new chances.

If she and Carl-Phillip get engaged, good for them! I hope they make each other very happy. If they spent their lives trying to please the judging public who believe they know everything because they have seen a few photos or short videos then it would be a life wasted!

Call me 'old fashioned', but I still feel, that no one with nude pictures around in the internet, should be a princess. Yes she is beautiful, maybe she is kind or what ever - but in the face of those pictures .. I beg your pardon! There will be always dragged out again and again - at every possible opportunity - probably still in 50 Years. There will always be sniggering behind there backs.. etc. you cannot walk away from that.

So I still think, if they marry (which is fine with me) they have to turn being private citizens and no royalty.

When I was young, there was no internet but still I made sure there where not any indecent picture around and I turned down offers from photographs and such. Even then I thought I wouldn't want to be compromised in my future. Also young people can and should think about there doings!

It's NOT about being a virgin, but it's about taking responsibility for ones actions.

 

[LadyFinn]

Call me 'old fashioned', but I still feel, that no one with nude pictures around in the internet, should be a princess. Yes she is beautiful, maybe she is kind or what ever - but in the face of those pictures .. I beg your pardon! There will be always dragged out again and again - at every possible opportunity - probably still in 50 Years. There will always be sniggering behind there backs.. etc. you cannot walk away from that.

So I still think, if they marry (which is fine with me) they have to turn being private citizens and no royalty.

When I was young, there was no internet but still I made sure there where not any indecent picture around and I turned down offers from photographs and such. Even then I thought I wouldn't want to be compromised in my future. Also young people can and should think about there doings!

It's NOT about being a virgin, but it's about taking responsibility for ones actions.

That's a post I can totally agree with, every word.

 

[XeniaCasaraghi]

As I've said time and time again, if the King is ok with her and her pictures then I'm letting the subject drop. Camilla will always be known as the other woman, and the tampon quote is going to be looming over her head. Now the CP is no longer 2nd behind Victoria, i think he is allowed more leeway in his choice of wife. If he was going to be King it would be a different story. If CPs family accepts her then it would seem they are not dictated by old fashioned ideas and wanting to always punish someone for their past.
If Sofia carries herself impeccably from now on then I say she will be fine as the wide of a 2nd tier royal.

 

[tommy100]

When you look at the big picture the line of succession is Victoria, Estelle, Carl, and then Madeline. That means the Carl and Madeline will never be King or Queen, unless something tragic happens. As with all royal extras, they need to build a life for themselves outside the royal limelight. Look back through history and you will find it was always that way. They become less and less important. Madeline is being very smart to build a life away from the limelight.

This is why I don't have much admiration for CP or Madeleine, they seem happy to act like spoilt rih kids, being royal wen it suits but then not putting in the hardwork of doing public engagements etc. I think they would benefit from playiing down their royal life, stop the occasional pulbic duties, be taken of royalwebsite etc and left to get on with their own livess as private people. I really wouldn't mind if they did that and I think they woulkd, in time, be left more alone. It seems to me that the Royal Court doesn't now what to do with the spare royal children but now the focus can move to victoria daniel and estelle.
On Sofia I'm never going to think she's a perfect princess but neither am I a belieevr she's the devil or downfall of the monarchy. I hope she and CP are happy and in time lead a quiet, normall, priavte life. I just wish the Royal Coirt would b better at their job for the bennefit of the family.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

If Carl-Philip has his heart set on marrying her he should be allowed to...as Carl-Philip Bernadotte and NOT as a Royal Prince and representative of the SRF.

I completely agree with Nice Nofret. Sofia is not the devil, she might be a nice person indeed. But every action you take in your life has consequences, and sorry but a past as a porn model/actress rules out a future as a Royal princess, imo.

He should do the decent thing and give up his title and go live quietly with Sofia as a non-Royal.

But based on her obvious glee at being in the spotlight at Princess Estelle's christening, I can't imagine that this is a solution that would please Ms. Hellqvist.

 

[Lumutqueen]

Someone who knows more about Swedish Royalty, can they tell me how CP would even go about 'giving' up his title? Does he renounce it, does it go through the court, does The King have to do anything?

I agree that this is what CP should do, but how does he go about it?

 

[NGalitzine]

Is there any need or expectation that CP adopt a life devoted to royal engagements? I know in the UK that is the expected career path for the monarchs children but it is not the case in all European monarchies. In The Netherlands the younger children of the monarch have followed their own career paths. Aside from Friso who lost his place in the succession, Constantinj had an approved marriage but rarely undertakes official engagements and lives mostly outside the country. In Norway Martha Louise had an approved marriage but follows a career writing and talking about angels etc and now she too lives outside the country and undertakes limited engagements mostly of a family nature.
I can't see any reason why CP should not marry and retain his titles, pursue a career of his choice and only undertake engagements on an as needed basis. CG, Silvia, Victoria and now Daniel can undertake the official duties of the family, only calling in CP and Madeleine as needed.
Given the limited number of potential heirs in Sweden, limiting the line by removing CP and his line does not seem an especially good thing to do. Accidents and illnesses happen and one never knows who may be unexpectedly called up.

 

[Meraude]

Someone who knows more about Swedish Royalty, can they tell me how CP would even go about 'giving' up his title? Does he renounce it, does it go through the court, does The King have to do anything?

I agree that this is what CP should do, but how does he go about it?

The easiest way is to marry without consent from the king and the government.

 

[Lumutqueen]

The easiest way is to marry without consent from the king and the government.

Is there another way? If The King agrees to the marriage, then the easy way is out.

 

[tommy100]

I wonder if the King could officially not agree to the marriage so as to allow CP to give up his titles etc but actually approve of the marriage as a father and say so publicly?

 

[Artemisia]

Assuming that's the way things proceed, would it not be easier if Carl Philip simply didn't seek the King's consent?
Similar to Johan Friso of the Netherlands when he married Mabel without requesting his mother's or the Parliament's consent.

That would spare the King the discomfort of having to officially "reject" his son's future wife.

 

[Frelinghighness]

Had no axe to grind either way w/Sofia but her behavior during Estelle's christening really made a poor impression w/ me. Contrast it w/fiancee of GDuke of Lux, both the same age (worlds apart)

 

[Al_bina]

Ms. Hellqvist and Countess Stephanie de Lannoy are worlds apart. It has nothing to do with age.

 

[LadyFinn]

Expressen writes today about Carl Philip's and Sofia's nightclub fight, and finnish MTV3 quotes Expressen.

The incident has received much attention in the media, but the investigation of the case seems to have stopped. According to Expressen no one has made a police report.
- Carl Philip has not notified the police, and now the court will examine whether there is need for a police investigation. They want to forget the case as quickly as possible, Expressen's court reporter says.

To the court the club brawl is unpleasant and difficult.
- The trial may take more than a year, and now at the court it is discussed whether this is all worth it, the court spokesman says for Expressen.
Carl Philip's part at the fight is not clear. The doorman of the club says that Carl Philip was provoked before the fight, but the Swedish Royal Court says that the situation took place suddenly, without provocation.
- These are the kind of things that have to be considered when we will decide how we are going to proceed in this, it is told from the court.
Carl Philipin osuus baaritappelussa epäselvä - MTV3.fi

 

[Meraude]

Is there another way? If The King agrees to the marriage, then the easy way is out.

The government could always say no, even if the king agrees to a marriage.

An other option to get out of the order of succession is to change his religion, having any other religion than the "pure evangelical faith" of the Church of Sweden excludes a prince or princess from the Swedish Order of Succession.

 

[EIIR]

I feel that much of the criticism around Sofia's past is unfair. The reality is that the vast majority of people don't live their lives thinking that they'd better not do anything that might be in any way questionable just in case they one day meet and fall in love with a royal or a politician or whatever. They don't say to themselves, 'should I do this? If I were to meet a Prince and fall in love with him, the press will bring this up and make things really difficult for us'. Sofia chose to take a career path the some people may not like, but it wasn't illegal; she wasn't the first and certainly won't be the last woman to make those kinds of decisions. We don't know the context in her life in which Sofia made those decisions, whether she was having money problems, or going through a tough time.

Mette-Marit chose to take illegal drugs before she met and married Haakon. Anyone choosing to buy and consume drugs is choosing to take part in a trade which kills millions of, in many cases, the poorest people in the world, and enriches murderers and tyrants. It's a crime, and certainly not a victimless one. M-M apologised for her actions and has been forgiven, which is only right and fair.

I just don't feel that Sofia's past should define her for the rest of her life. Carl Philip is unlikely to be be King, so he has much more leeway when choosing a spouse than Victoria had.

Is Sofia likely to be in receipt of taxpayer funds if she marries C-P? Is she even likely to be a working royal? If not, I don't see how anyone could have much of a problem with her marrying C-P.

 

[Empress Merel]

I feel that much of the criticism around Sofia's past is unfair. The reality is that the vast majority of people don't live their lives thinking that they'd better not do anything that might be in any way questionable just in case they one day meet and fall in love with a royal or a politician or whatever. They don't say to themselves, 'should I do this? If I were to meet a Prince and fall in love with him, the press will bring this up and make things really difficult for us'. Sofia chose to take a career path the some people may not like, but it wasn't illegal; she wasn't the first and certainly won't be the last woman to make those kinds of decisions. We don't know the context in her life in which Sofia made those decisions, whether she was having money problems, or going through a tough time.

Mette-Marit chose to take illegal drugs before she met and married Haakon. Anyone choosing to buy and consume drugs is choosing to take part in a trade which kills millions of, in many cases, the poorest people in the world, and enriches murderers and tyrants. It's a crime, and certainly not a victimless one. M-M apologised for her actions and has been forgiven, which is only right and fair.

I just don't feel that Sofia's past should define her for the rest of her life. Carl Philip is unlikely to be be King, so he has much more leeway when choosing a spouse than Victoria had.

Is Sofia likely to be in receipt of taxpayer funds if she marries C-P? Is she even likely to be a working royal? If not, I don't see how anyone could have much of a problem with her marrying C-P.

You said it much better than I ever could.
Atleast Sofia earned her own money fair and square. More power to her.

 

[An Ard Ri]

In the past Swedish Princes who married 'commoners' were forced to relinquish their succession rights and all royal titles.

3 of the King's sisters,Princesses Christina,Margaretha and Désirée all lost their style of ' Royal Highness' but retained their prefix of "Princess" but not of Sweden.

 

[LadyFinn]

I feel that much of the criticism around Sofia's past is unfair. The reality is that the vast majority of people don't live their lives thinking that they'd better not do anything that might be in any way questionable just in case they one day meet and fall in love with a royal or a politician or whatever. They don't say to themselves, 'should I do this? If I were to meet a Prince and fall in love with him, the press will bring this up and make things really difficult for us'. Sofia chose to take a career path the some people may not like, but it wasn't illegal; she wasn't the first and certainly won't be the last woman to make those kinds of decisions. We don't know the context in her life in which Sofia made those decisions, whether she was having money problems, or going through a tough time.

Sofia started to pose in these questionable photos when she was 16 years old, so she hardly had money problems, since she was a minor and her parents were taking care of her. I am still wondering, why her parents let her do it.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Had no axe to grind either way w/Sofia but her behavior during Estelle's christening really made a poor impression w/ me. Contrast it w/fiancee of GDuke of Lux, both the same age (worlds apart)

You are exactly right. I was actually starting to soften toward her...until that christening. Dirty photos, boasting on the Internet, declaring that fame was her goal in life, grinning wildly at the cameras in the Royal Chapel...Hellqvist has continued to show her true colors from the beginning up to the current day.

I don't expect that all Royal princes must marry a Stephanie de Lannoy or a Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz...Letizia of Spain is a great example of a woman who had a controversial background but has conducted herself flawlessly in the spotlight.

It's not just about Sofia's past for me...it's a matter of her dubious character and how she continues to portray herself.

 

[miche]

What exactly was her behavior at the christening and what was wrong with it?

 

[EIIR]

Sofia started to pose in these questionable photos when she was 16 years old, so she hardly had money problems, since she was a minor and her parents were taking care of her. I am still wondering, why her parents let her do it.

So, it's unlikely to have been money problems that precipitated the decision to pose for these photos. More likely she was immature and silly, and seemingly without the kind of parents who could convince her that doing so would have consequences for her long after the money she received for them had been long spent. Or maybe she fell in with the wrong crowd and was beyond her parents' influence.

Let's face it, she's hardly the first 16 year old girl to make crap decisions without properly considering what it would mean for her in the future.

From what I can see, she's no longer part of that 'glamour' industry, the King (whose own past is not exactly sparklingly clean by his own admission) and Queen have opened their lives to her, C-P seems determined to stay with her, so what's the problem? So she wouldn't be considered by some to be 'princess' material, but she wouldn't be the first prince/princess we could say that about.

 

[Boris]

Considering the fact that the photos which are the most pornographic known of her so far were taken briefly before Miss Hellqvist met Prince Carl Philip (not the ‘Miss Slitz’ snake pics) and thus almost a decade after the mistakes of youth, it took her a rather long time to fall out of the ‘wrong crowd’ again.
Her teenage pics are a bit disturbing as she looks younger than sixteen, and with their suggestive imagery they actually might qualify as children soft porn. Therefore I can understand why LadyFinn wonders how any parent could have been comfortable with them.
More disturbing at present IMHO is something like a joint tabloid interview about an early morning drunken brawl which offers details contradicted by other eye witnesses; it’s the kind of PR effort to be expected from the fame-hungry and/or former reality TV show contestants, but not from Royals or royal partners.
As for comparisons with other royal partners from the past, the striving for celebrity status as the only goal and occupation in life and behaving accordingly is exactly the major - and for me, worrying - difference between her and them.

 

[Meraude]

Is Sofia likely to be in receipt of taxpayer funds if she marries C-P? Is she even likely to be a working royal? If not, I don't see how anyone could have much of a problem with her marrying C-P.

If she becomes HRH princess Sofia of Sweden there are no doubt that she will be considered a working royal, the same way as princess Lilian became a working royal when she married prince Bertil in 1976. As such she will have her expenses paid for official commitments the same way as queen Siliva, prince Carl Philip and princess Madeleine has their expenses met from money the king get from the taxpayers. The only way I can see how Sofia won't be "paid" by the taxpayers are that she don't get a royal title and don't take part in any official royal commitments. I don't think it will be possible for her to be a HRH and a non-working royal at the same time, the Swedish royal family is so small that if Carl Philip continues to be a royal, his spouse will also have to be a working royal.