Article translated by me - from Arbetarbladet:
Hard to catch Duchess on quick visit in Gävle
In a stylish light beige suite – smiling and beautiful – Princess Madeleine turned up in Gävle yesterday. In two shining Volvo’s, the Princess - Duchess of Gästrikland and Hälsingland - and her entourage arrived at Gävle Castle.
It was a discreet visit – no royalist whirl, now waves to a cheering crowd. A visit that passed the Gävle inhabitants by unnoticed. The goal for the Princess’ visit was Gävle Castle. An informal lunch and a seminar about the building’s history were on the programme.
Tight schedule
But there seems to be a rush when the famous visit Gävle. Prime Minister Göran Persson stopped by about a week ago, and Princess Madeleine was only on display for a few minutes outside the castle, before she went into the building.
Taking pictures was okay, but no questions were allowed. The Princess has – despite the Duchess role – not said anything to the local media at her previous visits either. But it’s not because of any unwillingness from her side, Information Secretary Catherine Broms from the Royal Court assured.
- There is often little time at these visits. The time schedule is so pressed. Otherwise she gladly talks to journalists. Catherine Broms was hoping that it would be possible to arrange a little chat with the media at the next visit to Gävle.
There was only an attentive mother and her son whom had noticed the Princess visit. They snuck up to crown the family album with a picture of Princess Madeleine. When they in all their eagerness got to close the Princess with their camera, they were moved by a security man in a friendly but decisive way. The only action the security man had to take this time.
In the sunny but windy autumn weather, Princess Madeleine first got an outdoors lesson in the buildings exterior. She listened attentively and seemed to be involved in the facts she was told. It was curator Anna Nilsén and the building antiquarian Ingela Broström whom guided the Princess in the Castle’s history and architectonic finesses.
The “lesson” continued during the lunch, which consisted of a chanterelle soup, followed by oven baked perch with saffron crème and vegetables. The meal was finished off with cake and coffee. The chanterelles, the yellow kind, has been picked by the County Governor’s matron, Inger Dolk, the County Governor’s wife, Gudrun Eirefelt, whom had met the Princess before, told us.
- Nice, very nice, she said about the Princess visit.
Awarded scholarship
Gudrun Eirefelt’s impression of Madeleine was undivided positive.
- She is a very sweet, and very nice girl.
What does the Princess – as Duchess of Gästrikland and Hälsingland – mean for the County?
- Quite a lot, I think, Gurdrun Eirefelt said, without giving any deeper analysis.
The visit was described as a part of the Princess’ studies in art and ethnology.
- It is like talking to any student, Anna Nilsén said before the visit.
The next event on the schedule, after the visit to Gävle, was to award the Princess Madeleine Scholarship and a rider’s award. The scholarship went to Caroline Åkerlund from Hudiksvall and the rider’s award to Irene Slättengren från Vikingstad.
The original article (in Swedish) can be found
here.
