Princess Birgitta gave an interview to spanish ABC
Birgitta of Sweden: "They have never invited me to Marivent Palace"
Birgitta receives ABC at a walk from the golf course. She moves through the green like it's her home. In fact, it is. Birgitta is one of the 1,000 members of this elite club and is close to it's owners, Miguel and Corona Nigorra. But golf was not the first thing that brought her to the island. "I always summered in France and Italy, but once, when my children were still young, I came to Mallorca and I fell for it's climate, it's light and colors. So I started to spend the summer here and eleven years ago I moved here", she explains in a perfect English ('I don't speak Spanish').
Do you miss Sweden?
- I left Stockholm when I was 24, so I've spent more time outside Sweden than in Sweden, and I don't want to say the age that I have, but I'm too old... Not to miss anything, except my family, but I have lived too long out to miss.
Was it easy to leave Germany?
- It was very easy, I am a very easy person because I'm happy anywhere. Now I play golf daily, for four to six hours. My life revolves around golf.
And far from the court ...
- I was born in the court and I'm used to living in the palace, but I do not miss that.
And what about your obsession for golf?
- The Green keeps me young and active.
Has your brother caught a love for Mallorca?
- He has come here several times, but he does not play golf, prefers to sail. He loves Mallorca, but never has the time to come visit me.
Do you speak by phone or by Skype?
- Do Skype? Me? (laughs). I call him on the phone, old-style. Sometimes I spend half an hour waiting for a phone and an end dangling. Is very sad to have your only brother as a King, because I can't count on it. With my sisters, it is easier. With them I speak often and they visit me. We five siblings try to be united, although it is not easy. My brother never has time, so we take weddings to bring us up to date.
Birgitta will not have to wait much longer to be reunited with his brother. On 13 June, Prince Carl Philip will marry Sofia Hellqvist, the ex-contestant of a popular reality show. The aunt of the groom will be sitting in the front row with the rest of the Royal Family. Birgitta doesn't have a dress for the wedding yet. "At my age it is difficult to find the right style for these celebrations. Here in Mallorca there are not shops that sell clothes for royal wedding", she says.
Do you like the bride of your nephew?
- I do not know Sofia very well. I've seen her only twice. I hope she is a nice girl. But I can't say more, it would not be fair. My nephew is an excellent, very good and nice guy.
And the wedding will coincide with the birth of the second child of Princess Madeleine.
- We expect a busy summer.
Is it easier for a prince to marry a princess? You were the only one of the five siblings who married a noble blood.
- Yes it is easier to marry someone of the same condition because since we are born we learn everything that this work requires: how to eat, how to sit, how to greet, how to talk, how to walk. Those who are not born into royalty have to learn everything and it costs them more. It is very hard work.
Do you see that your niece Victoria is prepared to reign?
- She's a fantastic girl and very prepared. She will be a great queen. She is perfect ... she was born for this.
Birgitta tells that she was with her brother in Vienna when he received the telegram in which he was informed that the law was changed and that Victoria would be his heir. It was very sad because Carl Philip was already three months old and had been appointed as the heir. It has not been easy because he knows that he was born to be King and that he was replaced by his sister, says Birgitta.
Birgitta speaks also about queen Sofia and other queens.
The last question:
You weren't at the recent celebration of the 75th anniversary of your cousin Queen Margrethe?
- I'm no longer invited to these things, and when they do I decline. I'd rather play golf than go to a party with a tiara.
Birgitta de Suecia_ «Nunca me han invitado al palacio de Marivent» - ABC.es
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