Name: Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg (born von Engelhardt). Has been called: Iron lady, strict, armoured tank, queen-like, disciplined, unmistakably loyal Profession: Marshall, head of H.R.H. The Crown Princess’ Household Family: Daughter Filippa, 20, and Louisa, 16. Divorced from Björn Tarras-Wahlberg Born: 15 September, 1950 in Kristianstad Lives: House on Lidingö, summer house in the archipelago island Dalarö Drives: Mercedes 160 Earns: 40,000 SEK/month (= $5,380, €4,341) Fortune: 6,5 million SEK (= $874, 337, €705,448) (tax assessment 2002) Study background: Two year on an all-girls college (Barnard, I think) with political science as a major. Has also studied law and economics. Had the highest grade in everything but gym in school Speaks: French, German, English and Spanish
Thank you for this great reports and pictures on her highESTness, GrandDuchess
Quote:
Has been called:... queen-like...
Yes, yes that´s it. She´s by far the most Royal person in Sweden, and that without being Royal
And so dutiful...since Carl Philips´s birth she hasn´t switched off the phone! I mean she´s not a firewoman or an emergeny physician!
On the other hand...€4,341 isn´t that, what we would call a "starvation wage"
All journalists who have called for Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg, knows that she is constantly engaged in meetings. Or business trips. But she is also a single mother.
Doesn’t you daughter ever object to the Crown Princess taking so much of your time? - They can dislike the fact that I’m away so much. But they don’t take that out on the Crown Princess. They rather see her as a kind of extra sister, if you understand what I mean. Besides, we shouldn’t forget that they have a father. When I’m away, he can come home and live with them.
There’s also Gunvor, who the family has names their “survival help”. She was once hired to take care of the children, but now she’s more of a family member. When Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg recently came home from a long journey, there was a pile of newly baked buns and walnut bread in her kitchen. Like a note from Gunvor.
The fact that she herself has stopped baking is more maturing that lack of time. It wasn’t until she was 50, that Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg understood that she doesn’t have to be good at everything. She could allow herself to enjoy things a bit more and look after her own needs. Maybe the divorce played a part in this; we don’t even bring it up as an explanation. Instead she talks about the necessity of stopping to pause. If only for a few minutes. That’s why the car tide every morning between the villa on Lidingö and the Palace is so important. - That’s where I get time to thing, to contemplate.
We take another de-tour to Skåne, where she was born and grew up. Father Bendt von Engelhardt was a vet. Mother Astrid was a housewife. Herself, she was good in school, shy and a slight tendency to stammer. - Early on, I realised that with good grades, I could make something of my life.
Besides, there weren’t that many options. I once went to a school dance, it was horrible. It was better to do homework and watch “Röda Fjädern” on TV.
She never dream of becoming a princess. Never read about royals in the newspapers/magazines. She didn’t even have the Haga princesses as bookmarks. With some effort, she manages t o remember once when the old King and Queen Louise visited Kristianstad and she got to hand over a bouquet of flowers.. - Otherwise, I don’t think we ever talked about the Royal Family in my childhood home.
With excellent high school grades, she went the US, determined to become and interpreter. After two years in college she came home and moved to her grandmother in Stockholm. We pause here, grandmother Brita need her own space. She grew up in Åbo, moved to what is now Estonia where she married the German-Baltic baron who became Elisabeth’s grandfather. - Grandmother is my biggest female role model. During the World War II, she escaped via Finland to Sweden. I remember that grandfather had a big moustache and that he used to take me to Bergs Café. According to grandmother, she was an aristocrat who rather showed himself at Skeppsbron, not interested in having a normal job. It was grandmother who supported the family. Among things by starting a milk store.
Elisabeth herself gave up the idea of becoming an interpreter and instead started working for the Swedish Institute, where she met Jan Mårtenson. The one who hired her for the Palace. The year was 1976 and they needed more manpower.
So if The King would not have married Silvia Sommerlath, you probably wouldn’t have ended up at the Palace? - Probably not.
The most burning issue is when the Crown Princess will be seen with her boyfriend openly, which will be interpreted as a matter of time before an engagement.
When will she get engaged to Daniel Westling? - I have absolutely no idea. There are no, if there ever was any, signs of a coming engagement. The Crown Princess keeps that secret to herself, possible together with her family.
Will Daniel Westling be the one? - I don’t want to speculate on that.
Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg knows that some questions have to be answered. And she does, even if desperate journalists call in the middle in the night. Once, when her daughter was young, she put the telephone receiver aside. - It was the night when Olof Palme was shot.
According to Victoria, it’s her job to be the “bitter almond”. Other can see her as strict and authoritarian. - I know. But I also know that insecurity can have a price. If I doubt a second, you journalists will have much more easier time to “nail me”, which is the goal of many journalists. That’s why I try to be exact and clear in my answers. I think that’s what is misinterpreted.
Maybe it’s about age too. Today, Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg is less eager to please. She eats the final pieces of chicken, discretely take a small stain away from her jacket, and states that the next visitor is coming.
There are many things we haven’t had time to talk about. Like her love for beautiful things and clothes. Gladly purchased on sale. Plus the fact that she collects hotel signs, like the ones you have on the door. From her last trip she have “I am relaxing”. - But I haven’t dared to hang that up, yet.
As a child, she never dream of becoming a princess. And she can’t remember reading about the Royal Family in magazines. Now Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg leaves the Court’s Information Department and becomes the head of The Crown Princess’ Household. - It won’t be easy to draw the lines, but everything shouldn’t be easy.
On the door to Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg’s office, hangs a sign that she’s take from a hotel: “Please, do not disturb”. Before we even get started on talking about her new job, the phone rings. She gets up with an excuse, says that it must be the kids.
The royal children or your own? - One of my own, I think
It’s the youngest daughter who wonders if mothers’ heart has calm down. The last weeks have been extra stressful for the Director for the Information Department who has now become a Court Marshall. Or, to be exact: the Head of H.R.H. The Crown Princess Household, also Household for the Duke of Värmland and the Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland. Not even she herself can remember the whole name without peeking at a note. In daily speech, it will, for now, be called the Crown Princess’ Household.
It’s more of a dream job than strategic career planning. According to Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg, you don’t make a career at the Palace. Her new salary is under negotiation and secret. What she can say is that she until now has had a salary that is “well below the one of my colleagues at the Government Offices”.
Next question is the title: Can a woman become Court Marshall? - Absolutely. But I think you should be named Elisabeth. I’m number two, before me came Elisabeth Palmstierna, who is Court Marshall for Princess Lilian.
We don’t confuse ourselves further into the Households. Instead we try to translate her new assignment into the environment of a company. In that case, one could say that The King, with the assistance of The Queen, is the working Chairman, the Marshall of the Realm the President and CEO, and the Court Marshall’s are comparable to heads/directors of the company’s departments. - Although that sounds much more boring.
I just walked over the inner courtyard with two chicken sandwiches in a bag, now Court Marshall Tarras-Wahlberg puts on a kettle of water to our lunch. But first she has to catch her breathe after talking with 20 journalists from developing countries for two hours. And among things, explained where The King gets his money from, and if Crown Princess Victoria can marry a politician.
What did you answer to that?
Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg strokes the hair off of her forehead, and patiently says that the Crown Princess can marry anyone she wants, as long as The King and Government first gives their approval. - And then I said that The King gets a bag of money from Göran Persson. No, of course I didn’t say that. Statements like that only cause complications.
We won’t dwell on the attention that came after The King in a TV interview confessed that he gladly would like more money. Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg repeats what she’s said so many times before: that the statement was a result of The King’s light temper that day. On the question if he would like more money in his appanage, he simply said “Sure, of course, who doesn’t want more money?” - In the transcript, there’s laughter after his answer.
Nowadays, The King is not that eager to joke in interviews. - The climate is much harder, says she who knows.
Outside her office, there’s a bookshelf with magazines. From the friendly “Rojalisten” to weekly magazines with a much higher gossip potential.
Can you, as Court Marshall, ignore what the magazines/newspapers write? - Na, Yes…. Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg admits that it won’t control her daily work as directly as before. On the other hands, she has to, strictly strategeously, keep a jour on what they write since it affects the Royal Family and therefore her new job.
- After the famous Brunei history, they were very sad for a long time.
Shouldn’t you, as the Director of Information and Press, have been with The King on that State Visit? - It’s hard to say. I would like to say that my co-workers did their best.
The one who has had as a job to answer the journalist’s questions for the past 28 years, knows that it’s stupid to keep silent. Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg has a more sophisticated way in showing were she draws her limits. She leans back in the chair, silently chews on her chicken sandwich. The Brunei story is not something she wants to get into again. But she gladly talks of her new job. - It will be incredibly exciting to be able to build something new. It mainly consists of planning and coordinating the Crown Princess schedule and other activities. Because of that, it’s not like she and I can sit in our chamber and draw up the structures for her continuous education. The King and Queen are of course her main advisors. But we shouldn’t forget that she is 27 years old. With a strong will of what she wants to do.
It doesn’t sound very easy to draw the lines? - Everything shouldn’t be so easy. It’s the challenges that make my new job so interesting.
The Crown Princess’ sibling will during the next two years complete their studies, in which they already have the help of Princess Madeleine’s mentor – Lena Ramel. In more official occasions, it’s meant that they through Court Marshall Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg will be informed on when their mother and father wants them to take part.
Is there need for a Household to transfer that information? Can’t that be said over the dinner table? - Do you have grown up children? Good, cause then you know how often 25 year olds come home to eat dinner. I understand The King and Queen so well. My own daughters are only 16 and 20, but without notes – it wouldn’t work.
Name: Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg Family: Daughters Filippa, 20, and Louisa, 16 Lives: Villa on Lidingö Background: Top student. A BA from an American college in international relations. Current interest: Is from last Friday the head of H.R.H. The Crown Princess’ Household, a new department within the Royal Court with the task to plan and coordinate the royal children’s – mainly the Crown Princess’ – public business. Remains as a special adviser in matters of communications New title: Court Marshall, our second female Reads: Rarely remembers the titles. But currently I’m reading, among things, “Silke”, by an Italian author (Alessandro Baricco) Listens to: If I can choose, Stevie Wonder and classical music Dreams about: To do research on my grandmother Brita’s life Votes for: With the years it tends to become more difficult to choose. Many people believes that The King and Queen votes for Moderaterna, but of course they don’t vote Relaxes with: To weed (for ex the garden), and to cook Vice: Buns, cakes and candy, especially dark chocolate The hair colour: I became grey early, just like my parents Father-inheritance: My temper. I’ve learned from work not to “boil over” at the wrong times. It works, basically Perk to be a female Court Marshall: On travels I can zip up the Crown Princess dresses The aging: The only thing that can scare me is to age alone
Look up people - yesterday in SvD there was a big interview with ETW on the occasion of her new job! I have now translated the whole thing, but because it's so long - I've had to divide it into three parts. I've tried my best, but I hope this division of it makes it easy to read anyway.
Thank you very much for translating, GrandDuchess! :)
Quote:
She didn’t even have the Haga princesses as bookmarks
What is here meant? Was there a special edition of bookmarks with the Haga princesses on it? Oh, I would love to see/own such a bookmark!
Quote:
When will she get engaged to Daniel Westling? - I have absolutely no idea. There are no, if there ever was any, signs of a coming engagement. The Crown Princess keeps that secret to herself, possible together with her family.
She knows more, than she´s telling...definitely.
Quote:
Perk to be a female Court Marshall: On travels I can zip up the Crown Princess dresses
In these modern times and after the long controversies about feminism and equality also a male marshall should be allowed to fix the zip
ETW seems to have an extraordinary good relationship to her EX-husband, who has cheated her.
This little picture is from a premiere in August of this year.
What is here meant? Was there a special edition of bookmarks with the Haga princesses on it? Oh, I would love to see/own such a bookmark!
Well you know the Haga Princesses in their golden glory days was something out of the ordinary - they were the pride and interest of the nation. The whole country was Haga Princess-crazy - people wanted to see and hear and know all that they did. There were a lot of TV documentaries made (by SF) from all sorts of occasions, which are today in the archives. The papers were full of them. And the bookmark is I guess one of the things made with them on it. People wanted to live "with" them. I've never seen the actual bookmark, but it's probably one of all the things that were made.
It seems as The Crown Princess' Household is already beginning to to create its shape and form, as new appointments has been announced. SvD today reports that the following appointments to H.R.H. The Crown Princess' Household has been made...
Aide-de-Camp's to work for Crown Princess Victoria: Major Åsa Blomberg Trolle - from the army Major Iréne Engstrand - from the navy Major Ingrid von Knorring - from the air force
Aide-de-Camp's to work for Prince Carl Philip: Major Claes Deshayes - from the navy Major Daniel Ottosson - from the navy
:) Yes, but with the difference that you and me aren´t an "extra-pappa" or "extra-mamma" for Victoria, and that we don´t drink coffee with her, and that we don´t fix Victoria´s zip. So ETW surely has more insider-knowledge We just know, what we guess
As you can read in my earlier post ("ETW - Facts 2004", further down this page), I'm not completely sure about which college it was - all I'm sure of is that it was an all-girls college - and I think it was Barnard. I have Barnard in my head, but I'm not 100% sure.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lena
And what will they do exactly?
It's hard to fully characterice an Aide-de-Camp - but it's basically a personal aide/assistant to the royal. They are to be at the assistance in the performance of their duties, and to provide assistance so that everything runs smoothly.
--
As I reported in this thread a few post below, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Carl Philip have been appointed a few Aide-de-Camps, to work for the recently established Crown Princess Household.
Here is a picture where we can see one of Victoria's new Aide-de-Camps, Major Åsa Blomberg Trolle (taken in Linköping today):
Second pic of one of the new Aide-de-Camps, with a small chat
From Östgöta Correspondenten:
Hello there, Åsa Blomberg-Trolle!
On Friday, Crown Princess Victoria opens a diabetes research centre at the University Hospital. Åsa Blomberg-Trolle from Linköping, at the same time makes her debut as the Princess’ Aide-de-Camp.
What do you do as the Aide-de-Camp at the Crown Princess’ visits? - I keep track of the schedule in to the smallest detail. I am to be at hand at all times and the Princess has to be able to ask me about all things concerning the visit in question.
How do you become an Aide-de-Camp? - By tradition, The King’s Aide-de-Camps have a military education. I’m a major and have among things worked as the head of a platoon, and a military company, and have attended a leader education. We are three Aide-de-Camps who have been asked by the Defence, and have gone through many interviews. The last one was held with The Queen and the Princess herself.
And it went well? - Yes. It’s important that the personal chemistry works, and that you can have confidence in each other.
What would you like to show Crown Princess Victoria in your old hometown Linköping if the days schedule was not so full? - The cathedral is beautiful and has a long history. I think I’d like to show it to the Princess.
Werner Vögeli's love for food grew already at an early age in the village of the region Emmenthal in Switzerland that he grew up in. He got the best start a chef can have as he got to experience the best ingredients from the start; fresh milk and cream from the cows, newly made flour, meat and vegetables from the farms around. At the age of 9, he began working at a local tavern and when he was 16 he moved away from home to work as a chef student in Geneva. After that he worked in many luxury hotels in Geneva and restaurants in France.
Then he came to Sweden in 1951, without knowing a word of Swedish - but determined to become a great chef as he and Tore Wretman began working together at Grand Hôtel. And indeed they both succeeded by far, Werner and the late Tore Wretman were the ones who together developed the culinary education and put Sweden on the culinary map - and with time Sweden developed into the super power it is today in the world of food. Werner is today one of the country’s most beloved chefs; he has written many books and is often on TV.
In 1961 he was appointed a cook for the Royal Court, in 1972 he became a Royal Chef and in 1977 he was appointed to the highest honour – the Royal Head Chef.
In 1977, he was one of the founders of “Le Club des Chefs des Chefs d’Etat” – an exclusive club for all the head chefs of the world’s heads of states. He was the Chairman of that club from 1988-1993, and is since then the Honorary President. The club’s motto is “Politics divides men, but a good meal unites them”.
In 1980 he received HM The King’s medal of the 8th size in a blue ribbon. In 2002, he became an Honorary Doctor at Umeå University.
Birth date: 2 January 1930. Family: Wife Ingrid, kids Roland, Yvonne and Johan. Five grandchildren. Lives: Stockholm. Occupation: Chef, writer (7, soon 8, books) & the Royal Head Chef
Grevinnan Alice Trolle-Wachtmeister - orders decorations and medals.
Hi,
read the interview with the countess on page 1 of this thread - then grabbed my 2001 Adelskalendar off the bookshelf to read the list of her orders and decorations.
I came across this photo from the 2004 Nobel Banquet. In it you can see the Countess wearing the King's Medal in the 12th size with chain (Well you can see the chain at least!)
I assume that the badge/brooch with the serafimerorden bow on her left is her badge as mistress of the robes.
You can also see under this the miniture of the LVO with the green ribbon in a bow on her dress. (I assume if Swedish State orders were still being awarded to Swedes then by now she would have received the Grand Cross, her LVO was pre-1975.)
And this is where is where I think the ban of Swedes receiving swedish orders is silly. She's wearing the broad riband of a foreign order. (It's ok to receive these... and many as possible. But not one from your own country. Ironic as this was the reason that the swedish orders were established. Swedes - even/especially the King - were receiving them and were wearing them when there were none of their own to wear.) So which order is she wearing? I'd say it could be the Finnish order of the white rose.
The AdelsKalendar also reveals that HKH Prinsessan Lilian Hertiginna av Halland's Hovmarskalk Elisabeth Palmstierna has the King's Medal is the 12 size with the Seraphim order ribbon.
Does anyone know which grade of the king's medal Elisabeth Tarras-Wahlberg has?
I'd be grateful if anyone could post here has any photos they have of the ladies in waiting or even the Courtmarshall's wearing any orders or medals that have been awarded as part of their work.
I haven´t heard anything about that...
I think that if that was true, swedish magazine would have written about it, just like they have written about other celebrities who was in Thailand at the time of the tsunami
so..no, not true
an answer to the question above :)
New pictures of ETW, taken in January 2005, outside the royal palace
POLFOTO 15.10.2004 The head of Crown Princess Victoria«s (H.R.H the Dutchess of Halland) household and the the Crown Princess Marshal ElisabethTarras-Wahlberg outside the Stockholm Castle in the center of Stockholm.
Linear Mode
