Discussion about Sofia Hellqvist's Past & Future Role in the Royal Family

[LadyFinn]

Originally Posted by Dman

Sofia is marrying a working member of the Swedish Royal Family, it's her place to accompany her husband to official and family events; just as Daniel and Chris do with their royal spouses.

We don't know yet if Carl Philip will be continuing to be a working royal after the wedding. Maybe they will move to South Africa. At least one can hope that.

If they stay in Sweden and Sofia will do royal work duties, the court has a big problem to find her a suitable way to work so that she will not totally outshine her husband. Because she, unlike Daniel, doesn't know how to be discreet.

[xenobia]

About titles: I'm not 100% sure that Sofia will become a princess. Jonas Bergström wasn't supposed to get a HRH-title when he was engaged to Madeleine. We know that Chris O'Neill declined titels, but we don't know if both the option of prince and duke was on the table. Daniel is a different story since he is married to the heiress. From the moment he married Victoria, he was a full-time royalty. Sofia? I'd say her situation is more like Jonas and Chris. So I wouldn't be surprised if she became Duchess of Värmland, but not princess of Sweden.

I'm on the fence when it comes to Sofia. On one hand, I don't think that people should be forever judged on what they did when they were younger. She, just like everyone else, deserves a break. Give her time to prove herself.

On the other hand, my biggest problem with her is that I unfortunately don't get the impression that all the charity work she has been doing (aka Project Playground) is done for the right reasons (which in this case would be that she has turned her life around and wanted to help others who aren't as privileged). It just feels like something she's doing to clean up her CV. Sorry about that, Sofia, but that's how I feel.

But time will tell. I'm willing to give her the benefit of a doubt. If she somehow, through hard work and a more appropriate behavior, proves that she's the right woman for the job - good for her, and good for the whole Royal Family.

[Bine221]

Well, as Princess Madeleine will rarely do Official Events in Sweden in order to minimize her sister´s workload, CP Victoria may be happy having some sort of help from Carl Philipp and Sofia.
BYe Bine

[Duke of Marmalade]

CP hardly works, I don't think that will change. Sofia will tagg along to the odd event but she will generate her attention from other events than royal work. IMO she will push her foundation to the limit to become Saint Sofia of Sweden and act more than a top class socialite rather than a working royal.

[Tilia C.]

Originally Posted by xenobia

On the other hand, my biggest problem with her is that I unfortunately don't get the impression that all the charity work she has been doing (aka Project Playground) is done for the right reasons (which in this case would be that she has turned her life around and wanted to help others who aren't as privileged). It just feels like something she's doing to clean up her CV. Sorry about that, Sofia, but that's how I feel.

I have the same doubts about her charity work. She only started it after she started dating CP. She had no proper job training or any decent career, and needed to brush up her CV. Princesses do charity work, so she started at that. Besides it suited her on her conquest of fame. Basically Project Playground only became known on a wider scale becaused she used her relationship with the Prince to promote herself and her charity. Project Playground made it possible for her to give interviews, pose for the press, attend glamorous charity galas in posh dresses.

To me that smell just like a continued chase for fame and publicity: modeling, tv show, charity gala posing, princessing. It all seems to fit together, imho.

[xenobia]

Originally Posted by Tilia C.

I have the same doubts about her charity work. She only started it after she started dating CP. She had no proper job training or any decent career, and needed to brush up her CV. Princesses do charity work, so she started at that. Besides it suited her on her conquest of fame. Basically Project Playground only became known on a wider scale becaused she used her relationship with the Prince to promote herself and her charity. Project Playground made it possible for her to give interviews, pose for the press, attend glamorous charity galas in posh dresses.

To me that smell just like a continued chase for fame and publicity: modeling, tv show, charity gala posing, princessing. It all seems to fit together, imho.

I actually don't have a problem with her using her relationship with C-P to bring attention to Project Playground. Isn't that what you're supposed to do when you run a charity: use your connections so that you can raise both money and awareness? Those are the rules of the game, not just for her but for everyone in the charity business.

Having said that, I still don't think she's doing this for the right reasons. I would have had more respect for her if she started educating herself in a more sincere way (aka university or something similar) when she met C-P.

[Empress Merel]

Originally Posted by LadyFinn

We don't know yet if Carl Philip will be continuing to be a working royal after the wedding. Maybe they will move to South Africa. At least one can hope that.

If they stay in Sweden and Sofia will do royal work duties, the court has a big problem to find her a suitable way to work so that she will not totally outshine her husband. Because she, unlike Daniel, doesn't know how to be discreet.

The women usually outshine the men. It's a moot point you're making here.

[LadyFinn]

Originally Posted by Empress Merel

The women usually outshine the men. It's a moot point you're making here.

Not always. I don't mean that the press writes more about women, it is natural because of the fashion and clothes, but a woman herself can make a big difference. Queen Letizia doesn't outshine king Felipe, she knows that the king is the main person and the regent.

I hope to see Sofia understanding that but after having followed her, I'm really skeptical.

[roseroyal]

I have to say in general my favorite Royals to follow are the women. William being the exception.

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by cepe

This has been discussed ad nauseam on other threads on this forum.

Why go through it all over again??

The idea is that we reserve this thread for the discussion so that the other threads won't be sidelined by it. Moving the posts will however take some time. And it will also take some time before all posters will get used not to write their opinions about Sofia's suitability in the other threads.
Any engagement news will be snowed under by comments pro and contra Sofia Hellqvist at this moment. And this way posters who are not interested in the debate can simply ignore this thread, while still getting updated on other things about the couple.


But although I personally agree that the things has been debated ad nauseam, many still want to discuss the matter, and in the end this is a discussion forum. So this thread will provide an opportunity for those who are interested.

[Dman]

The attention very naturally falls on the women within the royal families. So far, the prince's and King's really don't mind that the world's media pay a little more attention to their spouses.

Sofia most likely will be the focus of attention from the media because she's the new royal bride on the scene, she'll be attending royal events with the family and carrying out royal duties alongside her fiancee and husband.

The very idea that she and Prince Carl Philip should be exiled due to her past pictures is very much nonsense.

[Queen Penelope]

Originally Posted by angela

I can just picture her at gala dinners. Over the top gown; elaborate hairdo; Order of the Seraphim and as many jewels as she can hang on herself. Then she turns around and that horrible big Sun tattoo is sitting at the top of her back ruining it all ha, ha. Priceless!

BTW I am in agreement with the poster who questioned the re-writing of history with regards to Sophia's nude stuff. In the pics I have seen she is clearly over 16 and when she was "crowned" Miss Slitz and done that reality show she was older then that as well.

Oh my!!! Yup, that is going to be quite the scene!!

They'll marry and all will be forgiven, or (as another poster stated), she will be the princess everyone will snigger at. I can't warm up to her. All the whitewashing (of her past) wouldn't be so bad if the whole 180 degree of her personality didn't seem insincere and to try make her look really good, really quickly because now she's dating a prince.

[cepe]

Originally Posted by Marengo

The idea is that we reserve this thread for the discussion so that the other threads won't be sidelined by it. Moving the posts will however take some time. And it will also take some time before all posters will get used not to write down the same their opinions about Sofia's suitability in the other threads.
Any engagement news will be snowed under by comments pro and contra Sofia Hellqvist at this moment. And this way posters who are not interested in the debate can simply ignore this thread, while still getting updated on other things about the couple.


But although I personally agree that the things has been debated ad nauseam, many still want to discuss the matter, and in the end this is a discussion forum. So this thread will provide an opportunity for those who are interested.

OK but it will need monitoring cos this could descend into something nasty if the other threads are anything to go by. Best of luck.

IMO good luck and best wishes to both Sophia and CP. YUou cannot change your past, and most people have something they would want to change. What matters is how they work together in the future.

What is important is that she is given a chance to be a supporting wife to CP and, hopefully, create a role supporting good causes and the monarchy.

[Lady Nimue]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

CP hardly works, I don't think that will change. Sofia will tagg along to the odd event but she will generate her attention from other events than royal work. IMO she will push her foundation to the limit to become Saint Sofia of Sweden and act more than a top class socialite rather than a working royal.

i think you could be right. I think she's a smart cookie. We'll see what she does. Kinda fun to watch.

Originally Posted by Marengo

But although I personally agree that the things has been debated ad nauseam, many still want to discuss the matter, and in the end this is a discussion forum. So this thread will provide an opportunity for those who are interested.

I want to thank you for creating the thread because I am new to the discussion. It's a curious swerve in the road because I joined up to be able to follow and discuss Princess Charlene's pregnancy - and then this engagement happens. Suddenly I have a lot to say.

Originally Posted by Dman

The very idea that she and Prince Carl Philip should be exiled due to her past pictures is very much nonsense.

I wouldn't say exiled - I don't think anyone has suggested that. What i think would be a good 'test' would be to - as has been suggested - make her a Duchess but not a Princess. Or - make her nothing at all, like Chris - though I understand that was his choice. Just to keep her honest about why she is marrying the Prince.

[Viv]

Originally Posted by Stefan

From Queen Margrethe it is known that when Frederik dated a Katja ... (don't rember the exact name think it was Storkholm) who also had posed in underwear that the would not agree to a marriage. She was quoted as saying that an underwear Model would never become the next Queen of Denmark.

It's no secret that CP Frederik was 'encouraged' to find his bride abroad! A Danish girl - underwear model or not- would never have been accepted by HM! Which IMO in Katja Storkholm's case was a pity because she appeared to be a nice girl.

[COUNTESS]

Originally Posted by LadyFinn

We don't know yet if Carl Philip will be continuing to be a working royal after the wedding. Maybe they will move to South Africa. At least one can hope that.

If they stay in Sweden and Sofia will do royal work duties, the court has a big problem to find her a suitable way to work so that she will not totally outshine her husband. Because she, unlike Daniel, doesn't know how to be discreet.

You who are so judgmental. Frankly, Daniel is a physical fitness trainer, hardly a Rhodes Scholar and Sofia is lovely and interesting, also not a Rhodes Scholar. Her husband to be is nothing special, either. The truth is men in suits are not that interesting to the media that keep royalty in the forefront and royals have very little to offer except glamour and glitz.

[Lady Nimue]

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

You who are so judgmental.

Everyone. Just like you. It's what we do.

[Cris M]

"The press can't be entirely trusted", unless they are talking trash about Sofia. Then some people here will believe on everything they say. "No one here can say what the Royals think or feel", because we don't know them. Unless people decide to say Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeline don't like Sofia and The King is pushing everyone to pretend she was accepted by the Family.

It amazes me how fickle some people can be. But I'm sure Prince Carl Philip and that lovely fiancée of his are so happy they couldn't care less about irrelevant bitterness on Internet.

[COUNTESS]

Originally Posted by Cris M

"The press can't be entirely trusted", unless they are talking trash about Sofia. Then some people here will believe on everything they say. "No one here can say what the Royals think or feel", because we don't know them. Unless people decide to say Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeline don't like Sofia and The King is pushing everyone to pretend she was accepted by the Family.

It amazes me how fickle some people can be. But I'm sure Prince Carl Philip and that lovely fiancée of his are so happy they couldn't care less about irrelevant bitterness on Internet.

That is very nice. I am glad you are considering how they feel about one another. The junk that others print as opinion, so be it, is ugly. They are two young people and should be able to make their way. There is a difference between opinion and fact. It seems the family is happy. That is good. What she id she di. It is over. We all go forward. Nobody should have to drag their past forever.

[JessRulz]

It is stated at the top of this thread that:

It is imperative that members remain respectful to each other, and do not stoop to personal attacks - on the subject matter or each other - to get their point across

This is also a basic forum rule. Posts which do not abide by this, will be deleted, no ifs or buts.