Expressen's royal commentator Karin Lennmor has written a nice chronicle about Haga princesses.
The Haga princesses have a heritage to convey further
You have to do things while there still is time. One day it may be too late ...
It was also possibly about that with Crown Princess Victoria's insistent wish for her 40th birthday. She wanted to gather the family, the four aunts in particular. Perhaps one last time?
- It was a cautious wish I had to gather them all at Solliden, said Victoria to Expressen.
And Margaretha, 82, Birgitta, 80, Désirée, 79, and Christina, 73, heard Victoria's will. They came. Not only for the celebration at Solliden, but also to the Royal Chapel.
- It's incredible, they live in different places and have their own lives. Getting a family together that way requires an effort and they were willing to do it for this day - so it feels great, Victoria said with a big smile.
The Haga Princesses aren't often seen now, Birgitta lives mostly in Mallorca and Margaretha in London. Sometimes - if some of them are in Stockholm privately - you can see them lunch together in Östermalmshallen. It's a happy sister group laughing and kidding together.
Despite the geographical distances, the siblings are obviously very close. It became automatically for the sisters when their father Prince Gustaf Adolf was so tragically killed in an air accident in January 1947.
Three of them are widows nowadays. Funerals are a sad way to meet, but it is precisely those gatherings they meet today. On the other hand, all Haga princesses haven't been present at happy events, such as christenings. Everyone of course attended when Princess Estelle was baptized, but they didn't gather together either at Oscar's or Nicolas baptism.
Perhaps one must respect this, especially when it comes to age and health reasons. Princess Christina suffered from breast cancer in 2010. She has also had blood cancer and in March, she underwent stem cell transplantation. She and her family have been very open about the disease, perhaps in support for others.
Obviously, age affects also for the Haga princesses. Princess Margaretha has a problem with her legs and sometimes walks a bit shaky.
But back to the Crown Princess's choice to bid all her aunts on her birthday. I think it's a moving action, so typically Victoria.
And it was nice! They met in the Chapel, had a family lunch at Stockholm Palace ... and they came to Solliden. It must have been fun for them to be together at their childhood summer paradise, brought many memories and laughter. None of them were on Solliden's gravel during Saturday's congratulations. But I saw them in one of the Palace windows, curiously looking behind the curtains of the people and the festivities.
The Crown Princess received many gifts. But a gift from an unknown person in the crowd got a little extra. Victoria received an old photo album with photos from Solliden, from the Palace's building in 1906 and through the years. It was felt how happy the crown princess was over the gift.
- Oh big thanks! This is so enjoyable and especially as my aunts are here. This album we will look at tonight!
They certainly did that after family dinner.
To keep the old generation with as long as possible, the next to hear memories and stories from the old ones - that's what the Crown Princess is doing right now. Soon it's too late ...
The Haga princesses - and also the king - have a memorial heritage to pass on. This is important in all families, not just in the royal family.
Karin Lennmor_ Hagasessorna har ett minnesarv att förmedla vidare _ Karin Lennmor _ Expressen