SvD Sunday - Interview with ETW
Court Marshall Elisabeth II
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.
CONTINUED IN NEXT POST >>>>>>>>>>>>>
, but of course all members of the Royal court are interesting, since they have a very special job (like in fairy tales)
