I was genuinely surprised yesterday when the Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf announced that five of his grandchildren would be stripped of their royal titles. Crown Princess Victoria’s two children are now the only kids who are really considered “royal.” Prince Carl-Philip’s two sons and Princess Madeleine’s three kids are no longer part of the royal house of Bernadotte. I said yesterday that Madeleine’s kids getting pushed out was not some huge surprise – Madeleine and her husband Chris have spent a good chunk of time living outside of Sweden, and those kids don’t seem super-connected to the Swedish royal family anyway. But it was shocking in Carl Philip’s case – he and his wife live full-time in Sweden and they undertake a lot of royal work on behalf of the crown. Well, both Carl Philip and Madeleine released statements on their social media yesterday after the announcement. Clearly, they knew this was coming and the statements were vetted beforehand, but see if you can spot the tonal difference.
Princess Madeleine and her brother Prince Carl Philip are opening about their father King Carl XVI Gustaf’s decision to have their children’s royal titles stripped. On Monday, the palace announced that the children of Princess Madeleine and Chris O’Neill, and Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, are no longer official members of the royal house, which means they are no longer expected to perform official royal duties.
“His Majesty The King has decided on changes to The Royal House. The purpose of these changes is to establish which members of The Royal Family may be expected to perform official duties incumbent on the Head of State or related to the function of the Head of State,” a palace statement read.
Soon after the announcement was made, Madeleine took to her personal Instagram to share her thoughts on the decision: “Earlier today, the court announced that Leonore, Nicolas and Adrienne will no longer belong to the royal house. This change has been planned for a long time. Chris and I think it’s good that our children are now getting a greater opportunity to shape their own lives as private individuals in the future,” she wrote alongside a sweet photo of her three children.
Madeline’s younger brother, Prince Carl Philip, also took to Instagram to share his thoughts on the decision, writing: “Today, the King announced the decision that our children no longer hold the Royal Highness position. We see this as positive as Alexander and Gabriel will have freer choices in life. They will retain their prince titles and their duchies, Södermanland and Dalarna, which we value and are proud of. Our family has strong connections to both landscapes and we maintain our commitment there. We will continue to focus on our heart issues and commitment. We will also continue to support the King and Crown Princess – our future head of state – and participate in the King’s House activities as we wish.”
Despite losing their title of Royal Highness, Madeleine’s three children — Princess Leonore, 5, Prince Nicolas, 4, Princess Adrienne, 1 – and Carl Philip’s two sons — Prince Alexander, 2, and Prince Gabriel, 2 — will retain their titles of Prince and Princess, but these titles will become personal and any future spouses or children will not have a right to them.
Again, this was always the path for Madeleine’s kids, whether or not they were officially pushed out of the royal family. It was sort of dumb – in my opinion – to give her kids prince/princess titles anyway. But it’s shocking that the King’s only son won’t have HIS sons as part of the royal family. That being said, Carl Philip always seemed to not be interested in power plays within his family. His sister is the Crown Princess, so that always freed him to live a quieter life. So maybe he’s happier this way. I don’t know. PS… You can see Carl Philip’s IG here.
Photos courtesy of WENN and Instagram.
Can someone indulge me and give me some extra tea on Sofia? I’m tired of dishing about Kate all the time lol. All I know is her background as basically a soft core model etc.
Before she became CP’s official she was part of a shady charity in Africa that conveniently got scrubbed when it became a problem. She was super proud of that until she wasn’t.
I think she was on a Swedish reality show (apparently made it to the final) and then did a topless photoshoot where she was holding a snake or something. But that’s all the “dish” on her really. In the grand scheme of things, not very scandalous in this day and age. I think at the time when it was discovered she was dating Prince Carl Philip, the media tried to play it that she was a porn star when that was far from the truth. She seems smart and educated who dabbled with a career in entertainment.
Interesting. Letizia and Mette-Marit remain my favorites though!
She didn’t just do the photoshoot she was the Swedish equivalent of Playmate of the Year. Which, yeah, not super scandalous these days, although that depends on who you ask.
Multiple nude photoshoots, the lolita bondage photoshoot, the reality tv show, working in the US on a questionable student visa, her sugar daddy, mocking her disabled professor online. So much has been scrubbed.
Not sure about educated.
Yeah, it’s not really dish and similar to Meghan’s past as a briefcase girl with a few sexy Maxim shoots. It’s not really scandalous unless you want it to be and similar to what a lot of young women do when they are starting in the entertainment industry. She seems smart and sweet.
I’d love to hear more about other royals too! I’m a bit tired of the British Royal family, tbh.
Her parents allowed her to do nude modeling since she was 16, she traveled alone, out of the country, with the photographers. That her parents thought it was ok has been an issue.
She had a blog while she worked as a yoga instructor in NYC. Some entries can still be found online. The tea with this blog is that she narrated how she and a friend mocked a teacher who had a disability.
She met CP while he was still with a long-time girlfriend, who happened to be bffs with Madeleine. During their first dates, she’d leak details to her close friends, via SMS, including a “morning after” picture of CP while he was still sleeping.
Her charity PP was created as part of her whitewashing and it’s involved in some shady property deals, which were kind of a fall-back in case her relationship with CP didn’t work out, for example she purchased luxury apartments in South Africa in the charity’s name.
Oh and she single-white-female’d Madeleine for years, à la Leann Rimes.
I have no opinion on this issue despite my rich Scan history, but Carl Philip and Sofia have to be two of the most attractive people. My lord.
Best looking royals alongside King Philip & Queen Letizia..
As far as I’m concerned, they can make whatever decisions about the royal lineage they want, as long as C-P gets to keep his hot. 😉
But I’m not Swedish, so it’s not really up to me.
But I’m guessing the Swedes realize that C-P’s hot is a national treasure that must be preserved at all costs.
He is so crazy handsome. If I were his kids I’d want his looks more than his title.
He is good looking. I think he got that from his mother not from Carl Gustaf who was never particularly attractive in my opinion.
I actually wonder if the fact that Carl Phillip marrying an ex glamour model maybe pissed off his dad. Hence the removal of the titles. Maybe I’m just digging for the drama though!
I don’t think so, his dad loves Sofia and made their marriage a lot easier than Victoria’s marriage to Daniel.
Carl Gustaf is probably into her honestly.
That is understandable as Daniel was marrying the Crown Princess. Everyone sounds happy with the decision.
Which is really unfortunate because Daniel has proven to be a great husband to Victoria and father to his kids. He seems like a really good guy.
Daniel seems like such a gem. I was just reading something about how Princess Madeleine said she was in labor at Carl Phllip and Sofia’s wedding and how her brother in law Daniel was sitting near to her at the event helping to keep her distracted.
Do you guys remember Daniel’s speech for Victoria at their wedding? He totally won me over and I wasn’t the only one.
It seems like he made Daniel and Victoria’s marriage more difficult not because she’s the crown princess, but because he’s still pissy over CP not being the Crown Prince. It was him being petty and really wasn’t about who his heir was marrying. The really dirty take is he was hoping Victoria wouldn’t have children and then CP’s could somehow slide in and bring the monarchy back to who he considers his rightful heir. And CG is totally the type to sneak peeks at his daughter-in-law in a bikini or something gross, so I’m thinking he was more open to Sofia than others.
No way, CG was the only one on board with Sofia from the start.
He even arranged to have their engagement announced while Queen Silvia was out of the country. She had to fly back on the red-eye and just made it to the announcement in time. A woman who created an anti-sex trafficking charity with a p 0 r n model as a daughter-in-law. I’m sure she’s thrilled.
Agree. I think the king and queen were quite horrified by the union. They preferred the ex gf of 10 years who would have better princess material.
I think the king has no problem with Sofia, given his love of strip clubs and lap dances.
Got a point there there Nota.
What beautiful children.
Gorgeous kids and an amazing photo.
he’s so f-ing hot
Totally off topic, but Carl will always be the No.1 best looking royal. I would climb that man like a tree.
*cough*
Sorry, where was I? Oh yes, glad that they all see this as a positive. Interesting to see if anyone relates it to the debates surrounding Archie not being given a title.
To me it is King Felipe. He’s gorgeous and way smarter than CP 😉
Andrea Casiraghi, before drugs ruined his looks, was maaajor #goals for me.
All these year of hearing prince Harry was the most handsome prince in the world were a lie. I feel cheated.
And Sofia looks gorgeous aswell!!
I can’t beleive how big Madeleine’s kids are!
And on a side note: “Madeline’s younger brother, Prince Carl Philip,…” Ahem, People, I think you got that wrong. Isn’t Madeleine the youngest of the three?
Yes.
Growing up the siblings were the only 3 in line for the thrown. His sisters, as women,
couldn’t inherit the thrown and all except Birgitta lost their HRH with marriage. Sweden’s monarchy isn’t very popular, especially the King. Now there’s 10 in line and if the grandkids all have 2 kids that’s 24 in line (aka on the payroll). He’s been up against a Parliament that doesn’t want to increase funding and he doesn’t want to lose his crown.
“Carl Philip always seemed to not be interested”
Uh yeah but his wife certainly was. Can’t wait to see what happens with her over the next few years.
Thank you. I mentioned this yesterday and was dismissed as she will not care because the kids would still have privilege.
If that was the case, she could have married a wealthy dude and had that life. Nope, she wants the title and all that comes with it.
Didn’t CP and Sofia insist on being working royals? Madeleine read the room better – she is rich, has a wealthy husband, lives her life as she pleases and shows up when it is required of her.
The king insisted on keeping them around, trying to create a fake job for Sofia in his office to have her on the payroll. CP and Sofia aren’t supposed to be working royals and the politicians are making it clear. It isn’t backlash against Madeleine that is causing this change, but the fact that the king, CP, and Sofia aren’t listening to the political message.
But she’ll still have her HRH. Her kids just won’t get Crown money and her grandkids will be untitled. Maybe she can go all PMK on them to make sure she’s still in royal circles well into told age. Be careful, Charlotte!
Wont her grandchildren have the styles of sons and daughters of dukes?
The titles for the king’s grandchildren (other than Estelle and Oscar) are not hereditary AFAIK. The prince and princess titles have been downgraded too. They are now “Prince Alexander” not “HRH Prince Alexander of Sweden” etc. and whomever they marry will not get to use a prince/princess title.
Well, its like someone on here said yesterday. These kids are going to grow up privileged, take expensive vacations, go to the best schools, etc – it seems like a better deal all around, to be honest. I think I’d rather be Zara than Harry in many ways, you know?
I have to agree with you. These children will have the best of both worlds: royal privileges without the royal responsibilities. These children are not about to be kicked out on the streets. I don’t think people realize how much royals like Zara and Peter enjoy their freedom. None of them want to live with the scrutiny of being a working royal.
Plus to be honest Zara and Peter are able to monetize their royal-adjacent status in a way that they wouldn’t if they were titled royals.
All those people are insanely goodlooking. I would cast all of them in my Netflix movie about a scandinavian princess falling in love with a peasant even though she intensely disliked him following their impromptu meet-cute.
The dress Princess Madeleine is wearing in the top photo is so beautiful. I wish Kate would wear that dress instead of her Diana cosplay.
I would looooove for this to happen to Waity Katy, all that waiting and oops no title for you 🙂
Ha! You think Kate would ever lose her title? And if that ever happened so would Megan and you think she’d be ok with that? Ok now who’s kidding who?
Of the two, Meghan would definitely handle the loss better. Way less time to have then lose a title, and would still do exactly what she’s doing anyway.
They’re still princes and princesses, dukes and duchesses, and members of the royal family, just not the royal house. so, they’re still royal except they will never receive money from the government nor required to represent Queen Victoria in any way. This frees them up to live their lives as privileged and rich kids with no one to answer to.
This would be a different conversation had the King decided to strip them of their titles as well, not just their style of HRH.
Can anyone explain how this will actually work? The kids won’t get money from the crown, but they’re not able to work so their parents (who do get money from the crown) will pay for them. Isn’t that basically the same thing? Maybe the Madeleine earns money (not sure), but does CP?
As HRHs they would have been expected to be working royals as soon as they turned 18 (or even after university), they would receive taxpayer money to fund their lives, their spouses would become HRH Prince/Princess + working royal, their children too, etc
This curtails everything – they remain members of the Family but not the House. They will have private jobs and private lives.
So, they will keep the palaces and other titles? In other words, they will not belong to the royal family, but keep the royal family riches, while gaining freedoms of the private citizens?
They’re still royals and members of the Royal Family, just not of the Royal House. They will never work for the Crown nor represent the Crown in exchange of money/perks.
Too bad you can’t get those hot Swedish genes in H&M.
Right?!
You forgot Brazilian, German and French.
The joke goes that the Swedish royals aren’t very swedish.
So very true. Daniel was who was looked upon as not good enough is more Swedish than the majority of the family.
What does that supposed to mean?
QE2 needs to follow suit and pension off Andy and his brats same way.