Crown Princess Victoria has held a meeting with experts as Swedish authorities consider its security status.
In recent weeks, drones have been seen flying above the royal palace as well as key buildings including nuclear plants. Sweden has mobilized large forces on the strategically important island of Gotland after Russian landing craft were deployed in the Baltic.
On Friday 11 February, Crown Princess Victoria gave an audience to Mikael Eriksson, former Swedish ambassador to Tallinn, and Isabella Törngren, Deputy Head of the European Unit at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. At the audience, the Crown Princess received information about the situation in the three Baltic states, due to the security policy developments in the area. The audience was held in Prince Bertil’s apartment at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
Swedish Police said on 31 January that they had arrested a Russian citizen who flew a drone above Drottningholm Palace on 30 January. The man is suspected of violating the Swedish “Protection Act.” The Swedish Royal Court, Sweden’s Security Police and the Swedish Armed Forces was quickly informed. Earlier in January, drones were spotted flying over both the Royal Palace in Stockholm and Drottningholm Palace. However, it is not known if King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia were in either palace when the drones were seen.
Due to an increased level of uncertainty regarding Russia, Sweden has decided to upgrade its military, and Crown Princess Victoria visited the Gothenburg garrison in September 2021 to attend the re-establishment of Älvsborg’s amphibious regiment.
The Norwegian royal family has also recently visited their military. The Norwegian kingdom has a national border with Russia. Crown Prince Haakon recently inspected a military unit to be used in a major international military exercise beginning this week in Norway. Norway and Sweden cooperate militarily, but are not officially allies as Norway is a member of NATO, while Sweden is not a member of the defence alliance.
