Prince Daniel of Sweden has apologised for comments he made in SVT’s annual programme “Året med kungafamiljen” (or “Year with the Royal Family” in English).
In this year’s feature, Prince Daniel played in an ice hockey game in his hometown of Ockelbo to open up the town’s new hockey rink. The game featured former and current professional hockey players – both male and female. During the programme, His Royal Highness said he was excited to be playing with the “guys.”
A female ice hockey player, who took part in the game, took issue with his words for not being inclusive. Maria Rooth told Swedish news Expressen, “I have been playing ice hockey since I was four years old and am used to this way of talking…I met Prince Daniel and know that he is a fantastic guy, but I felt that he could have said it better because I know he wanted to include us too.”
As a result, Prince Daniel has apologised for his remarks in a phone call with Rooth. Rooth made a post about the phone call with Prince Daniel on her Instagram account.
The Prince, who is married to Crown Princess Victoria, sounded remorseful and ashamed of his remarks when he spoke to Rooth.
She said, “He told me it’s a habit. But to say it out there will be another thing. He was extremely remorseful. I replied that I greatly appreciated his apology and saw this as the way forward: being able to apologise and put things right. More should do so.”
Rooth, 39, continued, “Hockey is a sport for everyone where girls should have the same opportunity to practice the sport. I take every opportunity I can where I can contribute to change.”
The Royal Court’s Chief Information Officer, Margareta Thorgren, told Expressen about the situation, “As soon as the Prince realised his mistake, he immediately called Maria Rooth. Although at the time of the statement, he was in the boys’ dressing room, he obviously wanted to apologise.”