Princess Christina of Sweden has opened up about her chronic leukaemia diagnosis last October. She made the comments to the Swedish newspaper, Expressen after supporting her brother, King Carl XVI Gustaf at an event last week.
She said that the endless support from the Swedish Royal Family after her diagnosis had warmed her heart. About their love and encouragement and that of those who have sent their best wishes and prayers from across the world, she said, “I get the support of my immediate family, of course. It feels good. I also get support from friends and from many others I do not even know about.”
She added about the support she’s received, “It warms the heart, and it feels wonderful. I need it.”
She did not want to go into any more details regarding her treatment and understandably so.
Christina was clearly in good spirits when she was at the opening ceremony of the new campus of the Royal College of Music. Its opening was significant for the Princess as she had worked hard on the advisory committee for the development of the new campus. She was there with her husband, Tord Magnuson. Queen Silvia was also in attendance, and His Majesty spoke during the opening ceremony.
Speaking about the new campus, Christina said, “This means a lot. There are other music schools, but this is the oldest and perhaps the most significant. Here, many of our great musicians were. So there is a wide range here.”
Earlier this month, her older sister, Princess Birgitta spoke to Swedish Women’s Weekly in an interview ahead of her 80th birthday about Christina’s cancer fight. Birgitta said about the support she gives her younger sister, “We are talking. I’m trying to prove that I exist, and I send over some thoughts occasionally. More can’t be done. I am ashamed sometimes because I feel so good and when I said it to Titti she said ‘no, you must not.’ But it feels so, life is unfair.”
Princess Christina was diagnosed with chronic leukaemia in October 2016 with the Swedish Royal Court saying that she was feeling “relatively good” and would scale back her public duties during her treatment. However, they added that she would make appearances when her health allowed.
She was well well enough to attend the evening dinner for Princess Birgitta’s 80th birthday on 19 January. The Court released an image from the dinner of Princess Birgitta with her siblings: King Carl XVI Gustaf, 70, Princess Christina, 73, Princess Désirée, 78, and Princess Margareta, 82.