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Sweden

Princess Sofia speaks at Sophiahemmet virtual graduation

On Friday, Princess Sofia of Sweden spoke at the virtual graduation ceremony of new nurses from Sophiahemmet University.

Similarly to what happened last year, the graduation ceremony was held virtually in 2021. Before the global health emergency exploded 16 months ago, all graduation ceremonies for Sophiahemmet University were traditionally held in the Blue Hall of Stockholm City Hall. 

In her speech, Her Royal Highness highlighted the responsibility of a nurse’s job, not only with a patient’s life but also because of the trust each patient gives their nurse. She also congratulated the students on their dedication and hard work during their training years.

Never before in our lifetime have nurses had such a key role in our society, and it was significant for Princess Sofia to recognise the hard work done by student nurses during these troubled times. 

Her Royal Highness has volunteered at Sophiahemmet Hospital since April of 2020, after undergoing a three-day emergency preparedness course there, designed to train extra staff to ease the pressure on the structure. She took part in cleaning and cooking for patients, doctors and nurses. 

Unfortunately, both Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip were revealed to have tested positive for coronavirus at the end of November 2020, while she was pregnant with the couple’s third child, a son born in March 2021 named Julian Herbert Folke. 

Sofia has been honorary chair of Sophiahemmet since 2016, taking over the role from Princess Christina, King Carl XVI Gustav’s sister, who had chaired the organisation since 1972. 

Sophiahemmet University was founded in 1884 by Queen Sophia and has retained a royal connection ever since. The college offers yearly and three-year training programmes for nurses. It is also associated with the Sophiahemmet Hospital, built in its current location (Djurgården, Stockholm) in 1889.