Sweden’s royals have put family first after a week of controversy that flared up just as they were attending one of the most prestigious events in their calendar.
The King of Sweden always presents most of the Nobel Prizes in a glittering ceremony that sees the royal family out in full force and in full royal regalia.
However, this year’s event took place just as email emerged linking one of the family to Jeffrey Epstein.
Messages were published in Swedish papers ahead of the ceremony mentioning Princess Sofia, wife of Prince Carl Philip and the only daughter in law of the King and Queen of Sweden.
( Sara Friberg/Kungl. Hovstaterna)
The emails were sent by Barbro Ehnbom twenty years ago when the princess, then an aspiring actress, arrived in New York. The messages offered to set up an introduction between Sofia and Epstein.
In response to Dagens Nyheter, the Swedish royals said that Sofia had ”been introduced to the person in question on a few occasions around 2005….the princess has not had any contact with the person in question for 20 years”.
(The Royal Court of Sweden)
Jeffrey Epstein was first convicted of sex offences in 2008, three years after meeting Sofia. He was later arrested again and was found dead in his prison cell in 2019.
Princess Sofia had announced just hours before the revelation that she wouldn’t be attending the Nobel prize ceremony or subsequent royal banquets as she wanted to stay at home with her fourth child, ten month old Princess Ines.
Ines became the star of a royal Christmas tradition that saw the younger generation of the family out in full force after the controversial Nobel week.
(Photo: Clément Morin/The Royal Court)
Queen Silvia led all her grandchildren out to enjoy a special Christmas event with her. The students at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå have been presenting Sweden’s royals with Christmas trees since the 1960s and, over sixty years on, Silvia brought the next generation of royals along to accept the gifts and get busy decorating.
Her eldest grandchild, Princess Estelle, was on hand to help her supervise the younger members of the family. Estelle, now 13 and second in line to the throne, arrived carrying baby Ines in her arms.
Queen Silvia took charge of the youngest of her grandchildren while Estelle helped her brother, nine year old Prince Oscar, and her cousins decorate the trees.
Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip’s eldest son, nine year old Prince Alexander, had carried in a big basket of baubles. His brothers – Prince Gabriel, 8, and four year old Prince Julian – were among the first to dive in and start decorating.
Princess Leonore, 11, was also there. Her mum, Princess Madeleine, is the youngest child of Queen Silvia and King Carl Gustaf, and has moved her family back to Sweden in recent times after a stint in the US where her husband, Christopher O’Neill, was working.
Leonore’s brother, ten year old Prince Nicolas, joined their 7 year old sister, Princess Adrienne, for some tree decorating.
Queen Silvia is a devoted grandmother and is often seen with her grandchildren in the run up to Christmas. Her birthday is on December 22 and the youngsters have featured in the past leading celebrations for their granny’s big day.
