Madeleine and Jonas split – Do you support Sweden’s royal family? Posted by Gabriel on Apr 27, 2010 in Culture, Swedish Language, Uncategorized, Vocabulary
The Swedish Royal Court recently announced that Princess Madeleine had broken up with her fiancé, Jonas Bergström, after weeks of media reports about a brief affair between the groom-to-be and a Norwegian handball star during a ski trip. Yes, handball. (We’ll explain that in another post:-))
It has been quite a few exciting years for these usually boring Swedish royals. Last year Princess Madeleine’s sister, Crown Princess Victoria, announced her engagement to Daniel, a man of the people. Shortly thereafter Princess Madeleine announced her engagement to Jonas. The King and Queen were said to be happy with Jonas (he came from the proper side of society) and disappointed in Daniel (he owned a chain of workout gyms and came from a normal background).
Many thought it a bit strange that Princess Madeleine and Jonas announced their engagement so soon after Crown Princess Victoria’s announcement. But that is old news. Oh the lives of the royals!
Now the drama continues with these crazy tails of passion, handball and skiing. Oh, and I forgot to mention, as an aside, Daniel, Crown Princess Victoria’s soon-to-be-prince, recently received a kidney transplant.
As for the younger sister, upon making the announcement of the split, Princess Madeleine left for New York City, where she so far has been able to avoid the cameras of the papparazi.
This is a pretty big deal in Sweden, or is it?
Let us know what you think. Do you read about the Swedish royals and are you interested in their affairs? Or do you think it is crazy for a country like Sweden to have royals and a royal family?
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Comments:
Marija:
Well, I guess nowadays it’s a lil bit.. how to say “exotic” knowing that there are still royal families. Since it’s often associoated with characters from fairy tales. Answering the question do i read and am i interested in Royal family’s life, i think the asnwer is “yes”, but just because in the past 2-3 months when I started reading Swedish newspapers and following what’s going on down there i wanna know and “feel” what’s Sweden’s society is up to.
And it’s not the “affair mania”, but just interesting to understand, that it doesn’t count wheather one is from Royal family or not, relationships’ ups and downs,depictions, the situation of a “bright, elder sister” and “poor yournger one” can face anywhere. In my country’s local newspaper I’ve read today an article about that, and it said, that the norwegian lady wrecked princess’ plans. But.. hey.. why blaming only her?..
🙂
Arian Alexandersson:
I do not like the direction the royal family is going mainly because of Victoria getting married. I think Carl Phillip should be king I am scared the family that has ruled Sverige for hundreds of years will change the name I just assume get rid of the monarchy if they have Victoria crown Queen and change the name.
Gabriel:
@Arian Alexandersson Hi Arian,
So you don’t think Victoria should be queen?
BM:
@Arian,
When Queen Elizabeth II of the UK married the Prince Philip Mountbatten, the dynastic name of Windsor was retained, even though the family name was changed to Mountbatten-Windsor.
Even if the dynastic name is changed, what difference does it make? The Swedish Royal family have only been Bernadottes since 1818. Before that it was Holstein-Gottorp, and before that, Hesse, and before that, Palatinate-Zweibrücken, and before that, Vasa.
Arian Alexandersson:
No I don’t think she should be Queen I think it is the time to end royalty in Sverige we are a land of free men the symbol the monarchy once represented is gone they are a waste now they have no power and loosing the respect of the people
Hannah:
A monarchy is not “old news” it’s just that America can’t understand the concept because apparently the U.S. can do no wrong and the whole world should follow in their footsteps. I disagree that there shouldn’t be a royal family. They don’t rule the government, they represent the country. Madeleine and Jonas’ split does not tarnish the royal family’s reputation and Victoria will be the new queen. I wouldn’t have an opinion about another country until I’ve experienced it myself. I suggest you do the same.
Leo:
The Swedish Royal Family is fine as it is. Only the media is overdoing the reporting. Could media please concentrate on more important matters, thank you.