Facing the future: Young Scandinavian royalty

Scandinavian Review, Winter 1996 by Eades, David

In a century where classlessness, functionalism and utilitarianism have been glorified, and in a Europe where Scandinavia epitomizes the modern, egalitarian, welfare state, how can monarchies have survived in Denmark, Sweden and Norway? The answer lies in the institutions of monarchy in those countries. Not only is it a practical form of government, whose principal figures, the monarchs, withdrew from active politics in the course of the last century, but it is also a system whose romantic side, with its links to the past and its continuity, appeals to the democratic Danes, Swedes and Norwegians.

The image of the bicycling monarch with an easy manner, moving freely among his people unencumbered by protocol, but able, when the occasion requires, to put on the most sumptuous displays of royal ceremony, is exemplified by the present Scandinavian sovereigns. Queen Margrethe II and her husband, Prince Henrik, in Denmark; King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia in Sweden; and King Harald V and Queen Sonja in Norway have all, clearly, won a place in the hearts of their peoples. But what of the next generation? Have they got the stuff of which Kings and Queens are made?

Sweden: Changing the Order of Succession

As if to signal their confidence in the future of their monarchies both the Swedes, in 1979, and the Norwegians, in 1990, changed the law of succession to permit women to succeed to the Crown, the Danes having done so as long ago as 1953. The changes in Sweden and Norway have had a practical effect only in the former, where the heir is Crown Princess Victoria. At her birth on July 14, 1977, the Act of 1810, confining the succession to male members of the House of Bernadotte, was in force. The birth of a daughter to the King and Queen, wed only the year before, prompted a review of the succession.

Even though Queen Silvia gave birth to a son, Prince Carl Philip in May 1979, who under the still valid Act of 1810 automatically became heir apparent, the new Act came into force on January 1, 1980, and the infant prince was superseded by his older sister. The King and Queen are preparing their daughter for her exalted future with great care. She is receiving a broad education, and, as she will one day be commander-inchief of the armed forces, a tour of duty with one of the services will be necessary. What form her apprenticeship for her constitutional role will take has yet to be announced.

It was the King and Queen's wish that their children (a second daughter, Princess Madeline was born in 1982) should be raised in as normal a manner as possible, and this meant, for a start, sending them to ordinary schools. Victoria has completed her last year of secondary school at the Enskilda Gymnasium in Stockholm. Most of her time was spent with schoolwork; she loved biology but said herself that math was not her favorite subject. She has a gift for languages, having perfected her English in America; her German is more or less fluent. She is the only child in Sweden whose school reports were made public. She is now in France to study at the Universite Catholique de l'ouest in Angers.

As yet Victoria has not had to play a major part in official court life, apart from being present at such events as the Opening of Parliament, the presentation of the Nobel Prizes, and of course, her investiture as heir at the Royal Palace on July 15, 1995. On that occasion she took the oath of loyalty to her father and made a speech which charmed those present and the millions of Swedes watching on TV.

To those who know her and have met her, Victoria is a young woman with an open personality and a positive attitude to life. Cecilia Wilmhardt, Press Secretary at the Royal Palace, says she is great fun to be with. "She has this extraordinary talent for meeting with people and talking to them-whatever their position in life." This gift-essential in royalty-will be a great asset to Princess Victoria as she embarks on her public life.

Norway: Living Among Equals

In the next kingdom, Norway, the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon Magnus, was born in 1973, two years after his sister, Princess Martha Louise. Though the Norwegian Parliament amended the country's constitution to ensure that the reigning monarch's first-born would succeed to the throne regardless of gender, it was felt unfair to thus disinherit the Crown Prince, then 17. It will only be in the next generation that the changes will be implemented.

Norway is a very egalitarian country-the nobility were abolished shortly after the introduction of the 1814 constitution-and the young royals had an upbringing like other children their age. They attended state schools and took part in most activities just as their classmates did. In his first interview on attaining his majority, Prince Haakon said that though he was introduced from childhood to the idea that he was not just like other children and would one day be King, he thinks he was treated just like everyone else.

Since his eighteenth birthday Haakon has attended meetings of the Council of State, presided over by the King, and will serve as regent should his father be unable to carry out his duties, for example because of illness or absence abroad. His public duties cover a whole range of functions; in May 1995 he represented the King at the VE ceremonies in London.