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ROYAL FAMILY

Princess Sofia returns to her Swedish roots

Sweden's newest princess, Sofia, has returned to the region where she grew up for the first time since her marriage to Prince Carl Philip catapulted her to royal stardom.

Published: 5 October 2015 16:07 CEST
Princess Sofia returns to her Swedish roots
Sweden's Princess Sofia Hellqvist at a visit to Dalarna on Monday. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

The 30-year-old princess, formerly known as Sofia Hellqvist, grew up in the mythical Älvdalen region of Dalarna in north-western parts of central Sweden.

On Monday, she returned to her roots on a two-day visit to Dalarna with her prince husband in their first official trip since the royal couple's high-profile wedding this summer.


Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip greeting crowds. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

“It feels great,” the princess told photographers waiting to snap her pictures. “This is the husband,” she joked, pretending to introduce Carl Philip to the excited crowds.

The couple met refugee children at an asylum centre in the town of Borlänge on Monday, before heading onwards to Säter, Stora Skedvi and Falun to talk to Swedish businesses.


Sofia and Carl Philip at an asylum centre for refugee children. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

On Tuesday they are set to travel to a Sami village – the indigenous people of Scandinavia – in the mountains of Dalarna as well as Sofia's hometown of Älvdalen, a small community of only some 2,000 residents.


Sofia playing with the children at the asylum centre. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Älvdalen is known for its preservation of an old Viking dialect called Elfdalian, which is still spoken by many in the area today.

“It is extra special to us. And I think everyone here feels that she's kind of 'our' princess,” Lotta Larsson, head of communications for Dalarna county council, told the TT newswire ahead of the royals' visit.


Sofia baking Swedish crisp bread at Stora Skedvi bakery. Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Sofia became Sweden's newest princess after she married Carl Philip at a lavish ceremony in June 2015.

WORKING IN SWEDEN

Swedish Royal Guards scrap ceremonial helmets over safety concerns

The King’s mounted Royal Guards will no longer be able to wear their iconic ceremonial helmets on parades, after the Swedish Work Environment Authority warned of serious safety concerns.

Published: 7 July 2023 13:53 CEST
Swedish Royal Guards scrap ceremonial helmets over safety concerns

“We take the safety of our employees extremely seriously and we are going to address this immediately,” colonel Stefan Nacksten, head of the Royal Guards, wrote in a statement. 

Employed by the Armed Forces, the Royal Guards are the King’s cavalry and infantry units and are a well-known sight at ceremonies in Sweden, including at the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace of Stockholm every day in summer – a popular spectacle for Stockholmers and tourists alike.

The helmets will no longer be used by Royal Guards on horseback from July 7th, as they do not conform to safety standards for riding helmets, although guards parading on foot will still be permitted to wear them.

They are part of the 1895 parade uniforms and were last modified in 2000. The Armed Forces will now create an entirely new helmet which looks the part, but is also safe for riding.

“We’re working on finding an alternative solution as quickly as possible which meets safety requirements and can also be used during parades,” Nacksten said.

“We’ve been working long-term with this issue but now that it has been assessed [by the Swedish Work Environment Authority] we need to take measures immediately,” he added.

“This is good, and now we’re working to make sure something good comes out of this and we can get a safe riding helmet for parades in place as soon as possible.”

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