The King of Sweden has said he didn’t think it was “fair” that his daughter was named heir to the throne when a change in inheritance law took place in 1980 – stripping his son of his position as king-on-hold.
Crown Princess Victoria was two years old when the new law was introduced and updated the natural line of succession, specifying that the eldest child, regardless of gender, should inherit the throne.
By then her younger brother, Carl Philip, who was seven months old, was to become king because the previous law favored male heirs.
However, under the new law, he was stripped of the title of crown prince and Victoria became the heir apparent.
And in an interview published this week with local news channel SVT, the Swedish king, 76, said he thinks it’s unfair to apply the new law to his children after they’ve already been born.
The King of Sweden said he didn’t think it was “fair” that his daughter was named heir to the throne when a change in the law of succession took place in 1980 – stripping his son of his position as king-on-hold (pictured , Crown Princess Victoria with the King and her daughter Princess Estelle)
When the king’s first child, Victoria, was born in 1977, succession law meant that if the king had a son, she would ascend the throne.
When he was born in 1979, Carl Philip became the heir apparent.
However, on January 1, 1980, an amendment to the law stipulated that the firstborn child should be the heir, regardless of whether it was a boy or a girl.
It was decided that although the King’s children had already been born, the law would apply to them retrospectively, placing the future of the monarchy in Victoria’s hands and stripping Carl of his title of crown prince.
When he was born in 1979, heir to the throne was Carl Philip, Carl Philip’s second child but firstborn son (pictured with his wife).
Carl Gustaf opposed the decision at the time and said in the most recent interview that he still thinks the decision was unfair.
Carl Gustaf said in the interview recorded in the autumn his problem was the fact that the law had been applied retrospectively to Victoria and Carl Philip when the prince was seven months old.
“It is difficult to have laws that apply retrospectively. It doesn’t seem wise,’ he said.
“You can accept the next generation – that’s okay. But it was my son who was born and they got rid of everything,” he said, adding, “It’s pretty weird. You can not.’
When the interviewer asked him if it was unfair to strip his son of the title after he was already born, he replied, “Yes, I think so.”
Princess Sofia and her parents, left, and King Carl Gustaf and Queen Sylvia with Prince Carl Philip, with Prince Alexander, left, and Prince Gabriel, right, on the day of Prince Julian’s christening, centre
The interview was taped late last year and is scheduled to air in January, when the King begins the year of his Golden Jubilee.
However, in a statement released yesterday, the monarch clarified his comments.
He said: “In the fall, I received two inquiries about changing the 1980 succession plan in favor of the first-born child – regardless of gender.
“Then I shared my thoughts on Prince Carl Philip retroactively losing his position as Crown Prince in connection with the constitutional amendment.
Carl Gustaf went on to say that his daughter, who was pictured in Stockholm last October with her husband Prince Daniel, Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip, is “very committed” to her royal role
“It struck me deeply to hear comments afterwards claiming that I would not stand behind my daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, as heir to the Swedish throne.
“I would therefore like to make it clear that my interview answers are not to be interpreted as criticism of the female succession to the throne or of Crown Princess Victoria.
“For me, the succession to the female throne is a matter of course. The Crown Princess is my successor. She is an extraordinary enrichment for me, my family and our country. I am proud of her and her tireless commitment to Sweden.”
Both Victoria, 45, and Carl Philip, 43, are dedicated to their royal duties and often attend official engagements for the Crown.
Victoria’s daughter, Princess Estelle, ten, is second in line to the throne and will one day rule the country. Third is her six-year-old son Oscar.
Since the birth of his nephews, Carl Philip is now fourth in line of succession. The three sons he shares with his wife, Princess Sofia, are respectively fifth, sixth and seventh in line to the throne.
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