Do King Carl Gustaf and his family have to back off?

Swedish royals
Do King Carl Gustaf and his family have to back off?

© Michael Campanella / Getty Images

The Swedish royal family may be facing changes. This will be decided in the summer.

The power of a king or queen is very limited in a constitutional monarchy like Sweden these days and is mostly limited to ceremonial. To secure the future of the House of Bernadotte on Sweden's throne, King Carl Gustaf, 74, and his successor Princess Victoria, 43, must remain relevant. However, according to an investigation, their room for maneuver could be further limited in summer 2021.

Royal affairs are under scrutiny

As early as November 2019, the Swedish government set up a committee to review the court on three matters.

The Apanage

The state grant for the royal family in 2020 was 146.4 million Swedish crowns (the equivalent of 13.6 million euros). This covers, for example, personnel costs and the maintenance of the royal residences. The committee should – in consultation with the court – develop new principles for the appanages and examine how the structuring of the funds can help "that the official obligations of the royal family are primarily fulfilled by a limited number of its members." The bottom line is that the state is looking for ways to save.

The flagging days

On 17 days a year the Swedish flag is hoisted on public buildings by order of the government. Seven days are all about the royal family, for example on the birthdays of the king, queen and princess Victoria. According to the Swedish government's website, the committee will propose changes "to reduce the number of royal flag days on the next change of throne."

The reward system

Orders and medals are a means by which King Carl Gustaf honors people who have rendered services to their country. Since 1974 medals have only been awarded to foreign citizens or stateless persons. Exception: Since 1995 King Carl Gustaf has been allowed to award members of his family the "Kungliga Serafimerorden" and the "Kungliga Nordstjärneorden". Swedish citizens, on the other hand, can also receive medals. The system will be reviewed by the committee – however, with the note that the options for awarding the honors could possibly be expanded.

The relevance of the Swedish monarchy is at risk

All three points are important for the status of the royal family in Sweden. If restrictions are decided, these will reduce the already limited scope for influence: If the flags are hoisted on fewer days during the year, the population is automatically less reminded of the royal family. If fewer than more medals and orders are awarded, the king will have fewer appearances. And the amount of the appanage is closely related to the royals' public room for maneuver: less money, less travel, less visibility for the royals.

King Carl Gustaf tries to keep his power

King Carl Gustaf has tried hard to cement his status in recent years. Terms such as "head of state" were used more and more frequently in press releases from the royal family. The royal activities on the national holiday on June 6th were expanded by the royal family. And: King Carl Gustaf announced in October 2019 that the royal family would be reorganized and that the children of Prince Carl Philip, 41, and Princess Madeleine, 38, would be deprived of the title of "Royal Highness". You will not receive any compensation in the future. A relief for the state treasury. But is that enough to silence the critics?

This will show on June 15, 2021. Then the committee will present its final report.

Sources used: regeringen.se, riksarkivet.se, kongahuset.se, Dana Press

This article originally appeared on Gala.de.

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