As Crown Prince, Carl Gustaf’s first assignment as regent was to act as master of the Tour of Riddarfjärden cycle race. Photo: Owe Sjöblom/SVD/Scanpix

In the outer courtyard of the palace a few tourists are wandering around, enjoying the spring sunshine. Inside, in Princess Sybilla’s magnificent apartment, the King reflects on his years as head of state. He describes the early part of his life on the throne as strange. He was 27 and accustomed to standing up when older people entered the room.
“Naturally, I always stood up, I was the youngest. But then everyone else stood up instead and it all became very complicated,” he says.
However the early years were not the toughest. The hardest time came a few years later.
“It was a period when I sort of floated about in between, when I was neither young, and could hide behind that, nor old and experienced enough.”

Becoming more confident

If the King today were able to offer advice to the young Carl Gustaf, he would urge him to get a good education but also to be eager to learn about life and to be inquiring.
TT: Would it have been better if you had asked more questions in the beginning?
“Yes, but I was too young and too shy. I was terribly shy. I’ve been shy all my life.”
The King doesn’t really want to discuss the extent to which that shyness still affects him but says it’s “less” these days.
“I feel more secure and confident. I know so many people and I’ve learnt so much over the years.”

Prince Carl Philip, Prince Daniel, Crown Princess Victoria, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and Princess Madeleine on a museum visit. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/Scanpix

The King doesn’t think turning 65 is anything special but nevertheless sees his birthday as a time for reflection. He has no plans to begin winding down.
“Traditionally, monarchs perform their duties for as long as they’re in full possession of their senses.”

Old furniture

Keeping an institution as old as the monarchy in touch with modern life can be difficult. The King agrees that things like horse-drawn carriages may be “rather strange perhaps” but says they show how Sweden is keen to preserve its history.
“You might think this is an old, conservative institution – just look at all this old furniture”, he says with a smile, gesturing out into the room. “But it’s important to keep an ancient culture alive and to pass it down.”
The King says he felt slightly alarmed when faced with the EU’s enlargement, or what he calls “the new Europe”.
“One wasn’t sure where one would end up in this giant community. My role – would it disappear and be absorbed by the European idea?”

Instead, he believes Europe’s monarchies have strengthened their position. He also believes that the Swedish monarchy is more important now at a time when so many different cultures coexist in Sweden.
“In this sense, we have a greater responsibility, precisely because there are so many new Swedes who don’t automatically possess Swedish history and Swedishness by birth. It’s more vital than ever that we try to be a unifying symbol for the nation.”

King Carl XVI Gustaf in the Royal Palace ahead of his 65th birthday which is on 30 April 2011. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/Scanpix

“It’s taxing”

The drawbacks of being head of state are the same as before, His Majesty says. However the media coverage has intensified. “I used to have a degree of privacy, but today I’m in the public eye almost round the clock. I was a public figure before, of course, but now it’s more apparent than ever. And it’s taxing, it’s a strain and it’s tough.”

During a recent press briefing in Botswana, the King was asked about the health of the Queen. To everyone’s surprise, he jokingly replied that the Queen was so ill that she’d had to have her ears cut off.
“You have to see the funny side of things sometimes. I mean, sometimes they write so many untruths that it doesn’t matter what you reply.”

Facts: The King on…

…what he does on his days off:
“In the summer, I’m sure to be boating somewhere. In the winter, it’s skiing. I don’t relax in a hammock. I have to be doing something.”
…giving advice to his children:
“They don’t accept advice. That’s symptomatic of all young people. It’s part of life, they have to try things out for themselves.”
…how Prince Daniel is coping with his new role:
“I don’t want to make any kind of assessment, he’s just started. But they’re both very ambitious and that’s really, really good to see.”
…Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy:
“They were interesting, but quite grim. I found the last of the three particularly unpleasant.”
…the monarchy’s declining popularity in opinion polls:
“I don’t chase percentages, I’m not a politician. It’s not how I’m doing today that’s important, it’s the long term. I feel that the Swedish people have considerable confidence in me.”

Sofia Tanaka/TT

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