Queen Silvia, King Carl Gustaf, and the Swedish royal family are excited for Princess Madeleine’s return to Stockholm after living abroad for ten years. As she and her family adjust, Madeleine shares her children’s gradual acclimatization. However, public expectations for her engagements remain unfulfilled, with historian Herman Lindqvist urging her to take on more responsibilities beyond her work with her mother’s foundation. He emphasizes the need for her to increase her visibility and presence within the royal framework.
Queen Silvia, 81, King Carl Gustaf, 78, and the entire royal family are not the only ones eagerly anticipating the return of Princess Madeleine, 42, and her husband Chris O’Neill, 50, to Stockholm. The Swedish public and media are also excited about the princess’s increased visibility starting in the summer of 2024, following her decade-long residence abroad. As the family of five acclimates to their new surroundings in Sweden, Madeleine has been vocal about the significant ‘big adjustment’ her family has faced during this transition.
Can Princess Madeleine Meet Sweden’s Expectations?
According to Madeleine, her children—Princess Leonore, 10, Prince Nicolas, 9, and Princess Adrienne, 6—are gradually feeling more at home in Stockholm. In her latest interview, she shared insights into their adaptation process. Meanwhile, Chris has been attending select events, including the recent Nobel Prize award ceremony on December 10, where he was spotted smiling—an uplifting contrast to his typically more serious demeanor.
Despite this, the much-anticipated calendar of public engagements for Madeleine remains sparse. Although it was established early on that O’Neill would concentrate on his business ventures, expectations for the princess’s numerous appearances were high. Interestingly, Madeleine has attended more events since returning than during her time in Florida, including her participation in the parliamentary opening in September and various gatherings for the ‘World Childhood Foundation’ in both Stockholm and New York. However, the surge of public appearances that many had hoped for is still elusive. Her first scheduled public engagement for 2025 is yet to be announced, which has drawn criticism from historian and author Herman Lindqvist. In an interview with ‘Svensk Damtidning,’ he remarked on her reserved role, stating, ‘Many thought she would come home with full force… But she hasn’t done much. Even when she was there, she didn’t do more than in America.’ Lindqvist encourages her to take more initiative, saying, ‘There is room for her, so I think she should finally get started!’
Madeleine’s Role in Silvia’s Foundation and Beyond
Recently, the devoted mother of three described her family life as a puzzle that she constantly reassembles. By sharing her daily responsibilities, Madeleine presented an image of being relatable and grounded. However, Lindqvist has a different perspective on her everyday life. He acknowledges the challenges the family faces with their children’s adjustment to school but emphasizes that they are not an ordinary family and have assistance in many areas.
Looking ahead, Lindqvist expresses hope for a shift in Madeleine’s role within the royal family. He believes she needs to take on more responsibilities, stating, ‘I think she has to start at some point… to represent a little more and be present. It is not enough that she is now working in her mother’s foundation; she should also be active for Sweden.’
Source used: svenskdam.se