Discussion about Sofia Hellqvist's Past & Future Role in the Royal Family

[Moonmaiden23]

I would think that there would have to be some training for Sofia. How unfair would it be to just chuck her out there without so much as an introduction to the right fork. Also, I do hope she will take it upon herself to know the names and positions of other royal families (paired with good photos of those folks). I wouldn't like Sofia to be in the position of a famous duchess who recently asked who was the man she had just spoken with (it was Felipe of Spain). Lordy me!

Excellent, excellent point KA.

I don't think it will be a problem. The Swedish Royals don't seem to entertain the idea that they are too important for such things and that their peers don't matter, which is a relief.

And I am far from a SH supporter, but I'm done banging on about it for now. It's a done deal and if the Swedes are okay with her who am I to judge?

 

[Lady Nimue]

I would think that there would have to be some training for Sofia. How unfair would it be to just chuck her out there without so much as an introduction to the right fork. Also, I do hope she will take it upon herself to know the names and positions of other royal families (paired with good photos of those folks). I wouldn't like Sofia to be in the position of a famous duchess who recently asked who was the man she had just spoken with (it was Felipe of Spain). Lordy me!

Who was that? Can you say? Or supply a link? I am very curious, I have to admit.

 

[soapstar]

It never happened.

 

[Lady Nimue]

It never happened.

Oh. Joke on me!

 

[redtulip]

...It's a done deal and if the Swedes are okay with her who am I to judge?

I don't think that anybody knows what the Swedes think, if anything at all. Regardless of what they should think, every opinion is just as valid, and absolutely everyone on this board is allowed to post how they think about royals. I also don't think at all that thinking about things and having opinions means judging anyone or anything.

Posting here things such as "SH is perfect for a royal role" is not any more or any less valid than "SH is a very bad choice for a royal role". Neither of them is a judgement of any sort.

 

[Lady Nimue]

I don't think that anybody knows what the Swedes think, if anything at all. Regardless of what they should think, every opinion is just as valid, and absolutely everyone on this board is allowed to post how they think about royals. I also don't think at all that thinking about things and having opinions means judging anyone or anything.

Posting here things such as "SH is perfect for a royal role" is not any more or any less valid than "SH is a very bad choice for a royal role". Neither of them is a judgement of any sort.

Ditto. You've said it better than I could have. Just what I was thinking.

 

[Muhler]

Thanks for the replies.

So the conclusion to my questions is that apart from Sofia dressing appropriatly, that she is trying to adapt and that she probably intends to continue with Project Playground, no one here really have an idea about how she interacts with the public, what topics she will take on, how she is as a speaker and so on?

I'm surprised, has no one sat down and tried to figure out who princess Sofia might be?
Has it all been about her past? - Well, that's an indication in itself I'd say.
On the bright side, if the expectations are that low, she can only surprise from here.

Then I have some follow up questions:
What is known about her current friends? Whom does she associate today? Surely not only CP's friends.
Has she ditched her more unfortunate friends from the past?
Has she voiced a political view? Is she religious? What's her interests?
It can be boiled down to this: Who is Sofia Hellqvist anno 2014?

Presumably, hopefully, she is more than a former nude model and Paradise Hotel contestant.

 

[Mbruno]

I don't think that anybody knows what the Swedes think, if anything at all. Regardless of what they should think, every opinion is just as valid, and absolutely everyone on this board is allowed to post how they think about royals. I also don't think at all that thinking about things and having opinions means judging anyone or anything.

Posting here things such as "SH is perfect for a royal role" is not any more or any less valid than "SH is a very bad choice for a royal role". Neither of them is a judgement of any sort.

I agree that nobody knows what the Swedes think as there have been no public polls about Sofia, but, going back to my earlier point, the Swedish government had to consent to the marriage as required by law and they did. I assume then that Sofia has been somehow vetted in the process.

 

[SLV]

Thanks for the replies.

So the conclusion to my questions is that apart from Sofia dressing appropriatly, that she is trying to adapt and that she probably intends to continue with Project Playground, no one here really have an idea about how she interacts with the public, what topics she will take on, how she is as a speaker and so on?

I'm surprised, has no one sat down and tried to figure out who princess Sofia might be?
Has it all been about her past? - Well, that's an indication in itself I'd say.
On the bright side, if the expectations are that low, she can only surprise from here.

Then I have some follow up questions:
What is known about her current friends? Whom does she associate today? Surely not only CP's friends.
Has she ditched her more unfortunate friends from the past?
Has she voiced a political view? Is she religious? What's her interests?
It can be boiled down to this: Who is Sofia Hellqvist anno 2014?

Presumably, hopefully, she is more than a former nude model and Paradise Hotel contestant.

Excellent summary and new questions, Muhler!

 

[KitKat2006]

Thanks for the replies.

So the conclusion to my questions is that apart from Sofia dressing appropriatly, that she is trying to adapt and that she probably intends to continue with Project Playground, no one here really have an idea about how she interacts with the public, what topics she will take on, how she is as a speaker and so on?

I'm surprised, has no one sat down and tried to figure out who princess Sofia might be?
Has it all been about her past? - Well, that's an indication in itself I'd say.
On the bright side, if the expectations are that low, she can only surprise from here.

Then I have some follow up questions:
What is known about her current friends? Whom does she associate today? Surely not only CP's friends.
Has she ditched her more unfortunate friends from the past?
Has she voiced a political view? Is she religious? What's her interests?
It can be boiled down to this: Who is Sofia Hellqvist anno 2014?

Presumably, hopefully, she is more than a former nude model and Paradise Hotel contestant.

Unfortunatly that's just what she is and still will be for a lot of posters, because everything regarding Sofia always comes back to "but she posed nude", "but she kissed a porn star", "but she waves/smiles into cameras. How dare she?". I'm getting so tired of it, because I hate it that a young woman is not given a chance to show her suitability as princess and future royal. So let me say THANK YOU for trying to start a real discussion here instead of the ever ongoing Sofia-bashing.

Who is Sofia Hellqvist anno 2014?

I haven't seen much of her since the engagement, but what I've seen shows, that she is a very different woman now than when she became CPs girlfriend. She has martured a lot, knows how to dress for the different events she attended and isn't shy or afraid of people. She works with a lot of different people when it comes to Project Playground where she is a good talker as far as I've heard when it comes to welcoming people to charity events. She's interested in making a difference for the children in South Africa as well as she's interested in sports. She attends at CPs car races every now and then, took part at the vasa ski run again this year and attends various sport events like tennis matches with CP.

What is known about her current friends? Whom does she associate today? Surely not only CP's friends.

I don't know much about her friends, but I know that she doesn't only associate with CPs friends. It's more the other way around. CP and Sofia associate a lot more with her friends than his because his friends had problems accepting her from what I've heard. If this still holds true I don't know, but that's what I've read at articles / posts.

Has she ditched her more unfortunate friends from the past?

Wellshe has not kissed with female pornstars lately and wasn't part of a recent scandal. So she knows how to play the game of her current and future life if you ask me.

Who is Sofia from 2015 forward?

A great addition for the SRF if you ask me. Sofia always wanted to become famous so she had a lot of time to get adjusted to the feeling of a lot of people knowing her, wanting something of her, photograph her. She is not a completely privat commoner who suddenly finds herself in the limelight. She seems to be an open person who loves people and I'm sure she will do her job as a Princess of Sweden like it's expected of her. Ready to be there if she is needed but also ready to step back and just concentrate on her charity as long as there's no need for a work event as a royal.

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

Very beautifully written. I absolutely couldn't agree more. It's staggering that she isn't being given a chance. You really can't hold something she did almost a decade ago against her forever, that's just plain narrow-mindedness.

 

[Muhler]

Thank you for an interesting and throrough reply, KitKat2006

 

[redtulip]

I agree that nobody knows what the Swedes think as there have been no public polls about Sofia, but, going back to my earlier point, the Swedish government had to consent to the marriage as required by law and they did. I assume then that Sofia has been somehow vetted in the process.

Yes, and as I posted it probably doesn't mean a thing as it is a formality and doesn't signal approval or disapproval.

As far as I can see, SH has had four years to patch up her lack of education and do something even slightly worthwhile. What has she done since 2010 apart from being his girlfriend and living with him? Has she spent a day holding down a job in that time? If she hasn't, why not? Has she done anything about learning or improving her English? And so many other questions...

 

[Lee-Z]

Has she done anything about learning or improving her English?

If Chris O'Neill doesn't learn swedish when marrying a swedish princess, why woul Sofia Hellqvist need to improve her*english* when marrying a swedish prince?


also you might want to read up on project Playground if you think she has done *nothing* the past years except "being a girlfriend"

 

[Kent_spark]

I am willing to believe what Miss Marple used to say: There is a lot of human nature in all of us. Agatha Christie was the best author and an august figure. Remember her words. If the lady in question is a model at Dior's or any other respectable designer, then she will quit her job before the wedding and all will be well. A royal princess should not continue to work. I trust that the prince's girl understands that. It's important for him to marry soon, he's not getting any younger. This is all that matters.

 

[redtulip]

I did not write what I think, I wrote some questions that I think are interesting.

Oh well. -
1) Chris did not marry to live in Sweden. They live elsewhere and he has not intent to live in Sweden as her spouse, to the best of my knowledge. WHY would he learn Swedish only because his wife speaks it?

2) Swedish is not English. English is THE number 1 international language.

3) Yes, I know about the Playground thing. It does not even remotely suggest she's doing anything even on a weekly basis.

I am willing to believe what Miss Marple used to say: There is a lot of human nature in all of us. Agatha Christie was the best author and an august figure. Remember her words. If the lady in question is a model at Dior's or any other respectable designer, then she will quit her job before the wedding and all will be well. A royal princess should not continue to work. I trust that the prince's girl understands that. It's important for him to marry soon, he's not getting any younger. This is all that matters.

Agatha wrote 80 years ago and it shows in her books. I do not think of her as the best author; in fact, Miss Marple books are rather boring because they always have the same set-up with everyone sitting in the library to hear the verdict, as it were. And I always wondered why the culprit wasn't running by then... I don't think she said much worth remembering as anecdotes.

There's no fear of SH continuing her work after marrying as she's no done anything apart from bad photo shoots in the past! Yes, Playground does not amount to holding down a job.

I don't think it matters at all when people marry these days, if at all. Yes, "there was a time for a man to marry..." , but that was what Jane Austen wrote those centuries ago...

Times have a-changed.

 

[Tilia C.]

Quite right, Swedish is more important for them than English. Besides, English is an important subject in the Swedish school system and young Swedes usually have a fairly good understanding of the language. Also I seem to remember that Sofia live in New York for a while before she met CP. The English language surely won't be much of a problem for her. Not to forget that she possibly needs a good grasp of the English language for her involvement with Project Playground. There are no signs indicating that she always had an interpreter with her when travelling to South Africa.

We don't know what is going on behind behind closed palace doors. There might be a lot of instruction going on without us being aware of it. And rightly so, why should they publish her instruction schedule?

Yes, she hasn't had payed work, but if CP was ok with paying for her, then who are we to judge? The point is that CP is not hiring her for a job vacancy. One can't judge a bride from the point of view of an human resource manager.

 

[redtulip]

I am not judging. I'm writing an opinion on a discussion board about royals.

 

[Kent_spark]

Oh but you sound so unruly and aphoristic

Jane Austen lived in a golden era, I wish I had lived in the 1800s! In fact if you knew anything about those lovely times, you would have wanted to live in Jane Austen's England too! She was an impeccable author, never made a single mistake.

I am afraid I cannot relate to the notion that a girl who poses for pictures is not decent. If the pictures are bad, then blame the photographer, not his muse! She is only doing her job. And I can prove to you that doing photo shoots and fashion shows is a highly respected avocation by the aristocracy. Also among senior royals. Remember that Her Excellency the Duchess of Alba opened her palace in 1959 and hosted a Dior show for charitable purposes. Would she have done the same, if she thought that those models were not noble enough?

 

[scooter]

I am afraid I cannot relate to the notion that a girl who poses for pictures is not decent. If the pictures are bad, then blame the photographer, not his muse! She is only doing her job. And I can prove to you that doing photo shoots and fashion shows is a highly respected avocation by the aristocracy. Also among senior royals. Remember that Her Excellency the Duchess of Alba opened her palace in 1959 and hosted a Dior show for charitable purposes. Would she have done the same, if she thought that those models were not noble enough?

Are you seriously comparing the 100s of nude, including bondage and snake photos, with a Charity Dior fashion show?

One might 'blame the photographer' if it were a one off. This young woman has supported herself entirely by being photographed/video'd with all of her physical attibutes on display by many, many photographers. I am hampered by the forum rules about not posting SH's pictures because of them being porn and the site not wanting to be associated with that type of photo. That however, speaks volumes about her 'career', IMHO.

 

[Empress Merel]

At least she was earning her own money, which is more than C-P will ever be able to say and it happened years ago. Let it go.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSYluIbAZgU

 

[Tilia C.]

Shall we place bets on how long the thread will stay open this time? Not long, I fear. I won't be surprised to find it closed again when I return tomorrow morning.

 

[scooter]

Why? The mods said this was the thread to discuss her past, which is the title of the thread, and which is being done in a perfectly civil tone. They wanted it kept in this one thread, so as to not gum up the others.

 

[Lee-Z]

I'm going to channel Muhler here:

we've focused on her past for so long, imo we basically covered all the in's and out's there are to cover, so why not give some thoughts as to the second part of this threadtitle: her "Future Role in the Royal Family".

Will her role be large, or small? Like a previous poster said, there probably isn't much need for many "full-time" royals in Sweden, so will Sofia's focus be on the royal duties or on her own (and P.C-P's) non-royal projects?

 

[Muhler]

Indeed.

While I certainly have my opinion about Sophia's past, she will become a Swedish princess next year, unless something dramatic happens.
So we might just as well get used to that.

So what I believe is interesting to learn is how can the SRF utillize her in the best way possible.
That she and CP should live a life as secondary royals very much in the background is not an option IMO.
V&D who are de facto the main royals in Sweden now, need all the support they can get. With Madeleine abroad, in USA or France or whereever, her support will be very limited.
We must expect Victoria to become pregnant again and that means she will be away from the job at least for a period. Daniel cannot shoulder the burden alone, and he is not wearing dresses either...
With especially the King's popularity being pretty low, CP&S have to step in, whether they want to or not.

So the question is, how can the SRF use them? One of the purposes with the questions I asked previously was to get a picture of Sofia in that regard.
Okay, IMO it is necessary, even crucial, that she will be seen as a hard working, serious royal, committed to a number of causes. The more the better. Partly to take away the focus of her past and partly to provide the SRF some well-needed positive PR.

Sofia walking around in pretty dresses smiling her head off will not be enough. She will have to get out there and meet the Swedes, talk to people, show interest and be committed. The trips abroad can wait, it's the Swedes they have to win over first and preferably fast.
Holding hands with CP and look happy won't do, they will have, I believe, a shorter honeymoon than most other newlywed royals.
And with all due respect for CP he needs to get off his backside and start working a lot harder. The happy days as a bachelor are over.

 

[Winnie]

I'm going to channel Muhler here:

we've focused on her past for so long, imo we basically covered all the in's and out's there are to cover, so why not give some thoughts as to the second part of this threadtitle: her "Future Role in the Royal Family".

Will her role be large, or small? Like a previous poster said, there probably isn't much need for many "full-time" royals in Sweden, so will Sofia's focus be on the royal duties or on her own (and P.C-P's) non-royal projects?

I personally don't believe that P.CP or SH will have huge full time royal duties in the future. CP doesn't actually now. Probably the odd holiday get together or wedding, funeral, etc. But no official high ranking important event. JMO

 

[SElizabeth]

Indeed.

While I certainly have my opinion about Sophia's past, she will become a Swedish princess next year, unless something dramatic happens.
So we might just as well get used to that.

So what I believe is interesting to learn is how can the SRF utillize her in the best way possible.
That she and CP should live a life as secondary royals very much in the background is not an option IMO.
V&D who are de facto the main royals in Sweden now, need all the support they can get. With Madeleine abroad, in USA or France or whereever, her support will be very limited.
We must expect Victoria to become pregnant again and that means she will be away from the job at least for a period. Daniel cannot shoulder the burden alone, and he is not wearing dresses either...
With especially the King's popularity being pretty low, CP&S have to step in, whether they want to or not.

So the question is, how can the SRF use them? One of the purposes with the questions I asked previously was to get a picture of Sofia in that regard.
Okay, IMO it is necessary, even crucial, that she will be seen as a hard working, serious royal, committed to a number of causes. The more the better. Partly to take away the focus of her past and partly to provide the SRF some well-needed positive PR.

Sofia walking around in pretty dresses smiling her head off will not be enough. She will have to get out there and meet the Swedes, talk to people, show interest and be committed. The trips abroad can wait, it's the Swedes they have to win over first and preferably fast.
Holding hands with CP and look happy won't do, they will have, I believe a shorter honeymoon than most other newlywed royals.
And with all due respect for CP he needs to get off his backside and start working a lot harder. The happy days as a bachelor are over.

Muhler:
As everyone here knows I didn't think much of SH and CPC either. And I have always respected and valued your opinion and comments for they are very intelligent and you are a broad minded person...so given all that, I have serious doubts as for CPC/SH ever being a hard working couple supporting the royal family. KCG as left his son to his own devices and given him anything he has wanted in life.....this young man has not in any way ever worked a hard day in his life and neither has she.............their roles will continue the same as they are now, designing what ever designs he comes up with(hopefully they are his and not someone else's) car racing and parties in Europe on the yachts/bars/homes/restaurants with friends. I think KCG is partly to blame for not making him more responsible for the position that he has.....being a royal (and this is my opinion) means that you work for the people and support the people, not yourself(his designing was to make money for himself not some charity), it means having a full schedule of going out there to see and visit the places that is Sweden, as other royals do. Just because he isn't the heir doesn't mean he gets a free ride in life and that is something he is doing now and SH is along for that ride. Yes I do believe they love each other and with that love, there should be responsibility for the live they live. SH has had 4 years now to do something, not a few weeks, she should have started preparing herself and working hard and following QS and CPV examples for they are the ones to watch and follow. She has done very little even with PP, every little work, so I will stop bashing her, I will just wait and watch and see what they do, both of them...And most of all, if I have to eat my words regarding their what I call selfishness and laziness, I will gladly do so. I would love to see this couple become the hardest working couple for Sweden I just have serious doubts about it.

 

[scooter]

I personally don't believe that P.CP or SH will have huge full time royal duties in the future. CP doesn't actually now. Probably the odd holiday get together or wedding, funeral, etc. But no official high ranking important event. JMO

Yes, exactly. Go be Duke and Duchess of Varmland and live quietly, mostly. We will see you for Weddings, etc.

 

[redtulip]

Why? The mods said this was the thread to discuss her past, which is the title of the thread, and which is being done in a perfectly civil tone. They wanted it kept in this one thread, so as to not gum up the others.

And I totally agree on every point! Why does it seem so hard for some to accept different opinions, as they are always the basis of any discussion? There is no discussion when everybody agrees!

 

[Muhler]

I don't believe S&CP have a choice.

They will be in the public glare, so they might just as well try and adapt to the situation and take on tasks, the more the better.
Sofia, being young and attractive and with her past, is prime tabloid-fodder. There is no way in this world she and CP will be allowed to retire in obscurity.
And they shouldn't IMO. I do not believe the SRF can afford only to have four working adults. There are no reserves in case of a serious illness, a tragedy or an accident.
Madeleine, having lived abroad and intending to staying abroad for years to come at least, with a husband that appears unwilling to take on royal duties, is rapidly making herself irrelevant in the eyes of the Swedes as I see it.

Sorry, if CP wish to remain a prince, he and Sofia will have to enter the stage in earnest. The alternative is to become a commoner. They can't have both.
And why not be full-time royals? Those of us who had, and perhaps still have, misgivings about her past and suitabillity may still live to eat our words, as SElizabeth puts it.

Even if Sofia had had the perfect backgound she and CP would still be very much in public glare, so they might just as well roll up the sleeves and go to work.
The SRF cannot afford two Madeleines. One, yes, but not two.