I last wrote about Princess Sofia back in August, when she really and truly hit the ground running in her new royal role. Sofia, (HRH Princess Sofia, the Duchess of Värmland) married Prince Carl Philip of Sweden in June, and after an appropriate amount of time to honeymoon and do a few fun couple things, Sofia has been doing public events at a steady clip. As I said in August, she’s already so much better at duchess-ing than the Duchess of Cambridge. It’s sort of absurd to think about all of the excuses that are made for Kate, like she’s most delicate, wilting flower who needs vacations, wiglets and jeggings to survive.
Anyway, I just thought we’d check in with Sofia and Carl-Philip again. They were on another small in-country tour this week, this time in the Dalarna province (which is where Sofia grew up). They spent two days (Monday and Tuesday) doing back-to-back events, some fun and some serious. They did a photo-op at a local bakery where Sofia worked the ovens. They traveled to a copper mine. And they went to a refugee housing area where Sofia actually got down on the ground with the kids and played with them. Many believe Sofia will make this one of her signature issues: children in crisis. In September, she traveled to South Africa – all by herself, without Carl Philip – to give a speech at the Global Child Forum conference.
It sort of goes without saying that the two-day tour went smoothly and that Sofia managed to successfully avoid flashing her privates to the cameras. One of the reasons why we didn’t get flashed: because the princess wore trousers! Actual, honest-to-God appropriate slacks. Not jeggings. Not leggings. Not pants so tight that we can draw an outline of her babymaker from memory. Sofia’s attire was professional, season-appropriate and even though she wore her hair down, it wasn’t blowing all over the place nor was she fussing with it constantly. Well done.
Also: I’m absolutely positive that she’s pregnant with a honeymoon baby.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Pacific Coast News.
What a stunning couple!
Same here. Just what I was thinking, Put a smile on your face.
she’s bardot-esque
@bros
Yes!
I couldn’t think of who she reminds me of and you nailed it.
No hating on Kate – I love her prince husband – but she doesn’t have ‘it.’
This princess absolutely does!
BARDOT–that’s IT! Nice call, Bros!
Couldn’t agree more! Handsome and happy these two are.
So agree!
Only a few months and hard at work, showing respect – meeting the people.
Love these two! They are doing everything right. They are so accessible to the people in these photos, it seems. Don’t they look relaxed too?
I love these two, her especially! She is beautiful, looks genuinely happy to be there, and seems completely natural and at ease. Good for them!
She’s doing a great job. What an attractive couple.
Loved the line about how we could all draw the baby maker from memory. Lol
She’s killing it! I think she’s my new favorite Royal!
I agree. She has a warmth about her, she sounds so genuine when meeting people. She actually looks like she really is enjoying meeting and greeting etc. Very refreshing after being submitted to boring and blank Kate Middleton who cannot seem to make a single effort to show an inch of dedication to her work…and whenever she actually does work (meeting and greeting since this is what these royals define as work), she looks like she could not care less and just seems fake in her attempts to pay some sort of attention to the people she is meeting. Sofia really is doing amazingly well and with so much warmth and dedication, especially for someone who has not been groomed for that role. Very impressive. She is a natural.
They really make such a cute couple!
Superficial note: i’m so glad she stopped dyeing her hair that Elvira black colour.
Re: Duchessing: she undertook several events each day? Kate would faint at that pace!!! LOL
Several events a day?! When does one get to shop? Or supervise the remodelling of kitchens and tennis courts? Or work out to fit in those dreadful jeggings? Sounds pretty impossible.
I’m in love with these two. And yes, it appears that she has a bay bay in there. Which is amazing, cause these two are lovely. Take notes, Will and Kate.
I know people had reservations what with Sofia’s past, but I think she is really wonderful. She certainly puts that other duchess to shame. Kate, this is what is looks like to hit the ground running!
Duchess Sofia is my kind of duchess.
If I’m not mistaken, she is Princess Sofia. The use of “Duchess X” is a BRF thing.
I think she’s doing well too. I think this is what a lot of us were hoping Kate would do, although in Kate’s defense it seems like she did more early on before the excuses started coming.
She looks lovely too. Although if I were her tailor I’d hem each leg not both together and maybe a smidge longer, if I’m going to be critical.
Bluhare
My thoughts too. Kate did far more early on and that was when all the mistakes came flowing in. I’ve been wondering if she does less because she’s not capable and refuses to apply herself to become better. And the Palace almost prefers this since she gets it wrong more than right. Also, again, protects the palace from any future divorce as their hands are clean not pushing her to do anything.
Sofia looks pregnant! And she seems very engaged in these outings. I was 1 who had my doubts about her, but so far she’s exactly as she should be. Well Done!
I am rooting for her. She makes makes me feel like we could all be a princess if only we married a Prince Charming.
I am really shock. Although I think Royalty should be defunct, but I have a new for this couple.
It’s nice to see Prince Carl Philip wear a wedding band. Unlike Will, who opted not to wear a ring after his marriage (bad call if they wanted to be just like regular people).
It was reported that not wearing a ring for the males is a very British thing to do.
Not true. Another excuse made up to justify William’s decision not to have a wedding ring.
Wedding rings are a recent tradition ie post WW2, but it isn’t a specifically British thing not to wear one.
And several Windsor men (including kings Edward VII, George V and George VI) have worn them. I’m pretty sure Charles did with Diana and possibly with Camilla.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/03_01/PrinceCharlesPA_228x261.jpg
Charles wears his wedding band on his pinky. Hard to spot with the signet ring.
William choosing to not wear a wedding ring or even have it made to be worn at anytime is his personal choice alone.
She needs a stylist, but other than that, I have no complaints about the new princess. She’s already done a solo tour (S. Africa). That’s pretty impressive for someone who hasn’t been a royal for very long.
No complaints, either. She’s really hit the ground running and, TBH, I hardly look at her clothes. She has the brightest smile and always seems so happy that her attire would have to be really shabby or inappropriate for me to criticize her fashion sense.
Same here. I notice her smile first.
I love her outfit! She looks great. And I think there is a pre-honeymoon baby in there… 😉
CP looks terrified of that little girl in that one pic. Ha! I like that she wore trousers. I think both Queen Letizia and Princess Mary wear trousers to official events. They have great style.
They do. Queen Letizia has business formal down pat and Mary recently stepped out in a smart white trouser-suit.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/215046950934420364/
I’m a sucker for a well tailored trouser suit. The cream offsets the white with the layered fabrics. Love it all!
I quite like Leti’s style – especially her knee-length pencil dresses!
Love these 2 and yes i think she’s with baby. Wonder if all the good press she’s getting will get Katie to up her game.
The British royals do not seem to pay much attention to what the royals in other countries are doing. Sofia is hardly an exception how the people married to royal families normally behave anyway.
The DM seems to be comparing Katie to all sorts of royals lately – and she’s always the loser.
I think that the Duchess thinks that her status and bearing of the heir and the spare place her in the firmament, and therefore, her game is totally upped. She could care less about about the lesser, which is everybody.
Wow, she is just impressive. I think she has proven that your past need not define you and that she married for love and is not afraid of work. They both seem so happy.
Such a lovely couple.
They are such an attractive couple. I think I need to visit Sweden if they all look like them.
Sadly we do not 🙁
But I still love her even though I’m jealous of her apperance and husband!
Spot on!
Sweden RF sells the country (yes, Sweden is beautiful), but more interested to visit due to the SRF (the genuine love of sharing/inclusive with the people); DRF the same.
From my point of view, Swedish men are out of this world. While I appreciate HEJ’s humble response, I beg to differ. I used to work for a Swedish company and spent months there on qualification courses. Was very very distracted. Constantly! Besides, it’s an amazing place all together with even more amazing culture and mentality.
Sofia’s outfits looks much more chic than most of what Kate wears. She also seems much more comfortable in her own skin and happy to be out and about to meet with people. Wow! Sofia seems much more suited as a royal than Kate and she didn’t even need a decade of waitying to do it.
Love her outfit in the top photo.
I think the crucial factor is being “comfortable in one’sown skin”. Kate always seem soo incredibly akward and uncomfortable at her public events.
I think you’re right about that. Kate has to concentrate on getting that posh accent down and she rarely says anything intelligent because she so focused on sounding posh. What I find mindboggling is that she’s gotten worse as time goes on.
I agree with that too.
I’m so glad that Princess Sofia’s transition to Royal life has been so successful. This is how it should have been with Duchess Doolittle. It’s also nice that her and her Prince look like they actually like each other. They look great together. Very tactile. I love what she’s wearing in the first picture. I’d wear that.
I don’t know why people are too hard on her. She seems a nice girl with a wild past. I love her style btw.
Let’s get real, this is not work! Comparing anyone to Kate Middleton is ridiculous, Kate does so little anyone will look like a workaholic next to her.
As a Swede I am very much against having to pay for this couple, let alone have an ex-nude model without any education whatsoever represent my country. Can’t wait for monarchy to be abolished once and for all, then we can call ourselves a democracy.
You’re right. We should never be forgiven for our past errors no matter how we try to move forward. No matter how many events she does, how much awareness she brings to a good cause it will never be enough to distract from her youthful errors. And any mistakes we make should be the 1st and greatest things others can judge us by.
All things considered, you’d be paying for them anyways so why not have 1 that does what is expected vs another who simply refuses while spending far more?
And agree the royal systems are pointless in todays age.
Florc, I think we need to agree to disagree on this one, I will keep my opinion just like you have yours 🙂
I do get tired of the “youthful errors” BS though, this is a woman who actively pursued this career for years. I really don’t care what anyone does with their life in private, but if you’re going to have an official role for a country then yes she is not really the right person with this background and that also refers to her having no qualifications.
For anyone interested in a different picture of Sofia than the one the Swedish royal PR wants to paint: http://lovelolaheart.com/?s=sofia
Honestly, the only wrong thing a can think of is how young she was when she did some of those things but even that is more on her parent’s than Sophia herself.
She did Nude-modeling/Soft porn and participated in a reality show? So what?
Would I do it? No, not at all, but I don’t see it as anything worth of a witch-hunt either.
I used to read that blog but she lost me with her attitude. Which is unfortunate as I think she’s got a wicked sense of humor.
I made a lot of “youthful errors” back in the day, and they do not define me, nor should they define Sofia.
Tried my hand at sarcasm to make a point, but we might have to agree to disagree. I don’t feel a person’s past should be used to them in the present unless it’s relevant by conduct. If she flashed herself or teased like she would your point IMO would carry.
I can’t imagine anyone here having made through their youth without a single moment they didn’t slightly regret for public consumption a number of years later after much has changed.
I know I’m glad I’m not judged by my pastvsince I don’t revisit that behavior. And I don’t think it’s fair to do so to others with a touch of hypocrisy.
Judge them on their present or judge everyone and yourself by your mistakes no matter the age or circumstances.
While she did post nude, Sofia did not do soft-porn and even her nude modeling was minimal – there are three photos from a single photoset where she posed nude – in two shots you see her butt and in one shot you see her breasts.
What Sofia did in her past should not be whitewashed but it shouldn’t be distorted either.
@Florc – I don’t get the hypocrisy comment above. You say “you shouldn’t judge Sofia (based on her past)…” but in turn YOU judge another poster who feels otherwise! I am from Sweden too and agree she should never have been made into a princess. In the past royals were “special”, they were superior and many actually looked up to by their subjects and had a task, that of uniting their country. In 2015 you can see HRH’s t*ts and a** on the internet, while CP is a middle-aged wannabe-designer/race car driver with nothing to do after “working” 30 min per day twice a week. Royals (any royals not just the Swedes) really have no purpose today and the thought of inheriting a title just cause you have a certain DNA is crazy to me.
Karin
I’m judging the judging. Let me be clear on that. Not the poster, but the judging and attitude we should not be valued by what we are today, but only from what we were.
Later my claim from hypocrisy is from how we all wish parts of our past choices be forgotten. This is a truth from human nature. We all make mistakes and wish for parts to not weigh to our character.
I will assume my message was lost in translation since I don’t feel you’d launch such a personally invested response at me otherwise.
My only message on this is simple. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Or if this is how we should treat each other than our value is based from our worst mistake in our immature youth and by no other factor as we mature and learn.
I’m also not in favor of the archaic system at play here. Just saying my piece of why we shouldn’t judge each other only from our mistakes. Ignoring how we might have grown from those errors. Our worth is not be be scaled by our biggest lapse in judgment.
Too early to cry “hardworker”. This is the usual “1st year industriousness” to prove oneself. Once more than a year has passed she’ll either:A. Slack off, shop & vacay constantly OR B. Continue then increase her workload & causes. We’ll see in the coming years if she does A or B. My inner cynic cries A.
Good point.
Thank you. I actually feel for Kate because it seems all the royals have their 15 minutes of positive fame and plenty of negativity once the public realizes they party /shop /vacation waaay more than advertised. Kate’s first year was filled with back to back events, so let’s wait and see how she does after two kids.
Kate barely worked in her first year, which was primarily put down to adjusting to royal life and or secret visits and research into charities she might patron.
By the end of 2011, articles had started to appear questioning her work ethic and asking after the charities. And when 6 (?) were announced, many more skeptical articles appeared given the build up, which was explained away that she wanted to be super involved with the charities hence the small number. Once the media started questioning her work ethic, the palace had no choice, but to push her out the door. So in the first few months of 2012, she shadowed HM, Charles and Camilla and did solo engagements because William was in the Falklands. She was also very visible all year because it was jubilee year and all the royals were visibly celebrating and attending events and touring on behalf of HM.
2012 was her busiest year as far as work is concerned due to Jubilee special circumstances, and she’s never worked as much, before or after, and I suspect that is the most she will ever work.
Back to back engagements? Look back to that year when the “getting acclimated to royal life just like the Queen did for two years in Malta” excuse was being bandied around these parts.
I can’t believe this is aleady being subjected to revisionist history!
Suze: I’d actually forgotten the Malta excuse for why Kate didn’t work in that first year.
yep, i can’t believe the revisionist history is already in play.
Kaiser, will you guys please cover Prince Nicolas of Sweden’s christening? It’s this Sunday afternoon(Swedish time).
She looks great.
We did this thing in work for the Rugby where we all had to pick a member of the royal family (cba explaining) and I was shocked at how many people still believe Will not and Kan not are great I.E everyone but me lol
What are her qualifications to have made a speech at that conference? Just wondering.
Poking about with oven mitts as part of a 2 day tour isn’t exactly what I’d call work. Work is something you do daily.
Sofia co-founded Project Playground, a relief organization in South Africa. Sofia also did relief work in Ghana and Senegal.
Her founding of Project Playground is up to debate. It’s been said she slapped her name to the organization when it came out she’s dating CP. The reality show/nude model background alone was too unseemly for a future princess. If Sofia is such a seasoned pro, she would have a solo patronage by now.
As for Sofia’s past, there were parts of her old image that had to go away fast in order to be accepted as royal. She had a I-just-stumbled-out-of-a-biker-bar look to her. Then there’s the allegation that Project Playground donations went into Sofia’s personal bank account. If there were an investigation and it was proven; the royal family would take a hit. Carl Philip and Carl Gustaf (the king) would be dragged for exercising bad judgment: Carl Philip for getting involved with her and Carl Gustaf for consenting to the marriage.
What credible source has cast doubt that Sofia co-founded Project Playground? The written materials state that the organization was founded by Sofia Hellqvist and Frida Vesterberg. Frida Vesterberg herself says that she and Sofia co-founded the organization. Sofia’s title was President and Frida’s was Vice President.
If patronages are a serious matter with Swedish royals then it makes sense to not assign patronages five seconds after the “I dos.” Now if the royal is a mostly a name on letterhead then fine, throw some random patronages at her.
Yes Sofia’s image got cleaned up, as did Daniel’s, Daniel Westling would have fit in nicely at Sofia’s biker bar.
A few months ago Project Playground was issued a 90-account in Sweden, they had to undergo a review to get that designation. Maybe donations did go to Sofia’s bank account but that does not mean that the funds were not properly appropriated.
Love this couple over Kate and will any day, I wish there were more posts on this family.
Yes she is pregnant – hope everything goes well!
No hype or laziness, she’s doing her job.
B*tch stole my man!
….and your comment made me laugh out loud in public! Now people are staring at me.
Keep up the coverage on them, please!
Well now you know this marriage will fail, because its success depends on a newlywed wife to spend the first 3 years not working outside of the home. #KateTips
Also, if Sofia is pregnant, then a healthy pregnancy requires the woman to spend 9 months not working outside of the home. #KateTips
And after the kid is born, hopefully she’ll spend a year bonding with her child by not working outside of the home. #KateTips
Sofia’s clothing is all wrong. Sexy flashes are the most important part of charity visit. #KateTips
And why isn’t Sofia clutching at her crotch in a royal ladylike way? #KateTips
Princess curls and a heavy head of hair. Where are they? #KateTips
” In September, she traveled to South Africa – all by herself, without Carl Philip – to give a speech at the Global Child Forum conference.”
Um… no. Never be too far away to be at your husband’s beck and call. #KateTips
Also, the part where she gave a speech? No doubt it was a long travel just to give a three-sentence speech, because otherwise, she can’t be some kind of freaky genius or something, can she?
Anne
So True! This is why Victoria’s marriage and reign is suffering so much. And why her bond with Estelle is so strained. She spent too much time working and helping her daughter adjust while keeping her life as normal as possible while still not sheltering her for a smooth transition into her role.
The bar has been so lowered to accomidate Kate that by comparison anyone else really does come across as some sort of genius to this system.
@ FLORC
I’m starting to believe that Kate is actually smart (though maybe not socially intelligent). The official UK royal site says that she “studied Chemistry, Biology and Art at A-level.” So I’m sure she can read and speak more than three-sentences at a time. I think I know why she has herself coming off as a doofus.
Have you ever seen the Everybody Loves Raymond episode in which Debra figures out why Raymond keeps screwing up every chore she asks him to do?
For years, Debra thought it was because Ray was some kind of bumbling, helpless idiot whose every day basic intellectual growth was hampered by his over-possessive and overly indulging mother who did everything for Raymond to the point where he couldn’t do basic things for himself?
She figured out that he’s not that stupid. That he could do things correctly if he really wanted to, but that he screws up the things he doesn’t want to do so that Debra would stop asking him for help and just do it herself.
Maybe Kate is doing this same thing. She can’t be this stupid and inept without something being seriously wrong with her.
anne_000
You make an interesting point. I think she is cunning, too. if she comes across as inadequate, there will be no expectations. I imagine she prides herself on then being ‘well taken care of’ which I think, is always her goal.
anne_000, I’ve always thought there’s more to her than meets the eye, and if there were courses for goldbricking and malingering, she’d get A-levels in those, too .
Anne
I’m suspicious of those articles. They’ve come out before only to be debunked a week or so later in a small article buried away.
Based in truths with details blurred along the way.
Like…
Was the grading on a scale? Was it a pass or fail system? I should have had a C in organic chem in my uni, but got an A- because we sucked as a class at grasping and applying the materials.
Is my understanding A worthy? Hell no! But I can claim as such as long as the details aren’t known..
The bar is low, thanks to Kate. I really do think Kate is not very bright, she’s not smart enough to play that game. I think she’s vain and an exhibitionist. That’s all, really.
Nah. Kate isn’t that savy. She genuinely bungles things.
God I’m so sick of Kate’s jeggings. Sofia’s lighter hair really makes her eyes pop. I think in general, the Swedes are a bit more relaxed. There is so much tension in the british monarchy, but the swedes seem to really have given Sofia some room to find her footing and feel some confidence in her role. It agrees with her!
Beautiful couple. This is the way Royals should do things! What a pleasure!
I love that she is succeeding at being a good royal. After all the hype around Kate, and Kate’s ‘attitude’, this is really cool.
And just like that, Sofia becomes my second favourite royal behind CP Mary.
2 thumbs up!
I love that they gave the Prince a little bouquet of flowers too!
I wouldn’t be buzzing about a baby from CP & Sofia. One, he doesn’t want a child now (he said so in a pre-wedding interview) Two, the royal baby buzz in Sweden is around Madeleine and Chris’ son Nicolas for his christening this Sunday, the first blood prince of Sweden in 36 years (CP is godfather) . Then there’s Victoria and Daniel’s 2nd baby who is due in March 2016. V & D have secured the succession with the baby on the way. CP & Sofia’s 1st baby will be 5th in line to the throne. They can’t even crow that if it’s a boy the Bernadotte name continues. The royal name will continue with Estelle and Leonor – Victoria’s and Madeleine’s girls. The princesses legally have the last name of Bernadotte.
@aaa – “…. Maybe donations did go to Sofia’s bank account but that does not mean that the funds were not properly appropriated.”
In certain jurisdictions that’s called fraud. You don’t have money designated for charity going into a personal bank account; it’s illegal. You set up a special/business/tax exempt account for that purpose. As for getting the 90-account; what assurances were there for a proper vetting process, especially when a royal is involved? Although she’s a princess of Sweden, Sofia would not be immune from criminal or civil prosecution if wrongdoing is proven.
The key phrase in your comment is “in certain jurisdictions.”
Having money designated for a charity go into a personal bank account is not automatically illegal, it does not adhere to recommended practices but it is not illegal. It is not uncommon for this type of thing to happen when an organization, profit or non-profit, is in its infancy, which is when Sofia allegedly deposited PP donations in a personal account, but as an organization grows it is expected to adhere to accepted business and financial practices. Furthermore, when organizations get designations like the 90-account, they undergo reviews to obtain it and reviews to keep it.
Yes please could Kate find some smart trousers instead of wearing those jegging things all the time. Also if she concentrated less on being so ‘dressed up’ when she visits the charities/organizations and wore a smart business like outfit maybe we could start to take her interest more seriously. If she wore trousers she could sit on the floor with the children or bend down without fear of us all copping an eyeful.