King Carl Gustaf of Sweden used his annual Christmas speech to address why he chose to strip five of his grandchildren of their royal titles.
The monarch made the controversial decision back in October, following the launch of an investigation by the Swedish parliament – the Riksdag – last year into how the £12million annual budget of the generally popular royal family could be kept under control.
On Wednesday the King addressed his nation, describing the festive period as a time for ‘reflection’ and explaining his reasoning for taking away his grandchildren’s royal status.
‘Earlier this year I made a decision to define what is called the royal house,’ he explained.
King Carl Gustaf of Sweden (pictured) used his annual Christmas speech to address why he chose to strip five of his grandchildren of their royal titles
‘The decision was to make clear who within the royal family will act as official representatives of Sweden in the future. For me, this is a way of clarifying what expectations are.
‘It will hopefully be helpful when my grandchildren eventually carve out their own future. But, to that day, it is far away.’
King Carl began by describing Christmas as a ‘special holiday, surrounded by traditions’.
‘No matter what your Christmas weekend looks like or where you spend it, I hope it gives you time for reflection,’ he said, going on to address the challenges faced by Sweden and the world.
The decision affected the children of Prince Carl Philip and his wife Sofia Hellqvist – Prince Alexander, three, and Prince Gabriel, two (pictured)
He gave a special mention to people who work on Christmas Day in the armed forces, elderly care and public transport, before revealing he and his wife Queen Silvia were ‘looking forward to’ spending the day with the family.
‘We now have seven small grandchildren between one and seven years. It is not always so peaceful and quiet, but very funny!’ he added.
The five youngsters stripped of their royal titles, aged between one and five, are the offspring of the King’s two younger children, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine, and their respective partners.
Princess Madeleine of Sweden (right), with her children Leonore, five, Prince Nicolas, four, and Princess Adrienne, one, who are all losing their royal status
As a result, they are not directly in line to the throne and Princess Madeleine – mother to Princess Leonore, five; Prince Nicolas, four, and Princess Adrienne – said they would now have ‘a greater opportunity to shape their own lives’.
Also affected are Prince Alexander, three, and Prince Gabriel, two, who are the children of Prince Carl Philip and his wife Sofia Hellqvist.
The five children will still be members of the royal family, but will not be referred to as His or Her Royal Highness and will not have access to taxpayer funds.
The Swedish children will retain their titles of duke and duchess, which were bestowed by the king.
King Carl XVI Gustaf, right; his daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, left; and her eldest child, Princess Estelle, centre. As they are direct heirs to the throne, they are not affected
Crown Princess Victoria, her husband Prince Daniel and their son Prince Oscar pictured at the arrival of the Christmas trees at the Royal Palace in Stockholm
Family tree: This diagram shows King Carl XVI Gustaf and his family. The five right-hand grandchildren are are affected by today’s move, while the King’s eldest daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, and her family will remain part of the taxpayer-funded royal house
Similarly, Zara and Peter Phillips do not have royal titles after their parents, Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, turned down the Queen’s offer of one.
Carl Philip, 40, and Sofia, 34, welcomed the decision, writing on their joint Instagram account: ‘We see this as positive as Alexander and Gabriel will have freer choices in life.’
The direct heirs to the throne – the King’s eldest child Crown Princess Victoria and her two children – are not affected.
Victoria, 42, married former personal trainer Daniel Westling, 46, in 2010 and their two children are Princess Estelle, nine, and Prince Oscar, three.
They will continue to be members of the royal house and perform public duties when they grow older.
The King, Queen Silvia and the Crown Princess and her husband are ‘Sweden’s highest representatives within the realm and vis-a-vis other states’, the palace explained in a statement.
‘Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel, Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas and Princess Adrienne will continue to be members of the royal family,’ they said.
‘However, they will no longer enjoy the style of Royal Highness and, in the future, will not be expected to perform duties incumbent on the head of state.’
Their parents ‘will continue their work in the non-profit foundations and organisations which they have founded or in which they are involved.
‘In addition, they will perform official duties to the extent decided by His Majesty.’
King Gustaf, 73, has sat on the Swedish throne since 1973 when he succeeded his late father, Gustaf VI Adolf.
He married the German-born Silvia Sommerlath, now 75, in 1976 after meeting her when she was a hostess at the 1972 Olympics.
In 1980, a law was passed which abolished male preference in the line of succession.
That means Crown Princess Victoria, rather than her eldest brother Carl Philip, is the heir apparent to the throne.
She is expected to become Sweden’s first female monarch since the 18th century.