"Tricky, unnecessary and unskilled"

Dirty, unnecessary and inept 

Of:  

Give Zangana 

Published: Today 20.26  

Updated: Today 20.42  

NEWS 

King Carl XVI Gustaf says in a new SVT documentary that he was disappointed when Carl Philip was not allowed to become king.  

The statement has attracted criticism and now reactions are coming from experts. 

- That he brought it up at all is shitty, unnecessary and inept, says PR expert Paul Ronge. 

In SVT's new documentary ”Sveriges sista kungar”, King Carl Gustaf tells what he thinks about the constitutional amendment that changed the Swedish line of succession. The change meant that instead of going to the eldest son, the crown would go to the eldest child – making Crown Princess Victoria the future monarch instead of Prince Carl Philip. 

- As a parent, I think it's terrible, says the king in SVT's documentary. 

- Having laws that work retroactively is not wise, I still think so. 

 

The king was disappointed when Carl Philip was not allowed to become king. Photo: SVT  

When the court later wants to book a new interview with SVT to clarify what the king thinks about the succession, he stands by his criticism. 

 But he adds that the whole thing did not lead to any rifts between the siblings, and that Carl Philip has "taken it well".

Paul Ronge, PR consultant and media advisor. Photo: Press photo 

The statement has sparked reactions and PR expert Paul Ronge thinks it is clear that the king should avoid answering certain types of questions. 

- I say common sense, so you keep quiet, if only for the sake of the family, says Paul Ronge.  

Isn't that disloyal to Victoria?  

- Well, it is, but that's what he tried to correct now, with her being a distinguished young woman. That he brought it up at all is shitty, unnecessary and inept, says Paul Ronge. 

Making fools of themselves  

Another thing that attracted attention in the documentary concerns a controversial visit to Brunei.  

In 2004, the King made a highly publicized statement about the Sultan of Brunei in which the King described the Sultan in positive terms. The king stands by the good words about the Sultan. 

young Carl XVI Gustaf gives a speech at the ceremony in the Riksalen at Stockholm Palace in connection with the accession to the throne. Photo: Leif R Jansson/FLT-Pica/TT 

- Then that it is a different structure when it comes to politics itself. After all, he was a ruler in a different way than in a democratic state. But he was very open. It was a total misunderstanding, he says in the new SVT documentary "Sveriges sista kungar". 

Paul Ronge believes that it shows that the king thinks exactly the same thing as he has thought all these years. 

- In that situation, as a crisis manager, I would rather have urged him to "if you feel the same way, then let it be. Say; I have nothing more to add”. 

- It won't be as much fun for journalists, but you don't lose yourself. For better or for worse, he has no advisors and that means that he does away with himself in a different way than those who have good communicators as advisors, says Ronge. 

Princess Estelle, Prince Carl Philip, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Prince Oscar, Crown Princess Victoria and Queen Silvia show themselves in the castle window during the birthday celebration of the king at Stockholm Palace. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT  

"Not surprised"  

When asked if the king would need a crisis manager, Paul Ronge replies that he hardly thinks it is something that King Carl Gustaf would want.  

- He himself thinks he is good. And secondly, I think it equals how many times you send a young guy to football practice or football camp. If there is no ball sense there, there is none. The king doesn't have it in him. He continues. 

- If you've stepped on the piano, don't continue to step because then you'll just keep going around. 

How harmful is it to the royal house?  

- It's not that harmful. They've survived these frogs before and you don't get upset. You are no longer surprised. 

When Paul Ronge sums up the latest statements, he says:  

- The king is what he is, he will never be good at media. What he now says after sitting on the throne for 50 years will not make much of a difference, because that is what people expect, says Paul Ronge. 

- A king out of time rather than a king in time.