We are in a paradigm shift – the court must adapt

Jenny Alexandersson

This is a commentary text. Analysis and positions are those of the writer.

Updated 07.52 | Published 07.28

 

The country's future queen has had a close friendship with a convicted pedophile. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB

What is wrong with the European royal houses?

In the UK, an ex-prince has been arrested by police on suspicion of a very serious crime and another prince has "moved" to the US after believing he was treated poorly.

In Norway, a member of the royal family is suspected of rape. The country's future queen has had a close friendship with a convicted pedophile. Another princess is using her title to make a lot of money.

In Belgium, the former king abdicated after revelations of an illegitimate child. In Spain, the ex-king handed over the throne to his son after corruption allegations.

A colleague pointed out, somewhat ironically, that this might be the punishment for the royal houses adapting a little too much to modern society. Perhaps a former party princess with a son from a previous relationship is doomed to fail in her official role.

I don't think so.

The royal houses have adapted throughout time. New insights, new norms, new laws. They are not on the front lines, but adaptation is a condition for the rest of us to accept their existence. Marrying a woman or man of the people for love is no longer taboo.

Mette-Marit's background matters less than we think. Being royal means working in the most demanding PR role in public life. The people's trust is the only real currency.

Trust in the Crown Princess was solid until her name appeared in the Epstein documents. Her role as a mother was not questioned until Marius was arrested in 2024.

It is Mette-Marit's actions that matter. When questionable life decisions come to light, trust figures fall immediately. The Norwegian royal family's PR work has worked well until the curtain was pulled back and we saw the disaster. Now they have a real uphill battle ahead of them.

Due to the new media landscape, the royal courts cannot hide scandals and bad behavior as easily. Names, documents and accusations are spread around the world in seconds. Social media and lightning-fast news sites are a challenge. We are in a paradigm shift where the court has begun to adapt to the new.

I remember about fifteen years ago when Queen Silvia mentioned that it was unusual to encounter a sea of ​​outstretched mobile phones instead of faces.

Fifteen years ago. It feels like pure medieval times. Today, the ocean of mobile phones is such an everyday sight that people don't react anymore.

So what is really wrong with the European royal houses?

The question must be directed at the person and not the institution.

What is really wrong with Crown Princess Mette-Marit's judgment?