Serious trouble began in November with the publication of an unathorised tell-all book, “Carl XVI Gustaf – den motvillige monarken” (“Carl XVI Gustaf – the reluctant monarch”).
The controversial book detailed the King’s alleged visits to porn clubs, claims of an affair, as well as alleged connections to the criminal underworld.
While initial buzz from the book died down after a few weeks, reports surfaced in May that a close friend of the King had turned to a reputed gangster for help in burying incriminating pictures of the King and his friends.
Royal scandal once again swept across Sweden, with the King finally agreeing to a lengthy and highly-questioned interview with news agency TT in an attempt to clear his name.
Once again Sweden found itself pondering the role and significance of the monarchy.
However, when asked about the long-term consequences of the past year’s crises, both Alexandersson and Roger Lundgren, previous editor of Queen magazine and expert on the royal family, are confident that the monarchy’s popularity will recover.
“Absolutely,” Lundgren says emphatically.
Peter Althin, chair of the Swedish Republican Association (Republikanska föreningen), is not so sure, however.
He called the current situation an “extraordinary crisis” for the monarchy in an interview with newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN), and welcomes the growing support for a republic.
“It’s encouraging and positive that the support for the monarchy is pointing down. If things continue at this rate, the majority will soon be against it,” Althin says.
Alexandersson points out, however, that support for the monarchy has been stable at roughly 70 percent for decades.
Whether the monarchy as an institution will eventually regain the backing of the general public, or support will continue to decline is still a matter of prediction.
Either way, a nearly 10 percent unit drop in popularity in just one year is a backslide which should give the royal family pause, according to experts.
In the wake of the scandal, speculation has arisen as to whether the allegations against the King and the hefty drop in popularity will lead to the King’s early abdication, with daughter Victoria taking over the throne.
“Many are now calling for him to be replaced by his daughter, but I think we should change the system of government altogether, and free the children from these inherited positions too,” Althin says.
Alexandersson casts doubt on the scenario, however.
“The King will not retire. One is a monarch for life, and I know that the King has no current plans to abdicate,” she explains.
Lundgren agrees, pointing out that abdication would also be unfair to Victoria.