As Sweden prepares to mark its National Day on June 6, one familiar royal face will be notably absent. Princess Sofia, originally confirmed to attend the
As Sweden prepares to mark its National Day on June 6, one familiar royal face will be notably absent. Princess Sofia, originally confirmed to attend the celebrations, has now officially withdrawn — and the change came just days before the event.
Last-Minute Change
A guest list released on 22 May included Princess Sofia among the attending royals, alongside Prince Carl Philip, Prince Daniel, Princess Madeleine, and Christopher O’Neill. But in an updated schedule, Sofia’s name was quietly removed.
Margareta Thorgren, Director of the Swedish Royal Court’s Information and Press Centre, later confirmed the Princess would not be present, though no specific reason was given.
A Likely Explanation
While the palace did not offer an official explanation, Sofia’s absence is likely related to her recent addition to the family. The royal gave birth to her fourth child, Princess Ines, just three months ago.
Sofia has understandably scaled back her public duties since Ines’s arrival. Earlier this month, she also missed a State Banquet during Iceland’s state visit to Sweden.
Despite stepping back from this year’s National Day events, there’s still a chance she could attend lower-key parts of the celebration. Notably, after giving birth to Prince Alexander in 2016 — only one month before National Day — she returned in time for the parliamentary opening, traditionally held the day after.
Welcoming Princess Ines
Sofia and Prince Carl Philip welcomed their first daughter — and fourth child — on 7 February 2025. The palace announced: “The Office of the Marshal of the Realm is pleased to announce that HRH Princess Sofia, on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 1:10 p.m., gave birth to a healthy and prosperous daughter at Danderyd Hospital.”
Though Princess Ines is eighth in line to the throne, she does not carry the HRH title, in keeping with King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 2019 decision to streamline the royal house for future generations. That ruling applied to all children of Princess Madeleine and Prince Carl Philip.
Sweden’s Support for Parents
Under Sweden’s generous parental leave policy, new parents are entitled to 480 days of paid leave per child, divided equally between both parents. Sofia has taken advantage of this system in the past to spend precious early months at home with her children — a decision the public has widely supported.
While royal fans may be disappointed by her absence this year, Sofia’s focus on her growing family reflects the modern, relatable tone the Swedish royal family has embraced in recent years.
