Princess Christina has given an interview to Icakuriren, a weekly family magazine. The interview was done at the Royal Palace. Christina reveals that she is writing a new book.
Christina tells that she met Silvia Sommerlath for the first time when Silvia was visiting Solliden. She was as shy as Christina. The meeting was easy and pleasant. Christina prefers only to be called and addressed by her first name, she has never cared much for the title of princess.
Christina has probably always pushed for changes. When her brother became king, it was also important to her that they would be sensitive to the new and not always stick to old traditions. The king abolished the curtsies. Many of the employees were older and they found it embarrassing when they curtsied them.
Christina spoke out in favor of a female succession to the throne already in her 20s.
- Yes absolutely. It was completely obvious to me and still is.
Christina was seven years old when the family moved from Haga into the Palace. She was the only one of the four sisters who was allowed to go to regular school.
- It was exciting to move to the city. I got to move more freely, but not exactly run alone in the streets.
Christina definitely wanted a real job after her university degree. Issues of justice have always been close to her heart. She got involved in the Red Cross early on, first as a volunteer and eventually she was recruited to the management and became chairman of the board in 1993. There her name was always Christina Magnuson. The visits in the 70s to refugee camps in North Africa strongly influenced her. She became even more convinced that one must get involved.
When the conversation turns to the war in Ukraine, the commitment becomes clear.
- This is an international conflict, not a "special operation". There are rigorous rules for how we should treat each other in a war. Unfortunately, Russia has completely thrown them overboard. It's so obvious! I get so upset!
But are you allowed to speak out on political issues?
- These are humanitarian issues that are about people. I cannot accept Russia behaving this way. They have previously signed the Geneva Convention. They are not ignorant, they know exactly what applies - and they do the opposite!
For Christina, it was natural to speak publicly about the breast cancer she suffered 13 years ago. There is a great need for those affected to tell about the difficult time they are going through. The treatment of cancer has become so much better, but rehabilitation is often forgotten, she believes.
After having written two books, Christina has a new book in the works, about another interesting relative. But she does not yet want to reveal who it is about.
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Prinsessan Christina_ ”Kvinnlig tronföljd är fullständigt självklart”
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