Usually, when the King gives an interview, Margareta Thorgren, the director of the information department, is present to follow the interview and to prevent improper questions. Also the Head of the King's Household, his Marshal of the Court is there. And because the King was interviewed, probably also the First Marshal of the Court. But of course they can't say in the presence of the TV-people to the King that he can't say so and stop the interview. And the King is stubborn and has a right to say how he feels, so he said the same things again at the second interview. But he could have said that he is very proud of his daughter and her work for Sweden, that would have helped a little.
When Victoria has been interviewed for TV, Margareta Thorgren has been present or an information officer from the court, and Victoria's Marshal of the Court.
Dagens Nyheter's Leader column (paywall article) "Leader: Doesn't the king understand that Victoria is the monarchy's strongest card?"
Förstår inte kungen att Victoria är monarkins starkaste kort_ - DN.SE
PR expert Paul Ronge thinks 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 unpleasant, unnecessary and inept.
- 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.
PR-experten sågar kungens utspel_ Mer en kung ur tiden än i tiden
It's hard not to feel for Crown Princess Victoria, when the king once again vents his dissatisfaction with the "new" order. Whether she's wearing boots, trainers or pumps - she has, I swear, not put a foot wrong during the strange queen school that is her life since she was two years old. I am a principled republican, but I would think that the crown princess makes the Republican Association's work much more difficult than the king has done. Maybe she, like her aunt Birgitta, had also wanted to move to Mallorca, play golf and drink gin & tonic, but does she do it? No, she spends Christmas Eve at SL Greater Stockholm Local Traffic Company and her birthdays in front of a stage with "the Swedish artist elite".
The king, like everyone else, is entitled to his opinions, but it seems insensitive and ungrateful that he cannot publicly keep his mouth shut on this matter.
Anna Andersson om kungen och successionsordningen