Swedish royal couple abruptly cancel official appointment

Suddenly they break off their visit. Developments in the Ukraine war may be responsible for this.

King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia were invited to the Åland Islands on Thursday. There they were scheduled to join Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and his wife Jenni Haukio in celebrations celebrating the island’s 100-year demilitarized autonomy. Among other things, a concert and a meal together for the two couples were planned.

Sudden departure

But suddenly the Swedish royal couple has to leave, as “Daily Mail” reports. The background is said to be a possible threat from Russia. So it became known that Russian frigates were conducting an exercise in the Baltic Sea. At the same time, Vladimir Putin announced that he wanted to recapture “stolen” territory in Sweden – read more about the background here.

The Russian president also saw it as a provocation that Sweden and Finland wanted to join NATO. There are fears that Putin could see the two countries as next targets. Due to this security risk, the royal appointment on the island was canceled and the presidential couple also left. The departure is said to have taken place in the middle of the concert. This is what the British press report says, but the connection has not been confirmed.

However, Helsinki denied to the British newspaper that the abrupt departure had anything to do with Putin’s recent statements or the military exercises. In addition, the departure of the royals is said to have been “downplayed” according to the reports. Accordingly, the return trip had already been planned in advance. However, the palace does not explain why it had to take place so abruptly.