Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
She’s only officially been back in Sweden for a few months, but on Friday, Princess Madeleine will step into a very important royal role: she’ll be regent on behalf of her father King Carl XVI Gustaf.
The King is set to visit Brazil for a series of engagements beginning Saturday and running into next week with the World Scout Foundation.
While the rules around regency in the United Kingdom deputises two senior working members of the Royal Family to act on the monarch’s behalf while they’re out of the country, in Sweden, regency only kicks in when the monarch is outside Europe.
As explained by the Swedish Royal Court’s communications team to reporters earlier this summer when the King and Queen were in Paris, a regent is not required when King Carl XVI Gustaf is still within Europe because, theoretically, he could return to Sweden very quickly wherever he is.
However, when the King is outside Europe and prolonged travel would prevent his speed in returning to Sweden, a regent is required.
Princess Madeleine will act as regent for only one day, Friday. After that, Crown Princess Victoria—heir to the throne—will act as regent for the rest of her father’s visit to Brazil.