Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has broken its silence after tragedy nearly struck the Swedish royal family on Saturday. Disaster was narrowly averted when a soldier slipped on the ice outside Stockholm Palace, impaling himself in the head with his own bayonet.
The soldier, whose name has not been released, was guarding the royal family at the time. His catastrophic injuries were first declared “incompatible with life” when he was rushed to Karolinska Hospital. In the days that followed, however, his situation improved following emergency surgery. According to the Swedish press, the soldier’s condition is now stable.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is monitoring the situation closely. The king and the reine Silvia reportedly sent flowers to the injured man during his convalescence, and the Swedish sovereign is crossing his fingers.
The 78-year-old Swedish sovereign said on Monday The Express: “I haven’t had any news today on his health, but the doctors have been brilliant. I hope he doesn’t suffer any after-effects. » He added: “Fingers crossed that things go well for this guard. »
A Royal Guard soldier secures his post at the Royal Palace during a snowfall in the heart of the Swedish capital, Stockholm, November 28, 2023.
JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/Getty Images
Following this near-tragedy, there were calls for reform of the traditional Swedish Royal Guard, one of the oldest military units in the world. Leaders of the group asked soldiers to remove bayonet blades from their rifles, and local radio station P4 reported that the regiment focused on sanding paths around the palace to reduce the risk of a new fall.
According to MailOnlinethe commander’s chief of staff, Richard Beck-Friesclarified that it was not necessary to completely stop the use of bayonets.
The recently bereaved royal family
King Carl XVI Gustaf knows only too well how “brilliant” Swedish doctors can be. In 2023, the year of her golden jubilee, the monarch underwent laparoscopic surgery in the heart area, according to the information made public. The scheduled intervention took place in February and went “as planned”. The sovereign expressed his thanks for “all the support and warmth that has been given to him, and he feels grateful to Swedish health care”.
Late last year, the Swedish royal family was shocked by the death of King Carl Gustaf’s sister, the Princess Birgittawho died at the age of 87 in Majorca. The sovereign paid a poignant tribute to the beloved royal, writing: “It is with great sadness that I learned today of the death of my sister, Princess Birgitta. My sister was a colorful and outspoken person who will be deeply missed by my family and me. With all my family, I send today my condolences to the children and grandchildren of Princess Birgitta. »
