King: 'It's hard to work when you're being ridiculed'
The Swedish King has hit out at media coverage of his family, in a new televised interview.
King Carl XVI Gustaf, who is soon to turn 70, made the comments to a journalist working for public broadcaster SVT, in a documentary yet to be shown on Swedish television.
The royal spoke about media coverage during his many decades on the throne, saying he had noticed he was increasingly becoming the butt of jokes in the Swedish press.
"If you are always being a little bit ridiculed in the media it is very hard to work. I have worked as hard as my ability and strength have allowed," he told well-known Swedish reporter Claes Elfsberg in a small part of the interview which emerged on Tuesday.
It is not the first time a member of the royal family has clashed with the press. The King's youngest daughter, Princess Madeleine, turned on beach paparazzi earlier this year after they disrupted her family's holiday in the Maldives and published snaps of her children.
The incident followed criticism of the princess for not engaging with the media, with one radio editor making headlines last year when he wrote that "waving and smiling is not enough". She later told a Swedish talkshow that she was saddened by negative reports.
While it was not clear on Tuesday exactly what media coverage the King was speaking about, he told SVT that he was upset about incorrect reports about his family and quotes taken out of context.
"You get both angry, furious and sad. I can feel that just as much on behalf of family members," he said, but did not offer any examples.
The Swedish royal family has a history of suing in particular the German tabloid press over fabricated stories. They have also on occasion reported Swedish newspapers to the press ombudsman.
The SVT programme, called 'The King at 70 – Lonely Majesty' ('Kungen 70 år – Ensamt Majestät'), is set to air on Thursday April 28th on SVT1.
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King Carl XVI Gustaf, who is soon to turn 70, made the comments to a journalist working for public broadcaster SVT, in a documentary yet to be shown on Swedish television.
The royal spoke about media coverage during his many decades on the throne, saying he had noticed he was increasingly becoming the butt of jokes in the Swedish press.
"If you are always being a little bit ridiculed in the media it is very hard to work. I have worked as hard as my ability and strength have allowed," he told well-known Swedish reporter Claes Elfsberg in a small part of the interview which emerged on Tuesday.
It is not the first time a member of the royal family has clashed with the press. The King's youngest daughter, Princess Madeleine, turned on beach paparazzi earlier this year after they disrupted her family's holiday in the Maldives and published snaps of her children.
The incident followed criticism of the princess for not engaging with the media, with one radio editor making headlines last year when he wrote that "waving and smiling is not enough". She later told a Swedish talkshow that she was saddened by negative reports.
While it was not clear on Tuesday exactly what media coverage the King was speaking about, he told SVT that he was upset about incorrect reports about his family and quotes taken out of context.
"You get both angry, furious and sad. I can feel that just as much on behalf of family members," he said, but did not offer any examples.
The Swedish royal family has a history of suing in particular the German tabloid press over fabricated stories. They have also on occasion reported Swedish newspapers to the press ombudsman.
The SVT programme, called 'The King at 70 – Lonely Majesty' ('Kungen 70 år – Ensamt Majestät'), is set to air on Thursday April 28th on SVT1.
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