From topless photoshoots to an actual, honest-to-goodness loving relationship
with her husband, Princess Sofia is the peasant-to-princess story we've been waiting for.
Princess Sofia of Sweden comes from a humble background. Born Sofia Kristina
Hellqvist on December 6, 1984, per her bio on the Swedish royal court's website,
the future royal grew up as the middle child with two sisters — just as Prince Carl Philip did.
Sofia moved to the U.S. to study at the New York Institute of
English and Business. She also took courses at Stockholm University,
paying for her education by working as a model, per the New York Post.
Sofia has also previously worked as a server and a bartender, per Page Six. She is also a reality
TV star, known for appearing on "Paradise Hotel," a dating show set in a luxury hotel.
Even naysayers may be hard-pressed to deny the fairytale romance between Princess Sofia and
Prince Carl Philip. The couple even fell in love at first sight — could they be any cuter? Princess
Sofia gushed about setting eyes on her beloved for the first time, recounting the story on Sweden's
"TV 4." According to Sofia, they were out to eat with mutual friends and sparks flew right away.
While cynics might think that Sofia's assertion that it was "love at first
sight" could be chalked up to her being bowled over by meeting a handsome prince,
Carl Philip backed up her claim in the same interview, saying:
Since Princess Sofia didn't come from a royal background, she had to learn how to adapt to life
as a member of the Swedish royal family, attending what many people referred to as "princess school."
"Princesses never cross their legs in public. Why don't you just tuck
one ankle behind the other, and place the hands gracefully on the knees."
Sofia told the Swedish outlet TT that the training was a bit different from attending school, saying:
Hello! Magazine reported that Sofia gradually adjusted to public life as a future royal even
before she and her prince became engaged. She began attending public events on Prince Carl
Philip's arm, and also began to dress more conservatively. The outlet noted
that her makeover included having a tattoo removed and removing a belly button piercing.
While Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip's love story is adorable,
not everyone was won over by their fairytale romance. In fact, the couple
was faced with significant criticism from the public. As Sofia told "TV 4,"
Among the things people criticized were her past as a model and some of her more risqué shoots,
like one in which she posed topless for a magazine. But she didn't let it get
to her. Instead, she chose to focus on the bright side: finding her true
love and building a happy life together in spite of the adversity they faced, saying:
"We all have moments in our life that defines us."
The wedding of Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip was the lavish affair you'd expect from
royalty. They tied the knot in 2015, six years after that fateful first meeting.
Royal Central noted that the details of the proposal were kept under wraps,
as the couple wanted to keep the special memory from the prying eyes of the press.
The royal wedding, however, was a different matter. According to The Local, it was an
international event with representatives from several European nations attending.
The late Swedish DJ Avicii, known for hits like "Wake Me Up" and "Hey Brother,"
performed at the reception. It was a song performed by Swedish singer Molly Sandén,
though, that really caught the attention of guests — Sofia wrote the lyrics herself,
just for her husband on their special day.
Other highlights of the wedding included a cake decorated with Pop Rocks and a nervous
Carl Philip having trouble sliding the wedding ring onto his bride's finger.
While the backlash Princess Sofia faced early in her relationship with Prince
Carl Philip was difficult, she's using her experiences to help others. In 2017,
the couple was present at the inaugural World Anti-Bullying Forum.
At the conference, Sofia said:
"If we want to change how children and young people treat each other,
we have to start with ourselves."
The couple's organization, the Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia Foundation,
also helps fight against bullying. It's evident that this is an issue that is near and dear
to Sofia's heart — understandably so, given her experiences. As she explained on "TV 4,"
There's more to Princess Sofia's happily ever after than simply joining the Swedish
royal family. A large part of her fairytale life is being a mom. While some might expect
princesses to rely on nannies and staff to raise their kids, Princess Sofia is a hands-on
mom and loves it. She and Prince Carl Philip welcomed their first child, Prince Alexander,
in 2016, and Sofia took to motherhood immediately, telling the Swedish press:
Sofia and Carl Philip welcomed another son, Prince Gabriel, a year after having Prince
Alexander. In 2021, they had another son, Prince Julian. Prince Carl Philip said in a statement:
Life has been quite an adventure for Princess Sofia, and she has no regrets. From being
harassed and bullied when she first started dating Prince Carl Philip, to guaranteeing
that she will be in the limelight for the rest of her life as a member of the Swedish royal family,
she's happy about how her life has gone. As she said in an interview shortly before her wedding:
While royal life can be difficult, Princess Sofia is happy with the
choices she's made. After Meghan Markle stepped down as a working member of the
British royal family and moved back to the U.S. with her husband, Prince Harry,
in 2020, Sofia was asked if she had ever thought of doing the same. She said:
Like many royals across the globe, Princess Sofia is dedicated to charity work and philanthropic
pursuits. Her charitable projects include Project Playground, which she founded in 2010.
"Children and the internet have a complex relationship."
As a working member of the Swedish royal family, Princess Sofia has a lot on her plate. While she
doesn't need to hold down a regular job to make a living, her royal responsibilities keep her
very busy. That's why it was a bit surprising that, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out,
she decided to join the front lines. Sofia trained to become a medical assistant and
began her volunteer assignment at Sophiahemmet hospital. She wrote on Instagram in April 2020:
According to People, the hospital was facing a shortage,
which prompted Sofia to take the online course to become certified.
In a pre-wedding interview with Sweden's TV4, Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip gushed
about each other so effusively that it's hard not to melt over how sweet they are. As Sophia said:
Carl Philip also had adorable words about his bride-to-be, saying:
Clearly, this is a match made in heaven. And if photos are anything to go by,
the two are more in love than ever, more than a decade after they first fell in love. The couple's
official Instagram profile shows them attending events, spending time with their adorable kids,
and stealing sweet glances with each other. As she wrote in one caption:
Awww!