King Carl Gustaf sex scandal leaves Swedes in shock

LONDON - A new book that revealed King of Sweden’s romps in seedy nightclubs owned by shadowy underworld figures has caused uproar among the Swedes.

King Carl XVI Gustaf, the stern-looking, bespectacled monarch, found himself thrust uncomfortably in the spotlight following the publication of ‘Carl XVI Gustaf - Den motvillige monarken’ (Carl XVI Gustaf - The reluctant monarch) which catalogues his past predilection for wild, alcohol-fuelled orgies and naked jacuzzi parties with models.

“Strip clubs, illegal clubs, rented ladies who are naked under their fur coats. Women were simply desserts, used as sweets to be served with the coffee,” wrote Katrine Kielos in the daily Aftonbladet newspaper.

“The royal family has always been viewed as an august, fabulous family. But these allegations are so grave that our trust in them is seriously damaged,” the Telegraph quoted Jenny Madestam, a political analyst, as saying.

“The King is not even denying it,” added Madestam.

Indeed, the King’s press conference, held in a forest after an elk hunt, only served to fan the flames of interest.

“I have spoken with my family and the Queen and we choose to turn the page and move forward because, as I understand, these are things that happened a long time ago,” he said.

His handling of the book’s publication has shocked some observers.

“Now is the time for the King to be quiet and give no comments. Instead, he says yes to a press conference in the middle of the forest where anything can happen. It is like playing Russian roulette,” said Paul Ronge, a PR expert, in the Svenska Dagbladet newspaper.

“His statement can be interpreted as a confession. It is beneath his dignity to even comment a gossip book about his private life. Now the plug is gone and the papers can print page after page with material from the book.

“For the royal court to handle the issue like kindergarten behaviour, without responsibility is very serious,” said Ronge.

Indeed, the allegations that the king frequented Mafia-run clubs and used the state police to hide the evidence are extremely serious.

The book’s authors, Thomas Sjoberg, Tove Meyer and Deanne Rauscher, spent two years unpicking the complicated story behind the throne.

“He was only 27 when he took office, in the midst of his bachelor years, with girls, booze and ‘the lads’.Then he suddenly became king, and had to promise the people to be a loving father. It was a totally unreasonable promise that he stood and gave in the state room,” they wrote. (ANI)