Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel have been in Australia since February 13, 2023. After a few appointments Down Under, the couple should actually continue to New Zealand. But due to the natural disaster there, the royals may have to cancel their trip.
Princess Victoria, 45, and Prince Daniel, 49, arrived in Australia on Monday February 13, 2023. In Canberra, they were greeted with a ceremonial welcome ritual by the Ngunnawal Aborigines at the National Museum. On Valentine’s Day, among other things, they visited the National Arboretum in the Australian capital, which was built after the forest fires of 2003 and is one of the world’s largest collections of rare and endangered tree species. The couple then attended a climate meeting at the Australian National University, where the Crown Princess gave a moving speech. Victoria and Daniel are scheduled to travel to New Zealand on Thursday, February 16th. Whether this is possible after the devastating tropical storm remains to be seen.
Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel’s journey is overshadowed by a dramatic natural disaster
Tropical storm “Gabrielle” has caused devastation in large parts of New Zealand, especially the North Island, on which the capital Auckland is located, was hit hard. As the “Tagesschau” reports, the government has declared a nationwide state of emergency. “We’re facing severe flooding, landslides, damaged roads and damaged infrastructure everywhere,” said Disaster Relief Secretary Kieran McAnulty. In addition, meteorologists would warn of further storms.
A shocking message that also affects the royal couple. “Climate change is affecting the planet itself and all of us who live here – humans and animals alike. More recently we’ve seen the terrible floods in New Zealand,” Victoria said at the Canberra Climate Summit.
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Will the royal couple cancel their trip?
In addition to their sympathy, Victoria and Daniel, who are now in Sydney, may also be concerned about their own safety. It is not yet certain whether the two will travel to New Zealand as planned. “It’s just too early to tell,” Johan Tegel, deputy head of the information department at the royal court, who accompanies the crown princess couple on their trip abroad, told “Svensk Damtidning”. “The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for this programme. So our embassy in Canberra is in contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we will see how the weather develops,” he adds.
Apart from the terrible natural disaster, Princess Victoria should also worry about her father King Carl Gustaf, 76: The Swedish court recently announced that the monarch would have to have heart surgery. Although it is said to be a “planned surgical procedure”, Princess Madeleine, 40, is reportedly traveling to Sweden from her adopted home of Florida to be with her father.
Sources used: tagesschau.de, kungahuset.se, svenskdam.se, Dana Press
