The beautiful palace of Sofiero is located just a few miles outside the town of Helsingborg in the Skåne area of Sweden. Overlooking the sound between Sweden and Denmark and offering spectacular views of Denmark’s Kronborg Castle, the palace was once the summer home of Sweden’s royal family.
The palace is famous for its beautiful gardens, many of which were created and tended by the wife of King Gustav VI Adolf, Princess Margaret of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Their only daughter, Princess Ingrid, inherited a love of plants and floral arrangements from her mother and became known in Sweden as the ‘Flower Queen’ after marrying Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and becoming a much-loved queen in Denmark.
The Swedish Princess Who Became a Danish Queen
Princess Ingrid was born in Stockholm in 1910. She was the only daughter in a family of boys and was much doted on by her loving parents who took a great interest in their children, which was unusual for a royal family at that time. The young princess spent her childhood summers at the idyllic Sofiero Palace, surrounded by the beautiful gardens and natural beauty of the area.
Ingrid’s happy childhood came to an abrupt end when, at the age of ten, her beloved mother died. Her father later remarried, but Ingrid never got along with her stepmother, Lady Louise Mountbatten. Her teenage years were difficult ones.
At the age of 25, Princess Ingrid married Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, an event that received a great deal of media attention in Sweden. Ingrid was popular and much loved by the Danes, who admired her courage for staying in the country during the German occupation. She was also admired for her down-to-earth charm and was often seen in the streets of Copenhagen, pushing a pram and chatting with passers-by.
Princess Ingrid became queen of Denmark in 1947 when her husband ascended the throne. She and King Frederik had three daughters together, Margrethe, the current queen of Denmark, Princess Benedikte, and Princess Anne-Marie.
As Queen Mother, Ingrid remained active in her old age, becoming a patron of the arts and many charities. She died, at the age of 90, in 2000.
The Flower Queen Exhibition at Sofiero Palace
Sofiero Palace, built around 150 years ago, was a special place for the young Princess Ingrid. She spent her childhood summers there with her family and later brought her husband and daughters to visit. In order to celebrate its best known resident, Sofiero is holding an exhibition on Ingrid’s life during the summer of 2011.
Visitors to the Flower Queen exhibition can view Ingrid’s life in photographs, from a small child to a beautiful young woman in love, to a beloved queen, mother and grandmother. Rooms in the palace are decorated as they would have been during her time there as a child, with her toys and books on display. To celebrate her love for flowers, there is a display of floral arrangements designed by Gunnar Kaj, a well known floral artist in Sweden.
Outside the palace, visitors can see the lovely gardens created by Ingrid’s mother, Margaret. The young princess also had several playhouses on the grounds of the palace, complete with all the home comforts a princess would expect. Child visitors to the palace are invited to play in the houses and dress up in costumes as the young royals would have done as children. There is also storytelling at the playhouses and a chance to do a bit of gardening.
Visiting Sofiero Palace
The Flower Queen exhibition runs from 11 June to 25 September 2011. Sofiero Palace is located just outside the town of Helsingborg at Sofierovägen 57. Admission to the palace and gardens is 80 kroner for adults, 70 kroner for pensioners and free for children under the age of 18. A restaurant and shop are located on the grounds.
Sources
Beth MacMillan - Beth MacMillan fulfilled her dream of living and traveling in Europe when she, her husband and their two dogs moved to Denmark in 2001 for ...
