The King's turbulent year: a timeline

Following King Carl XVI Gustaf's denials that he visited strip clubs or had contacts with the criminal underworld, The Local takes a look at some of the events that marked the Swedish monarch's tumultuous last twelve months.

• Swedish press reacts to royal denials (31 May 11)
• Scandal-hit King denies all allegations (30 May 11)
• King welcomes friend's 'clarification' (24 May 11)

April 2010
Princess Madeleine breaks off her engagement with fiance Jonas Bergström following reports he had a brief romance with a Norwegian handball star while on a skiing holiday.

June 2010
Crown Princess Victoria marries Daniel Westling.

November 2010
Publication of "Carl XVI Gustaf – den motvillige monarken" ('Carl XVI Gustaf – the reluctant monarch'), a book detailing the King's alleged visits to porn clubs, connections to the criminal underworld, as well as claims he had an affair with a member of the band Army of Lovers.

November 2010
The King holds a press conference at the conclusion of his annual elk hunt in which he urges the public and media to "turn the page" on the allegations included in the book. He neither confirms nor denies any of the claims detailed in the book.

February 2010
The Royal Court considers suing the Left Party's newspaper following a review of the book entitled "A horny king".

April 30th, 2011
The King turns 65, but affirms he has "no intention" of retiring.

May 15th, 2011
Queen Silvia affirms plans to investigate alleged ties that her father, Walter Sommerlath, had to the Nazi party.

May 19th, 2010
Reports emerge confirming that Anders Lettström, a close friend of the King, had turned to reputed gangster Milan Sevo for help in buying allegedly incriminating pictures of the King and his friends. Sweden's TV4 reports having seen the pictures in connection with an interview with ex-porn club owner Mille Markovic. The King can reportedly be seen in two of the pictures.

May 23rd, 2011
Anders Lettström sends an email to Swedish media outlets taking full responsibility for contacting criminals. The King issues a brief statement on the incident, but refuses to answer any questions about the claims.

May 30th, 2011
In an interview with the TT news agency, the King denies all allegations about visiting porn clubs or other places "inappropriate" for someone who serves as Sweden's head of state. Observers and PR-experts immediately cast doubt on the King's denials.