'It's about time': royal expert

The news of Crown Princess Victoria's pregnancy couldn't come at a better time for a Swedish Royal Family looking to turn the page on a tumultuous year, according to one royal expert.

• Swedish press reacts to royal denials (31 May 11)
• Scandal-hit King denies all allegations (30 May 11)
• King should surrender throne to Victoria: poll (22 May 11)
• Victoria 'stole the show' on London red carpet (29 Apr 11)

“This is a historic day,” Roger Lundgren, previous editor of Queen magazine and expert on the Swedish royal family, told The Local.

“The child she gives birth to will in all likelihood become the king or queen of Sweden.”

Lundgren pointed out that, at 34-years-old, Victoria has by no means rushed into parenthood, due in part to the fact that it would have been unacceptable for her to be pregnant before her June 2010 wedding to long-time boyfriend Daniel Westling.

“Since the wedding about a year ago, there has been lots of speculation and discussion about when she'd fall pregnant.” said Lundgren.

“It's about time.”

The news will also provide the Royal Family with some much needed positive publicity following a turbulent period marked by scandal and disappointment.

In April 2010, Victoria's younger sister, Princess Madeleine, announced she was breaking off her engagement to long-time boyfriend Jonas Bergström following reports he had a brief romance with a Norwegian handball star while on a skiing holiday.

And in November, the King found himself battling reports about alleged visits to porn clubs, connections to the criminal underworld, and infidelity detailed in a tell-all book “Carl XVI Gustaf – den motvillige monarken" ('Carl XVI Gustaf – the reluctant monarch').

The scandal surrounding the publication of the book continued for months until the King eventually scheduled an exclusive interview with the TT news agency in what PR-experts judged to be an unsuccessful attempt to deny the allegations and put the matter behind him.

In addition, Queen Silvia has been struggling to get to the bottom of allegations that her late father, Walter Sommarlath, had links to the Nazi Party in the run up to World War II.

According to Lundgren, news of an impending royal birth is just the sort of boost the Swedish Royal Family needed.

“After all the scandals, there is nothing that can strengthen the monarchy more than a child,” he said.

“This finally puts a positive focus on the Royal Family, knowing there is a new generation of royalty on the way.”