Windsors Aren't Only Royals With Scandals
July 26 -- Diana, Princess of Wales, may have been the queen of hearts, but she was also queen of the tabloids. Publications all over the globe chronicled everything to do with her, from her fashions to her unhappy marriage to her tragic death. But Diana was not the only royal to struggle with the glare of constant publicity. Here's a look at some of the other princes and princesses who live in the spotlight.
Britain: Sophie, Countess of Wessex
When commoner Sophie Rhys-Jones married Prince Edward, the youngest child of Queen Elizabeth II, she vowed to keep her life as normal as possible — which included running her own PR firm. But earlier this year, Sophie fell victim to a tabloid sting. She made indiscreet comments about the royal family to a reporter posing as an Arab sheik and potential client. The countess also hinted that her royal connections were good for business. The debacle sparked a debate about whether outside careers posed a conflict of interest for royals.
Bottom line: Sophie bears a resemblance to the late Princess Diana, but has none of her star power. But from now on, she'll probably be more careful.
Norway: Crown Prince Haakon Magnus
The future King of Norway raised a lot of eyebrows in December 2000 when he announced his engagement to his live-in girlfriend. Not only is Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby a commoner, but she has a young son who was born out of wedlock and an ex-boyfriend who has been convicted of drug charge. The bride-to-be, now a student at the University of Oslo, previously worked as a waitress and a strawberry picker. Haakon will one day be head of the state Lutheran church, so his choice of an unwed mother as the future queen has caused some controversy.
Bottom line: Because so many Norwegian couples live together and have children without getting married, Haakon's future subjects aren't likely to remain fazed for long.
Sweden: Crown Princess Victoria
The stress of always being in the public eye has taken a toll on Victoria. The press criticized the pretty, wholesome-looking brunette for being too plump, with one magazine sniping that the princess looked as if she had "eaten too many hamburgers." The press at first exulted as Victoria slimmed down, but the public became concerned when she grew gaunt and almost skeletal. In late 1997, her parents, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, released a statement acknowledging the 20-year-old heir to the throne had an eating disorder and was getting professional help.
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