Since 1991, the princess has Sofia’s mother Marie Hellqvist and Sofia’s father Erik Hellqvist lived in Älvdalen. Before that, they lived in the Stockholm suburb of Täby, where Sofia was also born.
But since Marie is from Älvdalen, the family moved – mother Marie, father Erik and then daughters Sofia, Lina Hellqvist (born 1982) and Sara Hellqvist Bailey (born 1988) back there in the early 1990s.
Princess Sofia’s mother Marie Hellqvist is approaching retirement, but still works as a marketing manager at the company Rullpack AB, which sells freezer bags. She also has a past as politically active in the People’s Party (now the Liberals). She has also sat on the municipal council in Älvdalen.
Erik and Marie Hellqvist. Image source: Pontus Lundahl/TT Bild
Sofia’s father Erik Hellqvist, who was actually born in Denmark, has retired a couple of years ago, but when he worked, it was, among other things, at the Employment Agency.
Over the years, both Marie and Erik have kept a bit out of the limelight and are very private as people. But Sofia has been all the more open, and talked about the safe upbringing she received.
– I have always had very strong support in my family. I have a good relationship and a very nice supportive family around me. They have always been my reliable support, Princess Sofia has said of her mother and father.
Erik Hellqvist has left Älvdalen – and Princess Sofia’s mother
Erik and Marie Hellqvist married in 1982, and have lived together for several decades. But now, 42 years after their wedding, Erik Hellqvist has moved from Marie.
The latest picture of Erik and Marie Hellqvist is a year old. Here together with Prince Daniel’s parents in September 2023. Image source: Fredrik Sandberg/TT Bild
On August 1, 2024, Erik moved to a rental property on Norra Djurgården in Stockholm. There he is close to beautiful surroundings such as Lill-Jansskogen, but also the pulse of the city with restaurants and shopping a short walk away. Also the daughter, prince Carl Philip and the grandchildren live only a short distance away.
At the same time that his wife Marie still lives in Älvdalen and thus has not moved to Stockholm together with Erik.
This is how the royal family’s housing queue works – rental properties at exclusive addresses
The house where Erik Hellqvist has moved is owned by the state but managed by KDF, Kungl. Djurgården’s administration. In the past, Queen Silvia’s nephew has, among other things Patrick Sommerlath lived in the house, but since 2020 he now lives at Drottningholms Slott Nedre.
Rosendal Castle is one of many properties managed by KDF. Image source: Fredrik Sandberg/TT BildPatrick Sommerlath previously lived at the exclusive address where Erik Hellqvist has now moved. Image source: Jonas Ekströmer/TT Bild
Getting an apartment at the attractive address on Norra Djurgården is something that is decided by the governor Staffan Larsson. He is the one who decides who will get any of the 350 apartments in the court’s inventory. The addresses are exclusive – these are rental properties on Djurgården and Östermalm, but also in connection with Haga Castle and in Hagaparken.
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Skeppsholmen in the foreground. Strandvägen and then Östermalm, Gärdet and Norra Djurgården meander behind the verdant little island. Image source: Erik Simander/TT Bild
In an interview with Hem & Hyra from 2023, he has previously said that the rental rights mainly go to employees within the court but also to the royal family. He then told me that the apartments are posted on the royal house’s intranet and then you have to stand in a queue to apply for the apartment you are interested in. He told us that the competition is fierce, and that there can be up to 80 applicants for each apartment.
From left: Erik Hellqvist, Marie Hellqvist, Princess Sofia, Prince Carl Philip, Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf. Image source: Jonas Ekströmer/TT Bild
When asked what criteria determine who will get a home, Staffan Larsson then replied:
– How many years the person has been employed at the court is important, then we look positively at whether the person has a residence with us that they can leave in exchange. We also consider the applicant’s importance to the business, or whether it is important for the person to live near a specific property, for example. But we also take private circumstances into account, for example if the applicant needs the home due to a divorce and if there are children in the picture. It is a puzzle to figure out who will get the home.
Sometimes Staffan Larsson consults the king.
– I decide on all housing, but in some cases I discuss with the king or other leading people in the court about who will get the housing, he further told Home & Rent when.
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Erik Hellqvist on the move to Stockholm: “There is nothing else”
What has caused the move from wife Marie Hellqvist and Dalarna is not something that Erik Hellqvist wants to go into in more detail. In a short comment to The Express he says:
– I am in Stockholm and there is nothing else.
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