Sweden’s Princess Victoria pays surprise visit to firefighters battling forest fires | Royal | News (Details)

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The Princess, together with her husband Prince Daniel, took a break from their summer holiday to travel to the stricken region with King Carl XVI Gustaf.

On Monday morning, she and Prince Daniel visited Färila in the Ljusdal municipality in Hälsingland, the scene of some of the worst blazes, which erupted as a result of tinderbox conditions caused by the Europe-wide heatwave.

Such is the severity that fire services from neighbouring countries have offered their help, and the Princess met firefighters from Finland and Poland during her visit.

She and Prince Daniel also met with staff at Färila airport, from where several planes containing large amounts of water were deployed to combat the fires.

Later, the King visited Pålgård in the Ragunda municipality in Jämtland.

Prior to their visits, the King said in a statement: “My family and I are following with great concern the developments surrounding the large number of fires that are raging across our country during this exceptionally hot and dry summer.

“Right now, a lot of work has to be done to combat the fires and minimise its harmful effects.

“I would like to express my support on behalf of the the Royal family to all of you who are afflicted and affected by the fires.

“To all the people – firefighters, armed forces employees, home guard personnel and volunteers – who in this strained situation make great sacrifices to help others, my family and I would like to say: thank you.

“Your dedication and your efforts are priceless.”

The Swedish Royal family is on its summer break until the second half of August.

Wildfires in Scandinavia are highly unusual – but at least 11 were raging inside the Artic Circle as on July 18.

Two weeks ago the Copernicus Earth observation programme, which gives daily updates of fires in Europe, showed more than 60 fires burning across Sweden, with others in Norway, Finland and Russia.

In response to a request for assistance, Norway sent six fire-fighting helicopters to Sweden.

Meanwhile Italy sent two Canadair CL-415s – which can dump 6,000 litres of water on each run – to the region of Örebro.

Princess Victoria, 41, is first in line to the Swedish throne, and if as expected she becomes Queen, she will be the country’s fourth female monarch.

She has two children with her husband: Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland, 6, and Prince Oscar, Duke of Skåne, 2

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