Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has been helping to pack meal boxes for vulnerable citizens, amid criticism of the country’s less restrictive approach to tackling coronavirus.
The Swedish royal, 42, has stepped up charitable initiatives in recent week, including a visit to the association Stockholms Stadsmission, who create meal boxes for the homeless and vulnerable.
Many of their regular volunteers have decided to stay at home to protect themselves, with COVID-19 cases in Sweden roughly estimated to be around 5,000, and deaths around 230.
While most Europe nations have put their populations under complete or partial lockdowns to fight the spread of the coronavirus, Sweden has taken a different approach, with many businesses, cafes and restaurants as well as primary schools remaining open.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, 42, has stepped up charitable initiatives in recent week, including a visit to the association Stockholms Stadsmission, who create meal boxes for the homeless and vulnerable.
The heir to the Swedish throne rolled up her sleeves and donned disposable gloves to help prepare and pack meal boxes in the kitchen
‘Yesterday the Crown Princess visited @stockholmsstadsmission at Mariatorget on Södermalm,’ the Swedish royal family wrote on Instagram.
‘Many of the City Mission’s volunteers are older and themselves at risk and therefore cannot help the business right now. The Crown Princess therefore went to the Stockholm Stadsmission yesterday to help make food boxes for people in homelessness and vulnerability.’
‘The royal family is keen to show their support for the efforts made in various parts of society to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Through conversations, digital meetings and visits, the King family informs about how the pandemic affects Sweden. Visits are planned on the basis of current recommendations and with an effort not to unnecessarily use the time and resources of the operations,’ the post went on.
The Crown Princess got stuck in as she dished up rice into meal boxes, during the visit to the charity, which is short of volunteers because many of its regulars are self-isolating
Princess Victoria slid notes written by her husband Prince Daniel and herself in the bags full of food
The royal, who seemed in her element cooking rice and chatting with the other volunteers while cooking, also said anyone could help.
‘I feel like so many others in this community who would like to help, and it makes me feel good to be with you here today,’ she said.
‘It is important that those of use who can, contribute and help any way they can. Together we can make the difference,’ she said at the charity, as reported by the court.
The meals were either picked up by people at the charity of delivered. They all contained a small card with a message written by Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel, with whom she shares two children.
The couple yesterday shared a pictures of themselves working from home on their Instagram account. They were attending a webinar on the new corona virus and its repercussions on health and life in the short and long term.
The mother-of-two helped to prepare bags containing meals and drinks to be distributed to vulnerable citizens
Each bag contained food and bottles of water. Princess Victoria even handed some to visitors (pictured)
Swedish authorities have advised the public to practice social distancing, but still allow a large amount of personal freedom unlike most other European countries such as France, Italy, Germany or the UK.
Sweden remains the last major European nation to have most of its businesses and even primary schools still opened.
Universities and higher education colleges were closed, and restaurants and eateries were sled to only serve people at tables and not at the bar.
Public gathering of more than 50 people were also banned.
In the UK, 29.474 coronavirus cases were reported, 2,352 having resulted in deaths, as the country has been put on lockdown on March 23.
The couple yesterday shared a pictures of themselves working from home on their Instagram account. They were attending a webinar on the new corona virus and its repercussions on health and life in the short and long term (pictured)