By Nordstjernan columnist Ulf Nilson, December 2010

Normally, I am a republican, with a small r, meaning that I am against the fact that Sweden is a monarchy.
But, OK, I have long since made my peace with the system we have. The King, Carl XVI Gustaf, whom I have met on quite a few occasions, has his good sides and his bad sides—like all of us. But, just to remind you, the same could be said for any president we might have elected under a different system. And—I hate to say this, but I must—when I think of the politicians who might have ascended to the most important job in the nation (as it is always called) I feel quite good about the King. Carl Bildt as president? Reinfeldt? Östros? Göran P?
No, no, enough is enough. Let's keep the King, the Queen and their children, too. Politically, they are quite powerless, they don't hurt anybody, and besides (a little selfishness here!) they are good for circulation and sometimes quite a lot of fun to watch ... if you don't take the game too seriously.
Alas, Swedish TV-4 has chosen to do a series about Queen Silvia, discussing in a very serious (and also quite tedious) manner the fact that the Queen's father, Walter Sommerlath, was a German businessman and member of the Nazi Party. Not the Queen herself, mind you, who was a child in the bad old days, but her father. The television guys are careful not to go too far. There are no accusations of war crimes or such unpleasantness, but, yes, it is evident that the producers and reporters want the audience to believe that Sommerlath was quite an enthusiastic supporter of the little man with the mustache who ruled Germany (and tried to conquer the world). No precise evidence is given but it is quite clear that the main message of the program is that the King (whose mother was a German princess) married into a Nazi family. So: both he and she are guilty, at least by association.
Asked about her and her family's background, Her Majesty tried, rather lamely, to explain that Germany during those years lived under a Nazi “machinery,” so constructed that it was dangerous (indeed very dangerous) not to go along. A few moral giants did not and quite often lost their lives, but most chose to look the other way, and some—including the Queen's father—profited from crimes committed by others. Walter Sommerlath, for his part, managed to buy a factory founded by a Jew (who was forced to sell). This was without doubt a reprehensible act, but, again, it was most definitely not unique and committed by the senior Sommerlath, not his young daughter.
In other words (and in my opinion, which you need not share) it's a piece of history that isn't worth several long television shows filled by slander and innuendo directed against a woman, the Queen, who was a minor at the time and in no way responsible. Sensationalism, pure and simple, is all I can say.…
But one thing needs to be added.
A fact not at all discussed in the series (at least not so far) is that there were plenty of Nazis in Sweden during those bad days. Some were even in powerful and leading positions, and part of the royal family (yes, the Swedish one) might well have a few things to answer for. Just like a number of politicians, generals and the like.
That will not happen. Why? Because it would be dangerous to produce a show directed against powerful people. Better then to attack the Queen who cannot (she was, after all, a child) and is not supposed to defend herself.