Work Text:
BREAKING NEWS
CROWN PRINCE AND HUSBAND EXPECTING???
The Royal Dream Couple were caught unaware while interacting with the adoring public yesterday afternoon.
SETT & HÖRT has received exclusive footage taken by one of the countless people waiting on the square in front of Kulturhuset to meet Sweden's Darlings.
The Crown Prince and his husband who have been dating since their days at school and got married almost exactly 2 years ago greeted the fans happily, shaking hands and taking pictures.
At one point, a young mother and her newborn were spotted by Simon, who excitedly pointed them out to the Crown Prince. The following video was taken during their exchange with the young mother.
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Crown Prince Wilhelm and Simon are happily talking to the many people gathered at Kulturhuset in anticipation to see the Royal Couple before the reading they have planned at the children’s library for the charity they are spearheading. A soft smile is etched constantly onto their faces as Wilhelm has his hand on the small of Simon's back and Simon frequently leans into his touch, smiling up at the love of his life.
Wilhelm is taking a selfie with a fan as Simon spots her. His eyes light up and he starts tugging at Wilhelm's sleeve to get his attention, before he takes a few steps towards the young woman and the baby in her arms. "Oh my god, hi! How are you?" His voice is smooth and excited, and the smile on his face has grown wider and tender as he lifts his hand to wave at the infant with a wiggle of his fingers.
"Thank you, Your Highness, we’re good. This is Ava!"
Simon can't take his eyes off the small baby wrapped up in blankets, brown eyes so loving and soft that it looks like he might start crying any moment. "She is precious.. may I touch her?" At the nod of the mother, he carefully reaches out to stroke Ava's forehead and boops her nose softly, eliciting a tiny giggle from her. "You are so adorable… hi Ava!"
Wilhelm has made his way over now, hugging his husband from the side and resting his chin on his shoulder. "Who have you found here?" He sounds amused, but equally enchanted at the tiny bundle.
Simon grins up at him, and motions towards the baby. "This is Ava, and she is absolutely delightful." As if to himself, he adds "I can't wait to have our own."
Between the happy coos of the crowd, the words of the Crown Prince are almost drowned out. But it's still clear as day as he murmurs "only half a year now, love!" The crowd in the closest vicinity gasps at his words, and he looks up, startled at their presence. It seems as if he forgot they were in public. With a hand over his mouth, he looks between his husband who gives him a loving glare, and the astonished crowd. "Ava is lovely, how old is she?"
The conversation goes on, but Simon and Wilhelms hands never part.
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While nothing is confirmed yet, we are eagerly awaiting a comment from the Royal Court amongst soaring suspicion and rampant rumours. Are the Future King and Prince Consort expecting? And how, considering surrogacy is illegal in Sweden and neither the Crown Prince nor his husband are able to carry a child?
The truth will have to be seen.
Victor @wilmonsecstasy
Hey guys, so you know the videos we got of the event today? The one where they are smiling and talking but you can’t hear anything?
Well, I’m hard of hearing and can lipread, so I made a little subtitled video-edit for all you non-lipreaders. Enjoy!
<video>
The Crown Prince and Simon are standing near the entrance to the library, lost in conversation as they beam at each other and trade subtle touches. A hand running up an arm here, hooked fingers there. They are the perfect picture of marital bliss. They are too far away to hear, and only Wille can be seen fully, but the white words beneath him make something very clear: He is in trouble!
“Shit! I shouldn't have said that… I'm Sorry!" He smiles sheepishly, tugging an errant curl behind Simon’s ears. The angle changes, and now Simon’s bright smile and teasing eyes are visible to everyone.
“So, tell me, love… who did you think would spill the most guarded secret in all of Sweden?”
The angle changes again, to reveal a slightly embarrassed Crown Prince, blush rising on his cheeks. “I thought it would be you…”
Simon grins wider, almost giddy with excitement. “And who will tell Jan-Olof about the extra work he will have to do tonight?”
Wille throws his head back and it looks like he gives a silent groan before he lowers his head again, cheeks burning now. “I will…”
Simon grasps his hand and leans closer. “Damn right you will, and then you’ll pay up… A true gentleman honours his debts, after all!”
<video ends>
Sam @sammy4wilmon
Hold up, what??? “Most guarded Secret”???
Holy fuck, I think it’s true! We’re getting an heir to the throne!!!
Ella @enchanted_ella
We don’t know for sure yet! And there’s the issue with surrogacy! They can’t just make a baby…
THE ROYAL DREAM TEAM - ABOUT LOVE, FATE AND FAMILY PLANS
It’s a beautiful autumn evening as we enter the Crown Prince’s estate and are led to the gardens where we will shortly meet the Crown Prince and his husband. Rumours have been everywhere since the supposed slip up last Saturday, and we have exclusive rights to talk to the happy couple and set the record straight. What did the Crown Prince mean with his comment?
It takes only a few minutes until the Royal Couple appears, beautiful as ever in matching white sweaters. We are greeted warmly, the Crown Prince fondly remembering us from the first interview the pair gave us back when they first revealed their relationship. We are flattered that they even recall that day, eight and a half years ago.
Vision (V): Thank you for sitting down with us on this lovely day. It's almost exactly 8 and a half years since you revealed your love to the world and 2 years of being married. How has married life treated you?
Kronprinsen Wilhelm (KP): It's been wonderful! Every day I get to spend with Simon is a blessing, and I still can't believe that I'm lucky enough to have him in my life.
Simon (S): Today is actually the 9 year anniversary of us meeting for the first time. Well, seeing each other for the first time. We didn't interact until the next day.
V: Oh wow, congratulations then! I don't think you have ever talked about that day, but can you give us a little insight into what that was like?
KP: Back then, it felt like I was being shipped off to some sort of prison, torn away from my brother and my friends. But then there was this cute guy singing a solo in the choir, and I forgot about that for a moment.
S: Oh, stop it! I was so nervous that day, you don't get to sing in front of royalty any day, and a solo at that! And at first I thought Wille would be stuck up and arrogant, but he proved me wrong pretty quickly.
KP: To be honest, it was so refreshing to have someone who treated me like I was just like everyone else. Simon didn't care for my status, and that's how I felt so secure with him so very quickly. Maybe it was fate that brought me to Hillerska a month after the semester started, so I could meet the love of my life. But as happy as that memory is, it's also the last time I saw my brother in person. Erik never got to meet Simon, that's the only thing I regret.
V: Half a year later, you made history and changed this country by openly admitting to your relationship with Simon, your involvement in the cover-up of your appearance in a now infamous video and blew the lid off decades of following tradition for traditions sake. Do you ever look back on the day and wonder what would have happened if you hadn't done that?
KP: Of course one wonders what might have been. But everything I did that day brought me to this moment, to sitting here with Simon and talking openly about our love. Things needed to change, and I was done hiding out of fear what the public would think. If they rejected me for who I am, then so be it. If they hated me for being 16 and afraid of confirming that I was caught in an intimate moment with the boy I loved, so be it! Simon had just agreed to make huge sacrifices to make our relationship work, and I just couldn't stand back and let him become unhappy because of my own cowardice.
S: I had no idea he would do that, by the way. I was fully committed to being his secret until the Crown and the Public were ready to accept him and by extension me. And then he goes and makes the most ridiculously romantic gesture imaginable…
(The pair shared a loving smile, and the Crown Prince leaned in to press a tender kiss to Simon's lips. We almost fainted at the soft blush that formed on Simon's face. It's safe to say these two are just as in love as ever.)
V: There was quite an uproar after the announcement, with the Crown's integrity and every word of the Queen being called into question, and the revelation that none other than August Horn of Årnäs, your second Cousin and backup for the throne, leaked that video. Did you foresee any of these developments?
KP: I think part of me knew, deep down, that my statement would kick loose some rocks that could potentially turn into something that would bury my family and the Crown underneath it. But what other choice did I have? I could have stayed silent and delivered the speech as intended by the Royal Court, and kept on living a lie, scared of anyone seeing the true me. Or I could force the truth into the open, tear all the traditions and the dishonesty up and challenge the Crown. Because if something can't exist truthfully, should it exist at all?
S: We did know about August's involvement in the distribution of the tape. I had only found out a few days before and considered pressing charges, but in the end decided against it because I valued my relationship with Wille more. It becomes tricky when your decisions influence the course a country will take, and making these calls at 16… that was scary!
KP: In the end, I'm very glad that the truth was revealed and that August got his just punishment. Being part of the Royal Family does not give anyone an excuse to violate the law or common decency. And I'm devoted to making sure this principle is never violated again. So yes, knowing what I know now, I would do it again, without hesitation.
V: During all of the uproar, the two of you started your official courtship. Six years of dating before you announced your engagement, and another six months until the Royal Wedding of the Century. The very first same-sex wedding of a future monarch. How did it feel to make history?
S: I never thought it would get to that point. 16 year old me could never imagine that I would marry into the Royal Family, and happily so! I knew I wanted to make things work with Wille, I was in it for the long haul, but I was certain something would tear us apart, like it always did. But we worked hard on ourselves, learned how to communicate with each other and have been going strong ever since those first few months. Still, if felt surreal, to be able to do just do it, with no one blocking our path.
KP: I am so incredibly grateful that the Swedish People accepted both of us with open arms. I have been struggling with anxiety my whole life, and it got worse after I started to take on an official role and then became Crown Prince. I don't think I could have faced all the scrutiny and pressure of my position without Simon by my side. I rarely think about the fact that we are two men, all that counts is that we're in love. I'm glad Riksdag and the Swedish Public see it the same way. Still, of course I'm aware of the impact a public relationship like ours has, especially for marginalised groups.
V: Which brings us to last week. You held a reading of children's books written by children and teens from marginalised backgrounds. A group you have supported for a few years now.
KP: Yes, absolutely. Especially in cases where causes of discrimination intersect. Homophobia, sexism, racism, ableism and the shame that often comes with poverty are all separate issues that nevertheless often impact the same person and can compound to an insurmountable amount of obstacles that hinder a person from achieving their potential.
S: As the gay PoC son of an immigrant who grew up in poverty, I'm one of those people who experienced this intersectional discrimination. My sister even more so, due to her autism and the sheer fact that she is a woman. I want to help children like her and me, open doors and make opportunities happen that I wouldn't have had. I was incredibly lucky to be able to attend Hillerska, but it took a lot of hard work and dedication to even be accepted. In the end, it was my musical talent that finally got me in. Had it not been for that, I would probably still be in Bjärstad, serving Pizza in the only pizzeria in town.
KP: So, yes, working with these kids and enabling them to achieve the greatness they are destined for is important to us. It's those lives we get to touch and influence that make all of the ridiculous overhead almost worth. If we didn't have the opportunity, I think I would have long given up my spot in the line to the throne. (laughs lightheartedly) But that's not really what you're interested in, is it?
V: You got us! Or course we'd love to talk about the new viral video, of your interaction with the newborn, and the comment of the Crown Prince.
S: Ava! She was just so adorable, wasn't she?
KP: Yes, adorable and the reason our poor PR Team had to work overtime since Saturday.
V: Crown Prince, you mentioned "six months" when Simon expressed the desire for children of your own. Can we take that to mean that you are preparing to gift Sweden with a new heir to the throne?
S: We actually have been preparing for a while now. As you know, surrogacy is illegal in Sweden. This poses a small problem for us, as any potential heir to the throne has to be naturally born into a marriage approved by the Riksdag. We cannot naturally have children, and for some reason, people don't want to abandon the bloodline aspect of royalty.
KP: So my mother and I have been working with the Riksdag to gain special exceptions to preserve the Crown, and I am fighting to create these exceptions for the general public.
V: So you are planning on using a surrogate?
KP: Yes. She is part of Simon's family, one of the requirements to prevent a power imbalance. We could have used a woman of noble birth to fulfill this requirement, but we wanted out children to share both of out blood.
S: There would of course be a paternity test, no matter who the surrogate was, to give proof that the child is indeed Wilhelm's blood. We will adhere to this rule, although I hope no one seriously assumes I would have a child with my own relative.
V: These plans all seem very concrete…
KP: That's because they are. We wanted to keep it secret for a while longer to make it easier on Simon's relative, as we're sure there will be a lot of scrutiny on them… but yes, we are expecting our first child and will welcome them in spring.
S: We would just like to ask everyone to please respect the privacy of my family. Believe me, we are just as excited to meet our child as you are. And we will make sure to keep the public in the loop about everything.
The interview ended soon after we congratulated them and took a few pictures for this article, and we got to watch them leave, arms intertwined and heads leaned together. And we are sure the Swedish Crown Prince Couple will be the best pair of parent our future Prince*ss could wish for.