Swedish Princess Sofia has opened up about the struggles she faced early on in her relationship with now-husband, Prince Carl Philip.
Speaking during a podcast launched as part of the foundation she runs with her husband, the Swedish royal revealed, “I know the difference from before I met Carl Philip and after our relationship became public.
“Early on I suffered enormous cyber abuse. It was a bit like walking into a wall,” she said.
The royal couple wed in a fairytale ceremony in 2015. Photo: Getty
The Princess, who previously appeared on reality television and worked as a glamour model before meeting Carl Philip, faced intense public scrutiny as her relationship with the royal hit headlines in 2010.
“It hit me very hard,” she said – but the experience also gave her a greater understanding of “what young people are exposed to daily”.
The royal, who recently welcomed her first child with Carl Philip, said she was receiving “so much hate” that she had to pull the plug on her Facebook page and other social media prior to the couple’s 2015 wedding.
Carl Philip and Sofia welcomed their first child, a son named Alexander, in April 2016. Photo: Getty
“It’s difficult to know what can you do? Who should you talk to?” Sofia continued.
Cyber bullying is an issue close to Prince Carl Philip’s heart as well, with the royal revealing he also experienced online backlash after an appearance on live TV for a sports event didn’t go completely to plan.
“That’s one reason why we stand here together to face this particular issue. We are a good team and we will make a difference.”
