It is not easy to get a building permit for a bathing pavilion at a castle from the 1600s that has been named Sweden's first World Heritage Site. But it was possible to arrange it in the end, even though the Swedish National Heritage Board first stated that it was "inappropriate in principle". The prerequisites were that the pavilion was built in the courtyard of the King and Queen's private part of the palace – and that the bathing pavilion could be demolished.
When the Queen's Pool was to be renovated 25 years after her 50th birthday, in 2018, it was the National Property Board that had to pay for it.
– It is Queen Silvia who received the gift, but when the pool ends up in the castle, it becomes a property accessory and then it is part of the property and our responsibility to take care of it, says Property Director Peter Wallin at the National Property Board of Sweden.
What do you think taxpayers are saying about this?
– Yes, I assume that people think it's okay.
Through the more than 200-year-old agreement on the right of disposition, the royal family has a number of benefits. They do not have to pay renovations, maintenance or rent for their homes. That is what the taxpayer is responsible for.
Employees: "Daily a source of conflict"
Several people who have worked at the National Property Board of Sweden tell Uppdrag granskning that the authority is appeased by the court and this has also been pointed out in an occupational health report from 2019. One employee stated there that it "becomes a daily source of conflict, frustration and negotiations" with the royal family about boundaries about what should be included in the right of disposition.
When Princess Madeleine moves home to Sweden in August, her large apartment in the Royal Stables will be waiting diagonally behind the Royal Dramatic Theatre in central Stockholm. The home, which has mostly been uninhabited in recent years, has been renovated in two stages and was most recently expanded to 432 square meters.
The renovations and construction costs have been 13 million, of which the court has paid half a million.
The prince took advantage of the king's right of disposition
Prince Carl Philip has also been able to take advantage of his father's right of disposition. When his private design company Bernadotte & Kylberg, which has had dividends of six million SEK for the past two years, needed premises in 2015, the National Property Board of Sweden converted a storage room in the royal stables into a studio. The renovation cost over one million kronor and was paid for by taxpayers. According to the court, the solution led to the National Property Board receiving rental income that they did not have before. The rent for the studio of 103 square meters is currently just over SEK 18,000 – which is far below market rents according to brokers that Uppdrag granskning has contacted.
"Not everyone can rent the premises. It is designated by the Governor's Office in this case. Then I would say that the rent is still set as market terms based on what prevails in that property, says Peter Wallin, Property Director at the National Property Board of Sweden.