Swedish wedding - a great boost for the economy

While republicans seem to believe that „the money question“ could be the trigger to raise antipathy against a country’s Monarchy, they never actually calculate as a good accountant would: "debit and credit". Take Sweden as an example.
This Saturday Crown Princess Victoria (32) will get married to Daniel Westling (36), who will be invested with the title Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland.

If you follow the official figures, the Swedish taxpayer has to contribute €2 mill. (AUS$ 2.85 mill.) to the royal wedding. The Swedish republicans claim, this figure were closer to €10 mill. (AUS$ 14.2 mill.). No matter who is right, the positive aspects of the royal occasion outnumbers the public cost multiple times.

The Swedish foreign ministry expects 2,300 journalists, among them 700 from all over the world, to report on the royal wedding. The capital’s hotel industry and commerce expect an additional turnaround of several billion Kronor (Kronor 1.000 = AUS$ 147). Even bed & breakfast accommodations are sometimes rented out for €500 to 600 (AUS$ 710 – 850). The Swedish tourism promotion is very satisfied with the inflow of foreign visitors. Around 200,000 spectators are expected to line the streets of Stockholm, and the souvenir sales could top €250 mill. (AUS$ 350 mill.).

Swedish shops all over the world benefit from the attention that is drawn to the Scandinavian Kingdom. In Berlin all IKEA shops will broadcast live the royal wedding on big screens. And a slice of princess torte will be offered to the customers who will turn up that Saturday morning. Children dressed as a prince or a princess will receive a free meal also. The supermarket chain ICA offers the whole range of specially produced items, from chocolate to coffee and napkins. The German chocolate manufacturer Halloren (Halle) is also producing "Wedding Chocolates". A beer brewery in Saxony provides a special beer for a reception at the Royal Swedish Embassy in Berlin. "Schwedenquell" has a label with Swedish King Gustav II Adolf, who – according to legend had enjoyed the Krostitz beer in 1631.
Sweden can expect an economic boost, which will swipe in additional tax revenue into the Kingdom’s treasury that will exceed by far even the highest republican estimates.

For a whole day Sweden will attract the world’s attention. TV stations know of the people’s desire to watch royal events. Well, nearly all, because Australia’s SBS has refused to broadcast the Swedish wedding. Germany TV stations will not miss the opportunity to get a high rating. When Crown Prince Felipe of Spain married in 2004 ARD/ZDF attracted 52 %. The Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon married in 2001 ARD/ZDF rated even higher: Nearly 60%.

SBS has in the past shown such events either whole or in part, such as the wedding of Crown Prince Felipe of Spain and of course Princess Mary of Denmark in May 2004, which kept one million spectators glued to the TV screen until 3 am.

"The royals are simply too beloved by the people, says Peter Althin, chairman of the Republican Association, which wants to abolish the monarchy. “There is not enough pressure in Sweden yet for the actual dismantling of the monarchy.”

If you can't beat them, join them! Let's celebrate with the newly-wed royal couple!