Moderna drottningar – moderna drottningroller? Veckopressens skildringar av drottningroller 1905–1980

Abstract

This essay deals with four queen consorts and their queenship to a couple of Kings of Sweden 1905–1980 in women ́s magazines. The aim of the essay is to analyze how the different roles of the queens changed in relation to a new and modern ideal for women: “the modern woman”. According to previous studies, the queenship consists of two roles: mother and wife. These roles have proved to be difficult to change and have almost been the same for over 1000 years. According to me, the roles of the queens have one private sphere and one public sphere. The survey showed that all queens were described as having fulfilled and had both the private and public motherhood and wifehood. During the 20th century, the women ́s magazines received more private details about the queen, her family and herself, even when the queen was out in public. A modern queen and queenship had, according to the magazines and my analysis, a profession that she had chosen by herself, which consisted of representing the monarchy and charity work. A modern queen chose to get married to a king and give birth to children.