Swedish Crown Princess Victoria's German Speech Wows Audience
Germany was treated to an unexpected delight when Crown Princess Victoria stepped into the Bundestag plenary chamber. Her flawless German speech during the German War Graves Commission's commemoration ceremony left a lasting impression.
Swede by Birth, German by Heart
Victoria's mother, Queen Silvia, was born in Heidelberg, Germany, to a German businessman. Silvia, who is also fluent in Portuguese and English, ensured that her children grew up multilingual. And so, along with Swedish, Victoria learned German as a second language at an early age.
The Power of Play in Language Learning
Queen Silvia used play and games to teach her children languages. One memorable instance involved a Punch and Judy show, where Silvia communicated in German with her children through the Punch and Judy character. This creative approach likely played a significant role in Victoria's mastery of German.
A Confident and Impressive Performance
Victoria's German speech during her visit to Berlin was met with applause and admiration. Her fluency in German further strengthened the already close bond between Germany and Sweden. The shared values, commitment to freedom, democracy, and human rights made the connection even more profound.
A Childhood Grounded in Multilingualism
Victoria's siblings, including Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine, also grew up in a multilingual environment. As the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, Victoria was exposed to multiple languages from a young age. This early exposure and Silvia's unique teaching methods likely contributed to Victoria's impressive command of several languages.
Queen Silvia's advocacy for multilingualism is well-known. Her approach, which emphasizes play and fun, has been instrumental in her children's language development. Although specific details about Silvia's methods in promoting multilingualism are not extensively documented, the royal family's focus on language learning has clearly resulted in Victoria's exceptional linguistic abilities.
Sources:
- www.bild.de
