We've been keeping a close eye on how the British royal family has handled the current changes in the world. Around the globe, other royals are also pitching in to do their part. No royal has gotten quite as close to the action as Swedish royal Princess Sofia.
If Princess Sofia looks familiar, it's because you've likely seen her before. The 35-year-old is the epitome of brains and beauty. Before marrying into the Swedish royal family, Sofia was a model. She was also a reality show contestant, making it to the final of TV4's Paradise Hotel. She's studied accounting, global ethics, child and youth science, and more.
Now the wife of Prince Carl Phillip can add "medical assistant" to that list. It was revealed on the Swedish royal couple's Instagram account that Sofia took a three-day course to become a medical assistant. Her reason? To get on the front lines and help the overworked health care professionals battling the virus.
Princess Sofia of Sweden has made an impressive commitment to helping health care workers. The 35-year-old wife of Prince Carl Philip and mother of two has decided to join the front lines. Sofia underwent an intensive three-day online course to become a medical assistant.
Sofia shared the news on Instagram. "Last week I went through a medical education with a major in healthcare," Sofia captioned a photo of her new medical scrubs.
"Within the framework of 'emergency response,' I am now placed in one of the hospital's care units where, together with other newly trained colleagues, I support and relieve the care staff with various tasks, including care of patients and cleaning. To have the opportunity to help in this difficult time is extremely rewarding."
Sofia will be assisting hospital staff with nonmedical related tasks. She's working at the Sophiahemmet Hospital, of which she is honorary chair. Photos of Sofia working show that there's still something regal about her, even when she's in scrubs and sneakers like any other frontline worker.
Sofia is one of 80 people who took the course to help the overwhelmed hospital in the last week. The emergency training program was necessary to provide relief to tired health care professionals who are dealing with an unprecedented situation. To date, they are taking on overflow from other hospitals but not treating any virus-infected patients at that site.
A spokesperson for Sophiahemmet Hospital confirms that while Sofia and the others who took the course won't have direct patient contact, they still play a very important role. They alleviate doctors and nurses of time-consuming tasks "so that those who are trained to care can actually do it."
"In other words, anyone who attends this training will not have any patient-close care," the spokesperson explained.
They went on to detail some of the work that the newly minted medical assistants can expect. "They can disinfect equipment, do shifts in the kitchen and cleaning. Regardless, none of the course participants will work directly with [virus] patients."
The Swedish royal family has been supportive of Sofia's decision. Sweden had 12,540 confirmed cases and 1,333 reported deaths as of Thursday.
"In the crisis we find ourselves in, the Princess wants to get involved and make a contribution as a voluntary worker to relieve the large workload of health care professionals," the royal court said in a statement.
Around the world, people are praising Sofia for her contribution. Of course, parallels are being drawn between other royals in other families. Still, much of the focus is on the good Sofia is doing and how those around the world should be inspired by it.
