Prince Julian of Sweden, 5, sparks outpouring of sympathy as fans spot mystery injury

The Swedish royal family has shared their latest family portrait, but fans couldn’t help but notice that one individual had a minor health hiccup.

King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia posed for their summer family photo alongside their children, Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland, Princess Madeleine, and their grandchildren. 

It’s an annual tradition for the Scandinavian royals, who gather at their summer residence, Solliden Palace in Borgholm on the island of Öland, for a number of celebrations, including Victoriadagen, also known as Victoria Day, which marks Princess Victoria’s birthday on 14 July.

This year, after enjoying a concert in the Borgholm Castle ruins, the family assembled outside the venue for a photograph that was later shared on social media by the royal house.

The post was met with floods of compliments from royal fans. However, a few couldn’t help but notice that one of the youngest family members was looking a little worse for wear.

Injured Prince

At the front of the portrait, Prince Carl Phillip and his wife, Princess Sofia, appeared with their three sons, Prince Alexander, 10, Prince Gabriel, eight, and Prince Julian, five, all wearing matching green jackets.

Julian, however, also appeared with an additional accessory – a blue plaster cast, with many left wondering how the little one sustained the arm injury.

According to Margareta Thorgren, the Director of the Information and Press Department for the royal family, the youngster “has a small crack in his arm.”

Nothing more than a bit of rough and tumble is to blame, she said, adding, “Children and play, things that can happen.”It’s not the first occasion on which Julian has attracted attention for his cheeky antics. 

Prince Louis’s twin

Much like Prince Louis was known for drawing attention to himself when he was little, Julian, too, enjoys stealing the spotlight. During his grandfather, King Carl Gustaf’s 80th birthday celebrations in April, spectators couldn’t help but notice the mischievous prince making extra fun out of the milestone moment.  

© Getty Images

While the family took on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Stockholm to watch tributes from the Swedish Armed Forces, little Julian, barely perceptible behind the railing, caught the attention of onlookers as he showed off his impromptu dance moves. The five-year-old enjoyed jigging about to the sound of the marching band.