Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden has been caught at the centre of the crisis rocking the Swedish Academy — the body that awards the Nobel Prize in Literature.
According to reports, the beloved royal was allegedly sexually harassed by Jean-Claude Arnault — a French photographer — at an event put on by the body at its Villa Bergsgården in Stockholm.
The incident is said to have occurred around 2006.
Speaking with Sweden’s Svenska Dagbladet newspaper, three sources said they witnessed the photographer groping the then 27-year-old Crown Princess’s bottom.
“He came lurking from behind and I saw his hand land on her neck and go downward. It was all the way down,” Ebba Witt-Brattström, a 64-year-old scholar in comparative literature, told the publication.
One of the princess’s aide quickly sprung into action to diffuse the situation, she said.
“She just flew herself on Arnault. She grabbed him, and ‘whop’, he was gone. The Crown princess turned in surprise. I guess she had never been groped. She just looked like ‘what?'”
A French photographer has been accused of groping Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in 2006.
Mr Arnault’s lawyer, Björn Hurtig, told The Telegraph: “My client most strongly denies these allegations. He claims that these malicious rumors serve a single purpose; to blacken his name and damage him.”
A spokeswoman for the royal court, said it would “neither confirm or deny” the Svenska Dagbladet story.
“What we have heard regarding this man is horrifying generally but we will not give any comment regarding this latest story that the Crown Princess has been touched,” she said.
A total of 18 women have come forward to say Mr Arnault had groped or harassed them at Academy-owned apartments in Stockholm and Paris or at Forum — the cultural centre he ran.
Victoria is pictured with her husband, Prince Daniel and two children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar.
Princess Victoria and husband Prince Daniel recently held a reception dinner for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the British Ambassador’s residence in Stockholm.
Kate and Wills, who attended the event as part of a four-day tour of Sweden and Norway, were also joined by Swedish stars including Oscar-winning actress Alicia Vikander and Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgard.
Duchess Catherine, Prince William, Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel pose for a photo at the British Ambassador’s residence in Stockholm ahead of their dinner.
A royal night out!
Duchess Catherine, who was six months pregnant with her third child at the time of the glittering engagement, cut an elegant figure in the “Stephanie” gown by Erdem, which features a floral print, frilled collar, flared sleeves and is worth a cool $3404.
Victoria, meanwhile, who is first in line to the Swedish throne, stunned in a timeless satin midi-dress by Swedish designer Stylein. She completed the look with swept back locks and statement earrings.
The tour marked the first time the two couples had caught up publicly since Victoria and Daniel attended William and Kate’s wedding in 2011.
