It was the photo that supposedly launched a thousand tabloid covers. Or, at least, it was the photo that made the Swedish Royal Court sweat for a solid year. You probably remember the chatter: a grainy, black-and-white image allegedly showing King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden—the "Prince" of his era before ascending the throne—watching two women perform a provocative act in a private club. It was the centerpiece of the 2011 "Playgirl and the Prince" media storm. But here’s the kicker. The photo was a fake.
Scandals involving royals and "playgirls" or models aren't exactly a new invention of the digital age. They are as old as the crowns themselves. However, the specific saga of The Playgirl and the Prince—referring to the King of Sweden and the claims made by Mille Markovic, a former mob-connected nightclub owner—changed how the public views the intersection of monarchy and the underworld. It wasn't just about a party. It was about national security, blackmail, and whether a king could ever truly have a private life.
The Book That Changed Everything
In late 2010, a book titled Carl XVI Gustaf – Den motvillige monarken (The Reluctant Monarch) hit Swedish shelves like a hand grenade. Authors Thomas Sjöberg, Deanne Rauscher, and Tove Meyer didn't hold back. They detailed a side of the King that the public hadn't seen: wild parties, ties to the mafia, and a long-standing affair with Camilla Henemark.
Henemark was the "playgirl" in this equation, though she’s more accurately described as a pop star from the group Army of Lovers. She was the face of the 90s Swedish club scene—bold, outspoken, and totally at odds with the stiff, formal image of the Royal Palace. When the book dropped, the King’s reaction was... awkward. He famously stood in the woods during a press conference and said he and his family were "turning the page."
People didn't want to turn the page. They wanted to see the receipts.
The Mille Markovic Connection
Enter Mille Markovic. He was a former professional boxer and a convicted criminal who ran a strip club called "Club 79." Markovic claimed he had "the" photo. He claimed he had evidence of the King in compromising positions at his club. For months, the Swedish media was obsessed. Markovic teased the release of these photos, claiming they were his "life insurance."
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But why do we care now? Because it highlights the danger of the "Playgirl and the Prince" narrative. It’s a trope that relies on the power dynamic between a high-born man and a woman from the "wrong side of the tracks." In this case, Markovic was the middleman trying to leverage that dynamic for cash.
Eventually, Markovic did release a "screenshot" of a video. It looked damning. But experts quickly tore it apart. It was a digital composite. A fake. Markovic’s credibility evaporated, and he was later murdered in 2014 in a case that remains a dark footnote in Swedish history. The scandal, however, left a permanent mark on the monarchy’s approval ratings.
Why the "Playgirl" Archetype Persists in Royal Lore
The fascination with the The Playgirl and the Prince isn't just about the Swedish King. Look at Prince Harry and his pre-Meghan days. Look at Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly (though she was Hollywood royalty, the press treated her like a "showgirl" entering a sacred space).
Sociologically, these stories fascinate us because they represent the collision of two worlds. The "Prince" represents tradition, duty, and the status quo. The "Playgirl"—whether she's a model, an actress, or a club regular—represents freedom, rebellion, and the "modern" world. When these worlds collide, we expect a mess. We usually get one.
Honestly, the Swedish scandal was a turning point for royal PR. Before this, the Swedish press had a "gentleman's agreement" with the Palace. You don't report on the King's private life, and the Palace gives you access. That agreement died in 2011. Since then, royal houses across Europe have had to become much more transparent because they realized that if they don't tell their story, someone like Mille Markovic will invent one for them.
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The Reality of Camilla Henemark
Camilla Henemark is often the forgotten person in this narrative, or at least, her humanity is lost in the "playgirl" label. In her own autobiography, Goodbye Farewell, she spoke about the affair with the King. She didn't describe it as a glamorous royal romance. She described it as something that eventually led her to a very dark place, including periods of homelessness and mental health struggles.
It’s easy to read about these scandals and think of them as tabloid fodder. But for the women involved, the "playgirl" label is a heavy one to carry. Henemark was a talented artist and a political activist. Reducing her to a "scandalous mistress" in the The Playgirl and the Prince narrative ignores the actual person behind the headlines.
What This Means for Today’s Royal News
If you're following royal news in 2026, you've seen how these patterns repeat. The tactics have changed—now it’s TikTok leaks and "deepfake" rumors rather than grainy photos from a mobster—but the core appeal is the same. We are obsessed with the idea that those who represent "purity" and "statehood" are just as messy as the rest of us.
Here is the truth about the Swedish scandal:
- The King admitted to "turning the page," which many took as a tacit admission that something happened, even if the photos were fake.
- Camilla Henemark’s career was forever redefined by the association.
- The Swedish monarchy survived, but its aura of "untouchability" vanished.
The "Playgirl and the Prince" story is rarely about love. It’s about the vulnerability of power. When a Prince (or a King) steps out of his protected bubble, he becomes subject to the same risks as anyone else—blackmail, betrayal, and the harsh light of the morning after.
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How to Evaluate Royal Scandals Moving Forward
When you see a headline today that sounds like a plot from a soap opera involving a royal figure and a "scandalous" outsider, use these filters:
- The Source of the Evidence: In the Swedish case, the source was a known criminal with a grudge. If the "proof" is coming from someone with a financial stake in the scandal, be skeptical.
- The "Non-Denial" Denial: Look at how the palace responds. A flat-out "this is a lie" is different from "we are moving forward."
- The Human Cost: Who is being turned into a caricature? Usually, it's the woman. Look for her actual story outside of the "playgirl" trope.
The saga of the Swedish King and the claims made in 2011 serve as a masterclass in how a monarchy handles a crisis. They didn't sue. They didn't scream. They waited for the lies to collapse under their own weight. It worked, but the crown has looked a little bit duller ever since.
To understand modern celebrity culture, you have to understand that the "Prince" is no longer a sacred figure. He’s a brand. And every brand is one "playgirl" scandal away from a total rebrand.
Practical Next Steps for the Curious:
- Research the history of the Swedish "Freedom of the Press Act"—the oldest in the world—to understand why the Swedish media felt empowered to publish The Reluctant Monarch.
- Look into the "Army of Lovers" discography to see the actual cultural impact Camilla Henemark had before she was labeled a "playgirl."
- Compare the 2011 Swedish scandal with the 1990s "Squidgygate" tapes in the UK to see how different monarchies handle private recordings and photos.
The era of royal secrets is over. Digital transparency and the decline of deference mean that the next "Prince" won't just have to worry about the paparazzi; they'll have to worry about every person with a smartphone and a story to sell.