SWEDISH ROYAL ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN CALLED OFF

A SWEDISH ROYAL ENGAGEMENT HAS BEEN CALLED OFF AFTER A STUDENT STUDYING IN BOURNEMOUTH CLAIMED SHE HAD A BRIEF AFFAIR WITH THE GROOM TO BE. JONAS BERGSTROM HAD BEEN ENGAGED TO PRINCESS MADELEINE OF SWEDEN, 27, AFTER A ROMANCE SPANNING EIGHT YEARS. BUT THE 31 YEAR OLD LAWYER CHEATED ON HER WITH A BEAUTIFUL NORWEGIAN STUDENT STUDYING AT ARTS UNIVERSITY COLLEGE IN THE SEASIDE RESORT, DURING A SKI TRIP WITH FRIENDS. AFTER TORA UPPSTROM BERG REVEALED THEIR AFFAIR TO A MAGAZINE, THE ROYAL PALACE IN STOCKHOLM ANNOUNCED THAT THE ENGAGEMENT WAS OVER. PRINCESS MADELEINE FLED TO NEW YORK FOR 'PEACE AND QUIET' TO RECOVER FROM THE SHOCK OF HER FIANCE'S BETRAYAL. THE SCANDAL IS THE LATEST TO SHAKE THE SWEDISH MONARCHY. MADELEINE'S BROTHER PRINCE CARL PHILIP IS DATING A TOPLESS REALITY TV SHOW MODEL. THE COUNTRY IS PREPARING FOR THE WEDDING OF MADELEINE'S OLDER SISTER CROWN PRINCESS VICTORIA TO THE OWNER OF A HEALTH CLUB IN JUNE. PRINCESS MADELEINE, WHO IS THIRD IN LINE TO THE THRONE AFTER HER SISTER AND BROTHER, SHARED AN APARTMENT IN STOCKHOLM WITH HER FIANCE. HE PROPOSED TO HER ON THE ISLAND OF CAPRI LAST AUGUST. NO DATE HAD BEEN SET FOR THEIR WEDDING BUT IT WAS WIDELY EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED IN THE SUMMER. FOR THREE DAYS AFTER THE SCANDAL BROKE THE PALACE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COUPLE HAD ANY PROBLEMS. BUT ON SATURDAY MADELEINE TOOK OFF HER ENGAGEMENT RING, BOARDED A FLIGHT FOR THE US AND A STATEMENT CONFIRMED THEY HAD SPLIT. 'THEY HAVE DECIDED THAT THE BEST FOR THEM IS TO GO THEIR SEPARATE WAYS', THE PALACE SAID. THE ROYAL COURT ASKED FOR THE MEDIA TO LEAVE THE PRINCESS AND HER FORMER FIANCE ALONE. 'THEY NEED PEACE AND QUIET IN THIS DIFFICULT SITUATION. THE HEAVY COVERAGE DOES NOT EASE THE SITUATION FOR THEM', IT SAID, ADDING IT WOULD NOT COMMENT FURTHER ON THE ISSUE. THE PRINCESS, WHOSE FULL TITLE IS MADELEINE THERESE AMELIE JOSEPHINE, PRINCESS OF SWEDEN, DUCHESS OF HALSINGLAND AND GASTRIKLAND, WILL SPEND A FEW WEEKS IN NEW YORK. INSIDERS SAID SHE WOULD TRY TO OVERCOME HER MISERY BY THROWING HERSELF INTO HER WORK FOR THE WORLD CHILDHOOD FOUNDATION.