Army drafts Sweden's Crown Princess

Stockholm - She's in the army now.

Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria has been drafted, but just for three weeks, to serve in the Scandinavian country's army, part of her preparations as the future monarch of the nation of 8.9 million people.

"The princess will spend March 3-21 at Swedint, the Swedish armed forces' international arm," Royal Court spokeswoman Katrin Broms told The Associated Press Tuesday.

Brig. Gen. Claes-Goeran Heden said the 25-year-old princess will be treated like any other recruit, living in a barrack and learning to handle weapons, protective masks and survival skills.

"This is part of her training to become a queen," Hede told The AP.

But unlike most of the course graduates, some of whom go on to join Sweden's international peace support forces abroad as nurses and communications workers, Victoria will go to the United States to study conflict resolution in Washington. She also will visit New York and Philadelphia.

Crown Princess Victoria is the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. -- Associated Press

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