On Victoria Day, Princess Victoria welcomed not only her family members but also other important guests, including athlete Isabelle Haak. She even challenged Daniel, Estelle, and Oscar to a little match.
Not everyone can say they’ve enjoyed the traditional Victoria concert sitting next to Princess Victoria, 47, Prince Daniel, 50, and the Swedish royal couple. This rare honor was given to volleyball player Isabelle Haak, 25, who spent the special day on July 14, 2024, with the Royals. The young athlete was invited to the celebrations for a very special reason: as announced by the palace on Instagram, Crown Princess Victoria awarded Haak the “Victoriapriset,” the “Victoria Prize.”
Princess Victoria Honors Volleyball Player Isabelle Haak
“The Crown Princess presented the Victoria Prize to volleyball player Isabelle Haak this evening. The prize has been awarded since 1979 to an athlete who has delivered a particularly outstanding performance during the year,” the court explains on Instagram, alongside a photo showing the proud winner Isabelle and Princess Victoria.
The “Victoriapriset” award ceremony took place during the birthday concert, with which the royal family and all of Sweden celebrate Victoria’s anniversary each year. The event is broadcast on Swedish television, and a fundraiser is held in parallel “for the benefit of the ‘Crown Princess Victoria’s Fund’,” a foundation that supports “associations for disabled or chronically ill children in Sweden.”
Haak plays for the Italian club Imoco Volley Conegliano and the Swedish women’s national volleyball team. With her Italian team, the 25-year-old celebrated the national championship at the end of April, and with her Swedish teammates, Haak won first place in the CEV Volleyball European Golden League 2024 in June. Now, the young athlete can crown her numerous medals and trophies with an award from Princess Victoria.
After the Win Comes the Game! Haak Competes Against the Royals
Someone who has celebrated so many successes in a sport usually doesn’t need to prove their skills anymore. But Isabelle Haak does it anyway—in a friendly out-of-schedule training session. Also on July 14, the palace shared a video showing Haak with Princess Estelle, 12, Prince Daniel, and Prince Oscar, 8, playing on a field. The court had prepared and organized a volleyball, which the four skillfully passed through the air. “Thank you for today’s volleyball training,” reads the comment on the video.
The little Oscar especially makes a big impression: although he’s a few centimeters shorter than the rest, he keeps up well with them. One user noted, “Prince Oscar seems to be very good at volleyball,” while someone else commented, “The next generation is secured.” In the end, it’s little Oscar who misses the ball by a few centimeters, but no one seems to mind—having fun playing is the top priority, even for the Royals.
