Eva Sannum may not be a household name at the moment, but there is a strong chance it soon will be. It belongs to a beautiful 26-year-old Norwegian former model who has captured the heart of Felipe, the crown prince of Spain.
Now it has emerged the statuesque blonde – she is over six feet tall – may convert from the Lutheran faith to Catholicism, prompting speculation that she could end up a future queen of Spain. “Eva Sannum is studying Catholicism hard, either to be better informed on the subject or with a view to conversion,” reported a Norwegian newspaper yesterday.
Prince Felipe, who is thought to have met Eva at a private party in Madrid in 1997 when she was studying in the Spanish capital, is said to be deeply in love. The royal house has still refused to confirm or deny the relationship, however, although it did concede there was a “friendship” between Eva and the heir to the throne earlier this year.
The country is said to be undecided over whether Felipe, 33, should take Eva to be his future queen. It would be the first time in the country’s history that a commoner – her mother remarried a Greek taxi-driver and now lives on the island of Crete, her father is in the import-export business – marries a future king of Spain. The monarchy there enjoys much support, but many supporters are worried that the introduction of non-blue blood into the institution could be its undoing.
Over the past six months the country’s media has conducted numerous surveys and polls to determine whether the nation would be for or against a future “Queen Eva”. But the results have been far from conclusive ranging from nine out fo ten TV viewers voting against Felipe marrying her, to 60 per cent giving the potential royal match the thumbs up.
In a TV interview to mark his 30th birthday, the prince gave his clearest indication he would marry who he wanted, when he wanted. “I do not feel obliged to marry someone of royal blood,” he explained. “But I’m not closing the door on that option either. It will be a relationship based on love, respect and kindness.”
And, although the friendship is rumoured to have caused King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia some headaches in the past, there are signs the monarch and his wife have come round to their only son’s wishes. Eva has been spending more time in Spain recently and is reported to have met Felipe’s parents on her last visit.
Perhaps the last word should go to a royal courtier. “Give the prince time and trust his judgment,” said a spokesman from the royal residence of the Zarzuela Palace.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
