Sweden's Princess Sofia Is Not Your Average Royal

Like many royals across the globe, Princess Sofia is dedicated to charity work and philanthropic pursuits. Her charitable projects include Project Playground, which she founded in 2010. Per its website, the organization "work[s] holistically with educational, developmental, and supportive programs to individually strengthen each child and youth."

As a working member of the Swedish royal family, Princess Sofia has a lot on her plate. While she doesn't need to hold down a regular job to make a living, her royal responsibilities keep her very busy. That's why it was a bit surprising that, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, she decided to join the front lines. Sofia trained to become a medical assistant and began her volunteer assignment at Sophiahemmet hospital, where she wasn't afraid to work hard. "I am now placed in one of the hospital's care departments, where together with other newly trained colleagues, I support and relieve the healthcare staff with different tasks," she wrote on Instagram in April 2020 (via Vogue). "To have the opportunity to help at this difficult time is extremely rewarding." 

According to People, the hospital was facing a shortage, which prompted Sofia to take the online course to become certified. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the hospital revealed that most of Sofia's job would consist of manual labor — hardly the kind of work you'd imagine a princess doing. "They can disinfect equipment, do shifts in the kitchen and cleaning," said the spokesperson of the tasks given to Sofia and other volunteers (via the Independent).