QX arrives at the Grand Hotel. Today we will meet the ”princes” at the Bolinderska Palace.
The whole world has loved following the popular Netflix-success Young Royals and the love couple Wilhelm, played by Edvin Ryding, and Simon, played by Omar Rudberg. With a large fanbase, especially among LGBTQ+ fans, the series has been on top 10 lists in many different countries.
But now the story is coming to an end – something that feels ”bittersweet” according to the duo.
Edvin: It’s really mixed feelings. Above all, it feels nice to give the audience one last season. But it’s also sad to have to say goodbye to everything.
Omar: I feel a great gratitude that I have been able to do this for so long together with Edvin and the rest of the crew.
Young Royals is a Swedish drama series directed by Rojda Sekersöz, Erika Calmeyer, Jerry Carlsson, Linnea Roxeheim, and Julia Lindström and premiered in 2021. The series is written by the main writer and creator Lisa Ambjörn together with Pia Gradval, Sofie Forsman, Tove Forsman, Ebba Stymne and Theo Boguslaw and is about Prince Wilhelm who starts at the boarding school Hillerska. It doesn’t take long before he falls head over heels for his classmate Simon. But their journey together is not entirely frictionless – because of the royal ideals, traditions, and duties.
In season 3, Hillerska faces the worst crisis in the school’s history – when the prince’s speech has consequences not only in the court but also for the whole school.
What reactions have you received from the fans? Are they sad that it’s ending?
Edvin: No, they are rather excited (laughs). It’s been months of waiting and now it’s finally time. They will have incredibly much to sink their teeth into!
Are you yourselves done with the series? Or could you have considered doing another season?
Edvin: We have come to the conclusion that it’s time for a conclusion. There’s not much more to tell. You get to follow Wilhelm and Simon’s story in three acts…
Omar: …and now we’re finishing in a dignified way. It feels completely right to let go of the characters. We have grown with the roles and now we have reached a point where we need to move on. I turn 26 this year!
Edvin: Oh god, 26? You old man (laughs).
Omar: Will you take care of me when I become an old man?
Edvin: I’ll take care of you!
Haha! Omar, it sounds like you’re afraid of aging. Are you?
Omar: No, but when I approach 30 I probably will be. So I have five years left. 25 feels good – I’ve never been as confident in myself as I am today, and my life is so damn good.
So guys, what has been the highlight over the years?
Edvin: Before each premiere, it feels extra fun. Everything we do, we do to touch an audience – and we are so fortunate to have such an engaged audience.
Omar: And the shootings! The last season has been so fun to shoot. We spent a lot of time outdoors in the sun, swimming, talking, playing games, and having lunch. We got closer to each other.
Describe the love between Wilhelm and Simon!
Omar: It’s as pure as it can be!
How have the characters affected you personally?
Edvin: Playing Wilhelm has been emotional. First and foremost, it has been a privilege to portray an LGBTQ+ character. Additionally, Wilhelm’s royal background and class identity have been a new world that I’m not so familiar with before, and it has truly enriched my mind.
Omar: Simon has meant a lot to me. I come from another side of the entertainment industry – from being an artist. There, I have had so much control over makeup, clothes, and what I wear. Here, I have had to loosen the reins. Simon has really helped me not to be as hard on myself and to be happy about who I am and how I look. My self-esteem and confidence are much better today thanks to the character.
”Love always wins. And I will stand by that until the day I die – you should be able to love exactly who you want and be exactly who you are.”
The series is about the right to be yourself and love who you want. You have many South American fans – and there it is not always obvious in all places. What do you want to say to them?
Edvin: You win every time! Love always wins. And I will stand by that until the day I die – you should be able to love exactly who you want and be exactly who you are. That’s the point of the series. The problem has never been that Wilhelm and Simon are queer – the problem has been the context and the environment that prevent them from being themselves.
Omar: It is extremely difficult and tough to live in a world where you don’t feel like you’re allowed to exist. But everyone reading this must know that it’s okay. Never stop being loud. Keep fighting for the right to exist and love whoever you want. And don’t change because someone else says you have to. But also take care of yourselves and be careful – because the world can be very cruel sometimes.
Have you received many homophobic hate comments?
Edvin: The tone on social media is very harsh, and people can be very mean, but love is always there. The love from rainbow fans is like a cockroach – it never dies. It lives on and survives through anything.
Omar: I was prepared for much more hate. I was afraid that groups of guys would jump me on the street – but I have rather experienced the opposite. And when someone throws a mean hate comment, our fans always defend us. And the haters are going down! Young Royals nation is always on top.
Do you have any favorite rainbow memories?
Edvin: I would probably say the Pride Parade last year. I was at a meeting and had an hour off, so I thought, ”I’ll go there discreetly and walk beside”. Once I was there, people were tearful, happy, and joyful, wanting to take pictures and talk. It was so beautiful. And the times we’ve been at the QX Gala, of course. We are super happy that we have been nominated so many times and even won. It’s among the finest awards we’ve received.
Omar: Yes, there’s so much love in it!
You are also somewhat gay icons now. Do you have any LGBTQ+ icon that you look up to?
Edvin: I have so much respect for Lil Nas X, he’s really cool. And also Troye Sivan.
Omar: Oh, I love Lil Nas X! And didn’t Billie Eilish come out as bi as well? She’s absolutely amazing.
The series and the guys have been awarded several times, including at the QX Gala for TV of the Year, TV Star of the Year, and Duo of the Year.
A fun fact is that these magazines (shows two QX magazines with Omar and Edvin on the cover) are the two most purchased in QX history. How does it feel?
Edvin: God, that’s crazy!
Omar: Where are our percentages? (laughs)
Edvin: We were so small there. Omar, you look like you did when you were in the boy band FO&O.
Omar: Haha, but stop it! Look at my hair though (laughs). I was so small and knew so little about life back then. How one has developed.
Edvin: Yes. And it feels incredibly nice that we have so many wonderful rainbow fans out there.
The first five episodes of Young Royals season 3 have a global premiere on March 11, and the final episode is released on March 18.
This text has been translated by ChatGPT.
Uppdaterad 2024-03-21
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