Misplaced His Passport Before Flight From Venezuela

If you've ever been hassled at a border check or by airport security, and thought it only happens to the little guy... here's a story to chew on.

Sweden's Prince Carl Philip is reported to have been held by American passport police in Miami when he entered the USA from Venezuela last autumn. According to a media report, he was interrogated on arrival in the country, missed his connecting flight, and arrived in Washington one day later than planned.

During the autumn Carl Philip was working as a trainee with photographer Mattias Klum. Because he had left his passport behind at a hotel in Venezuela, the prince ended up leaving on a later flight than the rest of the film team. His security guards deemed it safe for him to arrive in the USA unaccompanied.

But authorities didn't believe him when, having politely waited in line with the other passengers, he told them he was a Swedish royal and displayed his diplomatic passport. Carl Philip wound up spending the evening in police custody, according to the reports.

So, with passport requirements stiffening, even for US citizens trying to re-enter their own country -- don't misplace yours. If it can happen to Swedish royalty, it can happen to anyone.

Well, OK, there is one difference between royalty and us little guys in this situation...

"I got the impression that he thought it was quite exciting," said documentary film maker Folke Rydén, who was traveling with the Prince as part of the filming project.

FMI: www.tsa.gov