Stockholm - Swedish King Carl Gustaf late Monday broke his silence to deny allegations about him in an uanuthorized biography - including allegations there were incriminating photographs of him.
'No, there aren't any,' the king said in an interview with the Swedish news agency TT, the only media granted an interview. 'Itis hard to comment something one has not seen, and no one else has.'
According to the controversial biography, Carl XVI Gustaf - The Unwilling Monarch, published last year, he had risked his security and image by attending private parties at sleazy nightclubs, and strip clubs.
The allegations resurfaced in a new book, The Swedish Godfather, claiming that friends of the king had contacted criminals in a bid to buy incriminating photographs from the owner of the nightclub where some of the parties were staged.
A week ago, one friend of the king, Anders Lettstrom, admitted responsibility and apologized to his 'family, friends and not the least the king since they had been harmed by my initiative.'
The king on Monday admitted the affair has 'harmed me, my family and the Swedish monarchy' and distanced himself from his old friend.
Excerpts of the interview, which was also videotaped, were broadcast on Swedish television. The king also denied having been to two strip clubs mentioned in the book.
The king's approval ratings have slumped in the wake of headlines generated by the book and two recent polls, one published at the weekend, suggested a majority of Swedes favour him handing over to Crown Princess Victoria.
The king, who turned 65 in April, said this was not on the cards, and that he was committed to 'working even harder'.
