50 years on the throne
King Carl Gustaf and the royals greet from the balcony
King Carl Gustaf (m.) with Princess Madeleine, Queen Silvia, Prince Carl Philip, Prince Daniel and Crown Princess Victoria. (from left)
© JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images
Sweden celebrates its king: Carl Gustaf has been on the throne for 50 years. On the anniversary he attended a changing of the guard.
The Swedish royals are celebrating a big anniversary together with the people this Friday and tomorrow Saturday. king Carl Gustaf (77) ascended the throne after the death of his grandfather Gustav Adolf (1882-1973) 50 years ago. Among other things, the king and his family attended a ceremonial changing of the guard at Stockholm Palace at midday.
The royals gathered on the balcony to greet the people, among other things. In addition to Carl Gustaf and his wife, Queen Silvia (79), their son Carl Philip of Sweden (44) and his wife Sofia (38) also did the honors. Of course, Crown Princess Victoria (46) with Prince Daniel (50) as well as Madeleine of Sweden (41) and her husband Chris O’Neill (49) could not be missing. The offspring were also there with Victoria’s daughter Estelle (11) and son Oscar (7).
Also in attendance were Finland’s President Saul Niinistö (75) with his wife Jenni Haukio (46) and Icelandic President Thorlacius Johannesson (55) with his wife Eliza Reid (47) – as well as Norway’s King Harald (86) and Queen Margrethe II (83) of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (55) and Crown Princess Mary (51).
This is still to come during the celebrations for the throne jubilee
The day previously opened with a service in honor of Carl Gustaf in the royal chapel. There will be a festive banquet in the evening. The evening before, the royals had invited the royal families from Denmark and Norway to a private dinner at Drottningholm Palace.
“It will be celebrated over several days, highly official and also a little more private,” royal expert Julia Melchior told the news agency spot on news before the celebrations began. “On the evening before the throne jubilee, on September 14th, Carl Gustaf and Silvia invite you to a private dinner at their residence, Drottningholm Palace. The anniversary day itself is then opened very ceremoniously with a thanksgiving service and ends with a large banquet in the palace. […] On Saturday the royal family celebrates with the Swedes. There will be a carriage ride through Stockholm followed by an open-air concert at the foot of the palace. The throne jubilee is already being celebrated very widely as a national festival.”