50th anniversary of the throne of King Carl Gustaf
Multi-day celebrations planned in Sweden
Sweden and King Carl Gustaf celebrate his throne anniversary.
© imago/PPE
King Carl Gustaf’s 50th anniversary on the throne is coming up. Nobility expert Julia Melchior reveals what the Swedes have come up with.
With the death of his grandfather Gustav VI. Adolf (1882-1973) on September 15, 1973, the current King Carl XVI. Gustaf (77) the Swedish throne. Friday marks the 50th anniversary of this day and there should be a big celebration. Nobility expert and documentary filmmaker Julia Melchior reveals what the palace has planned in an interview with spot on news. But first she explains an amazing parallel within the royal family, because Prince Daniel (49), the husband of Crown Princess Victoria (46), is also celebrating on this day.
King Carl Gustaf celebrates his 50th anniversary on the throne on September 15th. What is special about the date?
Julia Melchior: The day of his anniversary itself, September 15th, is also Prince Daniel’s 50th birthday. When Carl Gustaf ascended the throne in 1973, Daniel was born – not only the date matches, but also the year. But on this day the greatest attention is on the king. 50 years as head of state – that is a remarkable achievement for Carl Gustaf and a historically unique anniversary in Sweden. No king in the kingdom’s 1,000-year history sat on the Swedish throne longer than him.
How is it celebrated? What are the highlights?
Melchior: It’s celebrated over several days, highly official and also a little more private. 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 opens very ceremoniously with a thanksgiving service and ends with a large banquet in the palace. Royal guests from other royal families are also invited on both days. 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 celebrated very widely as a national festival.
What role will Daniel’s birthday play in the official proceedings?
Melchior: Daniel’s birthday will certainly be mentioned in a speech and of course it will be celebrated in the family. But Prince Daniel’s 50th birthday plays no role in public that day.
Is the throne anniversary just now an issue or was it already over the course of the year?
Melchior: The whole year is under the impression of the golden jubilee. Carl Gustaf and Silvia have visited all 21 provinces since the beginning of the year. I was there when they came to Uppsala with the anniversary train in a historic wagon. Thousands lined the streets and welcomed their royal couple. In this way, the entire population took part in the anniversary.
Which royal guests are you expecting?
Melchior: Since it is a throne anniversary, we celebrate with the nation that the king took over 50 years ago. Nevertheless, the royal families from Denmark and Norway will celebrate with both generations, i.e. the generation of the king and the heir to the throne. The three Scandinavian monarchies have a common history and, along with Finland and Iceland, see themselves as a unit that goes beyond geography. That is why the heads of state of Finland and Iceland are also expected.
How popular is King Carl Gustaf as a monarch currently among the Swedish population?
Melchior: He’s become more and more popular as he’s gotten older. He is not the grandfather of the nation, as one perceives, for example, with King Harald V in Norway. The Swedes do not have this deep emotional connection to Carl Gustaf. It is more the case that Carl Gustaf at the helm of this traditional institution is part of the Swedish identity. The common thread because it has been there for so long and does its job very routinely. It is generally a typical phenomenon that the kings and queens gain support over the years. You could also see that with the Queen.
So aging is a positive thing for royals?
Melchior: Yes, that’s probably true. As long as they don’t make any mistakes. Carl Gustaf has definitely gained with age. In sovereignty and popularity. And he clearly enjoys it too. Previously one had the impression that he was not comfortable in his role. That is no longer the case at all today.
Special broadcast and documentaries
The celebratory parade through Stockholm will be shown live on Erste on September 16th from 2:15 p.m. to 3:35 p.m. There will be a comprehensive review of the entire celebrations on the occasion of the Swedish throne jubilee in the evening (from 7:25 p.m.) in a ZDF special program with presenter Christina von Ungern-Sternberg and nobility expert Julia Melchior.
Those interested can find out more interesting facts and exciting background information about the anniversary and the Scandinavian royal families in the new documentaries “My Father, the King – Carl Gustaf and Victoria of Sweden” and “My Husband, the Crown Prince – The heirs to the throne in Norway and Denmark” by Julia Melchior. Both can be found in the ZDF media library.