King Carl Gustaf
At the climax of his jubilee on the throne, he invites people to a banquet
© Jonas EKSTROMER / various sources / AFP / Getty Images
King Carl Gustaf celebrates his 50th anniversary on the throne. The highlight of the celebrations is a glamorous banquet in the castle. The first pictures show the European royals in a celebratory mood.
King Carl Gustaf, 77, has held the throne for half a century now. This makes him Sweden’s longest-reigning monarch to date. Of course, such a special occasion must be celebrated properly. Royals and prominent personalities from all over the world traveled to take part in the multi-day celebrations, which culminated in the banquet in the castle on Friday evening, September 15, 2023.
King Carl Gustaf shows his emotional side
The Swedish royal family shows the first pictures of the evening on their official Instagram account. The royal family, heads of state, heirs to the throne and their partners, representatives of the Riksdag, the government, party leaders, district administrators, representatives of authorities, the Swedish armed forces, science, business, etc. came to the palace’s state hall Culture and the media, the royal academies, the foundations, the religious communities and the royal court come together to properly celebrate the monarch.
The 77-year-old welcomed his high-profile guests with a very touching speech. “It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you all to the state hall of the Royal Palace. Fifty years ago I stood here for the first time as King of Sweden,” Carl Gustaf began his speech. He continues that his feelings about his office are the same today as they were back then: “Pride, gratitude and humility.”
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No monarch in Sweden had “the privilege of ruling as long as I did,” Carl Gustaf said emotionally. “And family ties are very strong these days. I’m thinking in particular of my grandfather Gustav VI Adolf, who worked to strengthen our country until the last year of his life.” It is “a great privilege to be a link in a long chain.” This also includes his heir to the throne, Princess Victoria, 46, whom he also mentioned: “I look at the commitment and concentration of Crown Princess Victoria in her task of representing Sweden with love and confidence.”
Princess Victoria: “Always my role model”
The 46-year-old didn’t miss the opportunity to say a few words to her father – and they touched her heart. “Your Majesty, dear Papa,” she introduced. “You have been the King of Sweden for fifty years. You have been my father for almost as long. And always my role model.” He is “a constant”, “a security” for her and many others.
Although Carl Gustaf ascended to the throne here in Stockholm Palace in September 1973 at the age of just 27, Victoria thinks of his achievements in a completely different place. “I think of the mountains. Our hikes and ski trips there when my siblings and I were little,” the Crown Princess reminisces about her childhood memories. She still feels the same security as back then when she follows her beloved father in his work as King of Sweden.
Sources used: instagram.com, kungahuset.se