SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

Sweden

Sweden celebrates King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 73rd birthday

Yesterday, Sweden celebrated King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 73rd birthday at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.

Swedes gathered in the Inner Courtyard to celebrate their King and heard the Navy Band perform music for the audience. The King, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle, Prince Oscar, Prince Carl Philip, and Princess Sofia watched the performance from the balcony of the Royal Palace.

Prince Alexander and Prince Gabriel, the sons of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, were at the celebrations, but they did not appear on the balcony.

The King and Queen’s daughter, Princess Madeleine was unable to attend as she and her family live in Florida.

As usual, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar provided entertainment on the balcony with Estelle waving to those below, and Prince Oscar was clapping to the music. Oscar was also seen smiling and patting his grandmother, Queen Silvia’s chin.

After the music had concluded, the King and Prince Carl Philip, both dressed in their military uniforms, went into the courtyard where King Carl XVI Gustaf took the salute from the military while the Army Band played. At 12.20, 21 shots were fired from Skeppsholmen and other locations throughout Sweden to celebrate the King.

Photo: Henrik Garlöv / Kungl. Royal Court

Next came a favourite moment for all on the King’s birthday. Children who had gathered in the courtyard all lined up to present His Majesty with flowers, cards, and gifts. These flowers later were put in vases and decorated the Royal Palace.

The King receives flowers from a young Swede. Photo: Henrik Garlöv / Kungl. Royal Court

The celebrations concluded with King Carl XVI Gustaf and Prince Carl Philip returning to the balcony to thank those down below.

Prince Carl Philip later posted an image on his Instagram account that he had taken with his father during the celebrations saying, “Today we celebrate the King – father, father-in-law and grandfather. Happy Birthday!”

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.