As per tradition since she was two-years-old, Victoriadagen (Victoria Day) was celebrated in Sweden in honour of Crown Princess Victoria’s 42nd birthday yesterday.
The day began in Öland at Solliden Palace – the private, summer home of the Swedish Royal Family. The public is invited onto the grounds to congratulate the Crown Princess on her birthday. There, they sing ‘Happy Birthday,’ and the King leads three cheers for his eldest child.
In attendance at Solliden today alongside the Crown Princess were her husband, Prince Daniel; her and Daniel’s children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar; her mother, Queen Silvia; and her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf.
After the singing and cheers, the family did a walkabout to greet the public where Victoria was presented with flowers and gifts. Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar were also seen playing with a football and enjoying some time outside together as the adults made their rounds.
A 21-gun salute was also fired at 13.00 in her honour from stations at Skeppsholmen in Stockholm, Kungshall in Karlskrona, Skansen Lion in Gothenburg, Kusthöjden in Härnösand, and Kvarnängen in Boden.
Later in the day, the Royal Family took a carriage ride to the traditional Victoriadagen concert held at Borgholms IP sports venue. For the concert, the King and Queen and the Crown Princess Family (with the exception of Prince Oscar) were joined by Victoria’s siblings and their spouses: Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia and Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill.
While the family was in their Sunday best, Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria wore the traditional Öland folk costume, as always, for the celebrations.
Photo: Christopher O’Neill/Royal Court
There were performances this year from Benjamin Ingrosso, Arja Saijonmaa, Rickard Söderberg, Lina Hedlund, Kaliffa and Isaac & The Soul Company. A video tribute was also shown for the future monarch, and a young Princess Estelle, 7, was seen in a fit of giggles when a video of her parents was shown where they were dancing on a foreign trip to Vietnam.
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The annual Victoria Scholarship was presented to Hanna Öberg by Crown Princess Victoria. Öberg received the award due to her accomplishments in sports for Sweden.
Hanna Öberg, 23, is a Swedish biathlete in winter sports. Upon the announcement she’d be receiving the Victoria Scholarship, she said in a press release, “I am very happy and feel honoured to receive this fine prize.”
