The royal family of Sweden has joined prayers for Ukraine on the first anniversary of the war.
The special service took place at the church at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia all joined the congregation for the ceremony which was held on February 24th 2023, exactly a year after the invasion which led to war.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe service was conducted in Ukrainian and Swedish and was led by a priest from Ukraine, Mykola Krygin, as well as Michael Bjerkhagen who is the pastor at the Swedish court.
The Ukrainian ambassador to Sweden, Andriy Plachotnjuk, attended along with Swedish State Councillor Johan Forssell who represented the country’s government.
Music was led by Ukrainian pianist and choir director Ivetta Irkha. The choir included a number of people from Ukraine who were forced to leave their country because of conflict and who have found a home in Sweden.
Embed from Getty ImagesPrincess Sofia welcomed the congregation to the service as she has led the working group which organised this peace service. In her speech, she said ”it’s been a year since some of the worst things that can happen to a country, a community, a village and a family, actually happened. And that has not yet come to an end. Something that pains us all. But today we come together to celebrate the community and build hope. That together we unite in the desire for peace.”
King Carl XVI Gustaf did not attend the service. He is still recovering from heart surgery which was carried out just days earlier.
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