Sweden’s Royal Family was out in full force on Saturday to celebrate National Day, but one royal was missing from the festivities.
Princess Estelle was absent from the celebrations as she’s on a language trip with school this month. She’ll also miss the celebrations for her grandparents’ golden wedding anniversary next weekend.
Instead, the Swedish Royal Court shared photos of the future queen on social media, alongside Prince Oscar, taken in the greenery at Haga Palace with the sheep.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia led the National Day celebrations as the Royal Family spread out across the country, joining crowds in Håbo, Salem and Stockholm.
Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel officially opened the Royal Palace to the public, with Victoria giving a short speech: “So much of our Swedish history and our fantastic cultural heritage is gathered in the royal palaces. I am therefore very happy that we can make it available by keeping the castles open today.”
Afterwards, the royal couple travelled to Salem municipality to attend a National Day party at the Skönviksparken in Rönninge. Crown Princess Victoria delivered a speech, praising the municipalities of Sweden.
“Today we are reminded of the values that underpin our society – democracy, justice, freedom and peace. These are values that are not self-evident, but which we all have a responsibility to protect and stand up for.
“National Day is about Sweden, but our country is built locally in municipalities like Salem. In meetings between people. In trust, responsibility, and the will to create something better together.
“With those words, I wish you all a nice National Day!”
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia joined the festivities at Skokloster Castle in Håbo, attending a party in the castle grounds. With the party in Uppsala County, the royal couple could say that they had officially celebrated National Day in every Swedish county.
In a speech, King Carl XVI Gustaf said: “People come here to experience the unique environment, but also to enjoy the nature around Lake Mälaren and the tranquility that characterizes Skokloster.
“However, it is not as quiet everywhere in the municipality. Many of you have probably stood at Hjälstaviken one early morning and heard the cacophony of thousands of migratory birds as they form pairs in the spring.
“And it’s not just birds that thrive here! People also choose to settle in the county, which is one of Sweden’s most expansive, thanks to the growing business community and a world-class university in Uppsala.”
In the capital, Prince Carl Philip attended the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Royal Palace. Later, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia shared a photo on their official Instagram account of the prince with his year-old daughter Princess Ines, who was wearing a blue-and-yellow dress. “Wishing you a happy national day!”
Later in the day, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel and Prince Oscar traveled by horse-drawn carriage to the National Day festivities at Solliden. There, they were joined by the rest of the Royal Family: Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, and Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill.
In a speech, King Carl XVI Gustaf powerfully praised Sweden. He said: “There is a country far up in the north where the summer evenings are so bright that night barely makes it there. The sun lingers behind the treetops, as if it doesn’t want to let go of the day.
“In that country there are seas, deep lakes and vast mountains. And green meadows, yellow rapeseed fields, and forests that smell of pine needles and moss. You can walk for a long time without meeting anyone and yet never feel alone.
“But in that country there are also buds waiting to bloom and shadows that need to be met with light. There are people with the power to renew and change in step with the times and with the will to take responsibility for themselves, for each other, for nature and for those who come after us.
“That country is not a fairy tale. It is Sweden.”
To close out the day, the Swedish Royal Family traveled back to Stockholm for a reception at the Royal Palace for members of Parliament, the government, and the diplomatic corps.
The Swedish Royal Family will be back out again next weekend to celebrate King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia’s golden wedding anniversary. As their anniversary officially falls on midsummer eve this year, they have chosen to celebrate a week early.
Among the events will be a Te Deum, a trip down the river in Stockholm aboard the Vasaorden, a motorcade through the streets of Stockholm, a public concert at the Kungsträdgården, a concert at the Royal Opera House, and a private dinner at the Royal Palace.
