European Royals

Sweden’s Royal Court has given their King, Carl Gustaf, a special gift for his Golden Jubilee. The Royal Court collected money to erect two monograms of the King on the gates of Logården. They now have a place of honour next to King Karl XIV Johan’s monogram on the gates. Of course, Karl XIV Johan was the first Bernadotte King of Sweden. The version of Carl Gustaf’s monogram used on…

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden has remembered his predecessor as monarch in a speech to parliament that marked the beginning of his Golden Jubilee. Just hours before official celebrations for the milestone were due to begin, the Swedish king spoke to his country’s politicians as he officially opened the new parliamentary year. And he spoke movingly of the time, half a century ago, when he…

In December 1947, the King of Sweden sat down for an official portrait. Around him were close family members including the ageing heir to his throne and a young child who already had a life of royal duty laid out before him. The picture had been a long time in the planning but it had turned out very differently from expectations. The portrait was meant to be part of celebrations for King Gustaf…