Sweden

The prince and princess whose much longed for son is about to make royal history

King Carl XVI Gustaf is about to celebrate his Golden Jubilee. And after 50 years of reign, many Swedish citizens barely remember a life without the current King on the throne. Carl XVI Gustaf is the first Swedish monarch to celebrate a Golden Jubilee. His reign has another peculiarity: Carl Gustaf inherited the throne directly from his grandfather at 27. His father, Prince Gustaf Adolf, never…
Read more
State & CeremonialSweden

The Regalia of Sweden: a hidden treasure that tells a story

Like many other monarchies, Sweden also has a patrimony of crown jewels, each with its own history and precious metals and stones. Since 1907, however, the regalia has not been worn by members of the family but rather put on display during important moments like coronations, christenings and weddings. The monarch’s regalia mainly consist of the set of crown jewels made for King…
Read more
Sweden

A king's relationship with his German bride

Theirs is a love story that began amidst the global spectacle of the Olympic Games and has continued for 50 years. As King Carl XVI Gustaf prepares for his Golden Jubilee next month, let’s look at the enduring romance between the King and his bride, Queen Silvia. Crown…
HistoryPalaces & BuildingsSweden

Rosendal Palace: from the first to the last Bernadotte

Rosendal Palace is one of the lesser-known royal buildings in Sweden, but that doesn’t mean it is less spectacular.  Located on the island of DjurgÃ¥rden, in central Stockholm, it was erected between 1823 and 1827 for King Karl XIV Johan – none other than Jean Bernadotte, the founder of the current ruling dynasty in Sweden. The palace was created by Frederik Blom, one of the…
Read more
Sweden

A look at the change in the laws of succession that irked a king

Before 1980, the Swedish line of succession was governed by agnatic primogeniture – meaning females were excluded from the line of succession. King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia’s first child was a girl – Victoria – who was born in July 1977; at birth, she was not Crown Princess of Sweden but instead titled Princess Victoria. When her younger brother, Carl Philip, was born in May 1979…
Read more