Sweden

Count Folke Bernadotte - the Swedish royal who helped save thousands during World War Two

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4th June 2023
Ahead of the 500th anniversary of modern Sweden, we are taking a look at a less-known royal who helped save thousands during World War II – including hundreds of Danish Jews from concentration camps – Count Folke Bernadotte. Folke Bernadotte (b. 1895) was the son of Prince Oscar and Princess Ebba of Sweden and the grandson of King Oscar II and Queen Sofia of Sweden. When World War Two…
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HistorySweden

In the beginning: The Bernadotte dynasty

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2nd June 2023
The Bernadottes first began ruling over the Kingdom of Sweden in 1818 with King Karl XIV Johan (also called King Charles XIV John), who was also the King of Norway during this time. He was born on 26 January 1763 in France as Jean Bernadotte. It was in 1810 that he was…
Sweden

The monarch's role in Sweden

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1st June 2023
Sweden has a constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary system – similar to that in other kingdoms in Europe. The current monarch is King Carl XVI Gustaf, who has been on the throne since 1973; his heir apparent is Crown Princess Victoria. The monarch in Sweden does not hold the same powers as many counterparts, and his official role is limited. For example, he does not nominate or dismiss…
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Sweden

Queen Silvia gets special honour back home in Germany

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28th May 2023
Queen Silvia was back in her home country of Germany to receive a special honour in her birthplace. While in Heidelberg (where she was born in 1943), the Queen of Sweden was given honourary citizenship in a special ceremony. Lord Mayor Eckart Wuerzner welcomed Silvia to the Great Town Hall, where he later paid tribute to the German-born Queen, saying: “You care tirelessly for those who…
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Sweden

Why the King of Sweden is sticking to Jubilee rules with his latest celebration

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17th May 2023
We’re just days away from the first run of big celebrations for the Golden Jubilee of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. The King has already made a series of Jubilee visits throughout Sweden but as the country’s National Day approaches, the festivities will ramp up and culminate on September 15th 2023, the 50th anniversary of his rule. But despite this being the third major Jubilee that the…
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