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Sweden

A cake with 80 candles for a queen as her grandchildren throw surprise birthday party

The Queen of Sweden was treated to a cake for her 80th birthday by the people she most wanted to spend her day with – her grandchildren.

Queen Silvia was given a surprise party by her granddaughters and grandsons and like all doting grannies, she let the youngsters blow out the candles on the cake.

Kungahuset Instagram still/ fair use

They needed the power of all eight of them as the cake was decorated with 80 candles as well as a crown for the royal birthday.

The party took place at the Royal Palace in Stockholm with a behind the scenes film shared on the Swedish Royal Family’s Instagram.

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In it, the royal grandchildren were seen preparing the party with the eldest, eleven year old Princess Estelle, carefully laying out decorations while her cousin, nine year old Princess Leonore looked after some of the younger members of the family. Queen Silvia looked genuinely surprised and almost overcome as she walked into her party.

She was soon in control of proceedings, slicing up the cake and handing it round while the children settled down to celebrate.

Kungahuset Instagram still/ fair use

However, it was the youngest member of the family who almost stole the show. Prince Julien, now two, was fascinated with the party toys that had been put out and spent a lot of time trying to blow the streamers out, to the evident delight of his grandmother.

Queen Silvia is celebrating her birthday privately with her family. In recent days she has given several interviews in which she has said she doesn’t feel eighty, adding in a chat with SVT that ”Thankfully, I’m feeling good and healthy…but 80 years is an incredible number really!”

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.