The Queen of Sweden is celebrating her 80th birthday surrounded by her family.
Queen Silvia’s big day, on December 23rd 2023, is being spent privately. However, the royals shared photos of a surprise party thrown for the queen by her grandchildren. And a brand new portrait has also been released to mark the day.
Her Majesty is the longest reigning consort in Swedish history. She is also the consort with the longest tenure in Europe at the moment.
Silvia Renate Sommerlath was born in Heidelberg in Germany on December 23rd 1943 to Walter and Alice Sommerlath. She grew up in Germany and Brazil. In 1972, she met the then heir to the throne of Sweden, Carl Gustaf, at the Munich Olympics where she was working as a translator. They married on June 19th 1976, three years after he took the throne. Silvia became Queen of Sweden from the moment of her marriage.
They have three children – Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine – and eight grandchildren.
Queen Silvia has taken on a wide range of patronages including work with children and those living with dementia.
