Her Royal Highness Princess Sofia of Sweden has received her first foreign order. A state visit from the President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson and his wife, Eliza Reid is currently taking place in Sweden, and it was during this visit that she was given her first foreign order: Iceland’s Order of the Falcon.
Her Royal Highness also holds Sweden’s national honour, The Royal Order of the Seraphim.
Both her husband, Prince Carl Philip and brother-in-law, Prince Daniel (husband to Crown Princess Victoria) received the Order of the Falcon, as well, during the visit. The trio was pictured in their Order of the Falcon sashes during the state dinner given in honour of President Jóhannesson and his wife in Stockholm Palace’s Karl XI’s Gallery last night.
The President and First Lady of Iceland’s three-day state visit began yesterday and will continue through 19 January in Stockholm and Uppsala, Sweden. They are accompanied by an Icelandic delegation which includes Foreign Minister Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson and representatives of Icelandic companies and organisations.
They arrived and were received by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia in the snow in the King’s Courtyard of Stockholm Palace, where the President and King inspected the troops. The welcome ceremony continued with the members of the Riksdag (Sweden’s parliament) and other members of the government greeting the presidential couple inside the palace. Gifts between the couples also took place with Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia and Prince Daniel present. Crown Princess Victoria was due to attend, but unfortunately, she is suffering from a severe cold and had to pull out.
The King and President later spoke to the media with His Majesty saying, in part, “We have an exciting programme ahead of us in the next few days, with a special focus on our common history, culture and values, medical research cooperation, and sustainability and housing construction. Questions that are important to the future – and where we have a lot to learn from each other.”
Queen Silvia with President Jóhannesson. Photo: Kungahuset.se
Lunch was served at the palace afterwards with the King, Queen, Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia and Prince Daniel attending. The King’s sister, Princess Christina also participated; she arrived a bit late and was said to make everyone laugh as she entered saying, “Hi. Don’t close the door before I get in!”
After a day of engagements, the state dinner was held, where His Majesty gave a speech in honour of their guests.
