King Carl XVI Gustaf has begun celebrations for his 50 years on the throne with a Te Deum at the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.
Joined by his immediate family, the royal families of Norway and Denmark, and members of Nordic governments, religious communities and members of the court, the Te Deum was led by Michael Bjerkhagen, who leads the Royal Court Congregation, and Johan Dalman, the chief court preacher.
The King looked emotional at times as he listened to the service, held exactly 50 years after he became king upon the death of his grandfather, King Gustav VI Adolf.
At the time he ascended the throne, he was unmarried and joined by his four sisters and his uncle, Prince Bertil. Today, he sat next to his wife of 47 years, Queen Silvia, his heir, Crown Princess Victoria, and his two other children, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine. Prince Daniel, Princess Sofia, and Christopher O’Neill joined their spouses at the Te Deum.
Today, coincidentally, is Prince Daniel’s 50th birthday.
Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar were the only grandchildren of the King and Queen of Sweden to join in the morning celebrations, wearing their small Swedish orders to complement the morning dress code. .
Queen Margrethe, Queen Anne-Marie, King Harald and Queen Sonja led the royal families of Denmark and Norway at the Te Deum. Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary were also in attendance.
Crown Prince Haakon returned to Norway to carry out his duties as regent but will return tonight for the evening festivities, while Crown Princess Mette-Marit had to pull out due to medical reasons.
