The Swedish Royal Family
Fifty years ago, after the death of his grandfather on September 15th 1973, Carl Gustaf became the new King of Sweden. The monarch, who only the Queen of Denmark surpasses as the longest-reigning king of Europe, celebrated his Golden Jubilee with a solemn ceremony in the chapel of the Royal Palace of Stockholm, where the parish priest officiated a Te Deum or thanksgiving service for the half century of reign. In addition to the members of the Swedish royal family, representatives of the royal families of Denmark and Norway also participated in the celebration, thus expressing the strong bond existing between these three Nordic countries and their respective monarchies. Queen Margrethe II was accompanied by the Crown Princes Frederik and Mary of Denmark, while Harald and Sonia of Norway attended alone due to the medical leave that yesterday at the last minute prevented Princess Mette Marit from accompanying them as planned. Accompanying the Swedish monarch was also Anna Maria of Greece, cousin of Carl Gustaf and sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, with whom he arrived yesterday on the royal boat. Queen Margrethe II and Princess Mary of Denmark, and King Harald and Queen Sonia of Norway.
The Royal Family Reunited
After the Teu Deum, the king came out on the balcony of the Royal Palace of Stockholm with his wife, Queen Silvia, and the other members of his family. The scene allowed us to see the entire Swedish royal family reunited, including Princess Madeleine and her husband, Chris O’Neill, who recently left the United States to return to Sweden and who had not been seen accompanying the royal family on such an occasion for a long time. Maddalena of Sweden chose a blue dress. Queen Silvia wore a color similar to that of her youngest daughter, while the Hereditary Princess Victoria opted for a model with floral print.
Further Celebrations
The celebrations for King Carl Gustaf’s Golden Jubilee are not yet over. The Swedish royal family and their guests then put on their best clothes to attend a dinner of commemoration of the monarch’s 50 years at the Royal Palace. Tomorrow, furthermore, Carl Gustaf will traverse the streets of Stockholm in a carriage with Queen Silvia. The royal couple will be accompanied by the Hereditary Princes Victoria and Carl Philip and by the Princes Estelle and Oscar.
