World’s royalty gather in Sweden for King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 80th birthday

Members of the global royal families gathered in Stockholm to celebrate Sweden’s King.

Sweden’s King, Carl XVI Gustaf, is the world’s current longest-reigning monarch, and he celebrated his eightieth birthday on 30th April. On the last day of the month—which coincided with Walpurgis Night this year—the world’s royalty gathered for a day of celebrations to mark the King of Sweden’s big day.

At the beginning of the day, members of the royal families attended a solemn Te Deum Service at the Palace’s Royal Chapel. The Kings and Queens from Denmark and Thailand were in attendance, as well as non-reigning houses such as the Serbian Royal Family (House of Karađorđević) and the Custodian of the Romanian Crown. The service was officiated by Chief Court Chaplain of the Royal Court, The Rt Revd Dr Johan Dalman and The Vicar of the Royal Court, Court Chaplain Revd Michael Bjerkhagen.

Photo: Clément Morin/The Royal Court

The music was directed by Court Organist Johannes Skoog, with the participation of the Royal Chapel Choir, the Court Trumpeters Olle Hermansen and Björn Nyman, and the Royal Swedish Navy Band. The organ was played by Robert Bennesh, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Uppsala Cathedral.

Photo: Clément Morin/The Royal Court

The royals then proceeded to the Inner Courtyard of the Palace for a large Changing of the Guard and Military Honours from the Swedish Armed Forces. A flypast and choir performance were also held, with guests observing from the Lejonbacken Terrace.

The city of Stockholm then hosted an official luncheon for the Swedish Royal Family and invited Honorary Guests at City Hall.

Photo: Clément Morin/The Royal Court

The day ended with a glittering gala dinner at the palace. The royals and dignitaries arrived arm in arm at the start of the service. The King and Queen of the Belgians, as well as Queen Sofia of Spain, also joined in the festivities.

Speeches were made first by King Carl Gustaf, who said in part,

Turning eighty invites reflection and perhaps also a certain amazement at how swiftly time passes. As the saying goes: time flies when you’re having fun, and in this wonderful company I have a feeling the evening will slip by all too quickly.

Crown Princess Victoria said,

As a father, he has given me and my siblings the gift of truly understanding what that service is: a great responsibility—but also a joy and an honour. I know that all of you, who are here tonight, share that understanding of what it means to serve your country. And I know how much it means to my father to have you here as his guests. (…) But the most important thing you have given us, less through words than through your actions, it is a sense of respect and humility before the task. To serve Sweden has been, and continues to be, not just your life’s work, but your calling. Together with Mamma, you have shown us, every single day, what it means to honour one’s duty. I will do everything I can to pass that understanding on to the next generation. The next link in the chain.

Dear Pappa, you are now entering your eighty-first year. For nearly fifty-three years, you have been King of Sweden. You have seen crises come and go, watched Sweden and the world change and evolve. You have gone from always being the youngest in the room to the most senior one. You are now the one who represents continuity, the long-term perspective.

The State Hall was decorated with garlands, and all of Sweden’s provincial flags were hung on the ceiling. The glassware on the royal table was a wedding gift to King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia in 1976 from the Swedish government and parliament, made at Kosta glassworks after a design by Sigurd Persson. The starter plate was made for King Gustav V and Queen Victoria by Rörstrand in 1910.

The main course plate is from a service made in Berlin in the 1850s for Queen Victoria’s mother, the Grand Duchess of Baden. The dessert plate was made for Charles XV and Crown Princess Lovisa, and the silver gilt placemats with the Royal Coat of Arms were made by Stafhell in the early 19th century.

The starter cutlery belonged to Queen Desirée and came with her from Paris. The cutlery is fully gilded and bears her name code. The main-course cutlery is late Gustavian and was made in the late 18th century. The dessert cutlery was made by Odiot in Paris in 1848 and was bequeathed by Empress Amelie of Brazil to her sister Queen Josefina, born Josefine of Leuchtenberg.

The tablecloths and napkins were woven in 1891 in Lille, France, by the weaving mill “Lemaitre Demestre & Fils”, located at Place de la Gare, Rue de Baisses 19. The pattern features the Swedish-Norwegian coat of arms woven into the centre of the napkin.

Photo: Clément Morin/The Royal Court

Queen Silvia ended the speeches with a very touching tribute to her husband, saying,

Your calm and confidence gave me the courage not only to marry but also to become Queen of Sweden. A calm and confidence that has endured through the years. You made me feel secure about the future early on. When you and I, in our shared, important mission – you know that mission which never pauses – suddenly exchange glances of quiet understanding, yes, then I know that what once was, remains: a we, a then, a now. (…) Dear Carl Gustaf, I am so grateful for the life we share, and for all the years we have built something meaningful and enduring together. It is a true joy to see our love reflected in our wonderful children and their families, who enrich our lives in so many ways. Yes, dear Carl Gustaf! Our life has been filled with happy years! I know that what once was, remains: a we, a then, a now!

A full list of royal guest and dignitaries is below:

• Bavaria: Prince Leopold of Bavaria, Princess Ursula of Bavaria, Duke Franz of Bavaria, and Dr Thomas Greinwald
• Belgium: King Philippe and Queen Mathilde
• Denmark: King Frederik X, Queen Mary, Queen Margrethe, and Princess Benedikte
• Liechtenstein: Hereditary Princess Sophie and Prince Wenzel
• Luxembourg: Grand Duke Guillaume V, Grand Duchess Stéphanie, and Grand Duke Henri
• Netherlands: Princess Beatrix
• Norway: King Harald V, Queen Sonja, and Crown Prince Haakon
• Romania: Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown and Prince Radu
• Saxe-Coburg-Gotha: Prince Hubertus of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Princess Kelly of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
• Serbia (Yugoslavia): Crown Prince Alexander, Crown Princess Katherine, Hereditary Prince Philip and Hereditary Princess Danica
• Spain: Queen Sofía
• Thailand: King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) and Queen Suthida

Foreign Heads of State present included:

• Finland: President Stubb and Mrs Suzanne Innes-Stubb
• Iceland: President Halla Tómasdóttir and Mr Björn Skúlason