Official royal dinner in Sweden

Last Thursday, 11 February, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia hosted an official dinner at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Every winter they host a series of three official (in Swedish called representative) dinners for official Sweden. Because of the upcoming royal wedding in June it seems they have cut down the number of them this year and the one on Thursday was therefore called “the official dinner of the year” instead of the first or second which it would’ve been if things were normal. (more…)

Royal fashion on Nobel Day 2009 in Sweden, who was your favourite?

What the lucky invitees at the Nobel Prize Awarding Ceremony at the Concert Hall and following Nobel Prize Banquet at the City Hall are wearing is always a big topic of conversation each year on Nobel Day, 10 December, among both television watchers and media. Usually the night is followed by eager discussion among bloggers and at workplaces, and fashion résumés and judgements are quickly published in the evening tabloids. The Royal Family, who grace the events with their presence and gives them that extra bit of magic, are naturally extra interesting as the royal ladies wear pieces of historic jewellery from their collections and dresses from their favourite designers. Interesting for all who like beautiful things and royal glitter, fashionistas and those of us who are more deeply interested in royalty and historic connections in other words. (more…)

Crown Princess Victoria in Paris

Swedish Crown Princess Victoria yesterday visited one of her favourite cities, Paris, for a day of engagements in aid of Swedish-French business ties. The schedule started off with a seminar on sustainable cities, “Symbiocity” arranged by the Swedish Embassy and the City of Paris, after which Victoria helped light the two north-Swedish Christmas trees gifted by state-owned (and largest) forest owner Sveaskog to the city which are now placed at the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall). Attending the ceremony were also the Swedish Ambassador and one of Paris deputy mayors and the entertainment provided consisted of a Swedish Lucia and her attendants plus choir. (more…)

Swedish heir met Supreme Commander

PHOTO: Sergeant Marco Nilsson/Combat Camera/Försvarsmakten

Yesterday Crown Princess Victoria was on a private visit with the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces at the Headquarter in Stockholm. The story does not tell if the Crown Princess plans to further deepen herself within the defence through some kind of training or internship or if it was a study visit to get to know the SC and his staff, it was a private visit and only one photo was taken by their own allied photographer. The photo was taken before a beautifully set table so one can assume that a lunch was held to give Victoria a chance to converse with the key staff at the HQ. (more…)

Opening of Riksdagen 2009

Click here to view a gallery of photo by Charles Hammarsten at IBL

Yesterday the Swedish Royal Family honoured the opening of the country’s parliament, Riksdagen, with their presence during the day’s activities. It started around lunchtime when a special church service for members of parliament and special guests was held in the Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) just next to the Royal Palace. King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine all attended and listened as Dean Åke Bonnier of the Stockholm Cathedral Parish (one of the chosen officiates of Victoria’s wedding next June) lead the service and the resigning Bishop of Stockholm, Caroline Krook, preached. The cantor of the Jewish parish in Stockholm and an Imam had also been invited to participate in the service. (more…)

Victoria visits capitals Brussels and Athens

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has had a hectic schedule in past few weeks, travelling between different regions in her own home country to perform royal duties of various forms, and this week she has taken on the task of spending four days in two different European countries.

Landing in Brussels the day before, perhaps to get a chance to spend some time with her godchild Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, Victoria’s official agenda started by officially opening the exhibition ‘C’est notre Terre 2. De Kyoto à Copenhague’ (‘It’s our Earth 2. From Kyoto to Copenhagen’) at the Tour and Taxis in Brussels on Wednesday. Together with royal colleagues Prince Philippe and his wife Princess Mathilde, the Crown Princess toured the exhibition followed by a large gathering of photographers and video cameras. The exhibition, which runs until March 2010, is a continuation of a previously hugely successful exhibition remade to raise awareness up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December and the International Year of Biodiversity 2010. To read more about the exhibition and view visitor information please go here. (more…)

King, Queen and Crown Princess marked last battles on Swedish soil

On Wednesday and Thursday this week the King, Queen and Crown Princess of Sweden attended events marking the bicentennial of the last war battles on Swedish soil when the country lost Finland to Russia. Hosted by the County Governors of Västerbotten and Norrbotten counties the royals and an entourage of other guests and staff spent two days in the north parts of the country, overseeing events planned since many months that marked a dramatic period in Swedish history and what would become the start for a time of peace on homeland soil that still lasts today. (more…)