Once upon a time, once upon a time, once upon a time there was a king...
He ruled, as best he could, the country and people ... (c)
The Swedish Royal Family, which is this moment of King Carl XVI Gustaf, his graceful wife Queen Silvia, Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Magdalena, is one of the oldest in the world.
monarchical form of government Konungariket Sverige ) has existed in Sweden for over 1000 years. The first Swedish king, Eric Segersall, ruled from about 970 to 995 AD. e. In the 11th-13th centuries, representatives of the Stenkil, Sverker and Erik families succeeded each other on the throne. Starting from the second half of the 13th century, the country was ruled by German princes from the Volkung families, and in the 15th century they were replaced by representatives of the Oldenburg dynasty.
The situation changed in 1523, when Gustav I Erikson Vasa liberated Sweden from Danish rule and the country became a hereditary monarchy. Representatives of the Vaza clan stayed on the throne for a little over a century. They were replaced by the Palatinate, then the Hessians, then the Holstein-Gottorp.
New changes took place in 1810, after the death of the heir to the throne, Charles August. One of Napoleon's marshals, the commoner Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, became king, to whom Bonaparte awarded the title of Prince of Pontecorvo. He was formally adopted by King Charles XIII and on 1 May 1818 was crowned as Charles XIV Johan, King of Sweden and Norway.
The reigning King Carl XVI Gustaf is the seventh representative of the Bernadotte dynasty on the Swedish throne.
O His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf
His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf. Carl Gustav Folke Hubertus was born on April 30, 1946 at the Haga Palace in Stockholm to Prince Gustav Adolf and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. By that time, the family already had four children, but all were girls, so the newborn turned out to be the eldest son and heir. In 1947, Prince Gustav Adolf tragically died in a plane crash at Copenhagen Airport (Denmark). After the death of his father in 1947, Carl Gustav was raised by his mother and grandfather, who in 1950 ascended the Swedish throne under the name of King Gustav VI. Simultaneously with the proclamation of the grandfather as king, the four-year-old grandson was proclaimed heir to the throne. The crown prince was first taught by private teachers invited to the palace. Then he began to attend the Broms school in Stockholm, then the Sigtuna boarding house.
The prince served two and a half years in the armed forces under a special program that included internships in all branches of the military, with particular emphasis on the navy. In the winter of 1966-1967, he went on a long trip on the minesweeper "Alvslabben", after which in 1968 he passed the exam for the rank of officer in the Navy. The prince continued his military education at the Swedish National Defense College, combining his studies with service on various ships of the navy. After military service, he studied one course at the University of Uppsala, and then another one at the Faculty of Economics of Stockholm University. The heir to the throne traveled a lot around the country, studying the activities of state and local governments, visiting factories, laboratories and schools. The Crown Prince took part in the activities of the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN and the Swedish International Agency for Development and Cooperation in Africa. Carl Gustav spent some time in London, working at Hambro`s Bank, the Swedish Embassy and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, and then in France at the Alfa Laval plant.
September 15, 1973, after the death of his grandfather, Carl Gustav came to the Swedish throne. He rules under the motto "For the sake of Sweden and in step with the times." In accordance with the country's new constitution, which came into force in 1975, the king had, in fact, only ceremonial duties.
In 1972, the then Crown Prince Carl Gustav met at the Summer Olympics in Munich with an interpreter from Germany, Sylvia Sommerlath. In March 1976, they announced their engagement. The wedding took place on June 19, 1976 in cathedral Stockholm.
About Queen Silvia
Queen Silvia ( Drottning Silvia ) was born on December 23, 1943 in the family of German businessman Walter Sommerlath and Brazilian Alice Sommerlath, née de Toledo. The queen has three older brothers - Ralph, Walter and Jurg.
From 1947 to 1957, the Sommerlat family lived in Sao Paulo (Brazil), after which they returned to Germany. Silvia Sommerlath graduated from school in Düsseldorf in 1963, and then from the Institute of Translators in Munich, having received a diploma as a "translator from Spanish". After graduation, she worked at the Argentine consulate in Munich. In 1971-1973 she worked in the organizing committee of the Summer Olympic Games in Munich, since 1973 - Deputy Head of the Protocol Service of the Organizing Committee of the Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck (Austria).
The King and Queen have three children - Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine.
According to the Swedish law of succession from 1980, the throne passes to the eldest child of the king, regardless of gender. Previously, the throne was occupied by the eldest son. There were two exceptions to this rule - Queen Christina in the 17th century and Queen Ulrika Eleonora in the 18th century. Thus, Crown Prince Carl Philip, being less than one year old, forfeited his first right to the throne, giving way to his older sister Victoria.
About Crown Princess Victoria
Victoria Ingrid, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Westergotland, Elis Desiree ( Kronprinsessan Victoria was born on July 14, 1977 at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm. In 1982-1984 she attended preparatory school in Wasterled County. In the autumn of 1984, she entered the Smedslattskolan school in Bromma, then moved to the Alstenskolan school in Bromma and completed her schooling at the Enskilda Gymnasium in Stockholm.
The Crown Princess usually spent her school holidays abroad, in particular in the United States and Germany. She completed her training and production practice at the Museum of the Collections of the Royal Family and at the Museum of National Antiquities. In 1996-1997 academic year the princess studied French at the international language center in Angers (France). The princess also went through a special program to get acquainted with the activities of the parliament and government of Sweden.
The princess studied at Yale University (USA), where she studied political science and history. During her time in the US, she worked as an intern at the Swedish Mission to the United Nations and the Swedish Embassy in the US.
In early 2003, the princess served three weeks in the Swedish army.
Prince Carl Philip
The royal family is certainly no stranger to the constant scrutiny of the Swedish and foreign media. However, for last years in the Bernadotte family there were several significant events, which attracted even more attention from the press and the public, both in Sweden and beyond.
Perhaps no event in 2010 was followed by the public as closely as the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling, which took place on June 19, 2010.
The celebration of the wedding of Victoria and Daniel, the former owner of the sports club and personal trainer of the princess, lasted three days. Thousands of people came to the Swedish capital to congratulate the young couple. Photos of the happy newlyweds have been on the covers of newspapers and magazines all over the world for several weeks.
Eighteen months later, on February 23, 2012, Victoria and Daniel had a daughter, Princess Estelle Silvia Eva Mary, at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. She is second in line to the throne. Princess Estelle's younger brother, Prince Oscar Carl Olof, was born on March 2, 2016.
french roots
The Swedish monarchical tradition is about a thousand years old. During this time, eleven dynasties have changed, including the current ruling dynasty of Bernadotte. The founder of the dynasty, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, Marshal of the Napoleonic army, became Crown Prince of Sweden in 1810. He ascended the throne under the name Karl XIV Johan. The royal family of Sweden is related to all the royal courts of Europe.
Christening of Prince Nicholas by Archbishop Antje Jaquelin.
royal weddings
Almost on the same day, only two years later, on February 20, 2014, Victoria's younger sister, Madeleine, gave birth to a daughter, Princess Leonor Lilian Maria. The baby's father is British-American businessman Christopher O'Neill. On June 15, 2015, the couple had a son, Prince Nicholas. The youngest daughter, Princess Adrienne, was born on March 9, 2018.
The wedding of Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill took place on June 8, 2013 at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, after which the celebration continued at Drottningholm Palace, the residence of the royal family.
To retain the title of Her Royal Highness, Princess Madeleine did not take the surname O'Neill. Unlike Prince Daniel, Christopher O'Neill chose to renounce his royal titles and retain British and US citizenship. As such, he is not an official member of the Swedish royal family.
In June 2014, the Royal House of Sweden announced the engagement of the middle of three royal children, Prince Carl Philip and his fiancée Sophia Hellqvist. The wedding took place on June 13, 2015 in Stockholm. Hellqvist is a former model and reality TV contestant. The couple has been living together since 2011. On April 19, 2016, Princess Sofia gave birth to her son, Prince Alexander Eric Hubertus Bertil. Their youngest son, Prince Gabriel Karl Walter, was born on August 31, 2017.
Carl XVI Gustaf
Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel chose June 19 for their wedding. On this day in 1976, the current king of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, married Queen Silvia.
King Carl XVI Gustaf is the seventh monarch of the Bernadotte dynasty. He was born on April 30, 1946, was the fifth child in the family and the only son of Crown Prince Gustav Adolf and Princess Sibylla. Crown Prince Gustav Adolf died in a plane crash in Denmark a year after the birth of his son.
In 1950, after the death of his great-grandfather Gustav V, Carl Gustaf became crown prince Sweden. Then his grandfather, 68-year-old Gustav VI Adolf, ascended the Swedish throne.
Gustav Adolf ruled for 23 years and died in 1973. In the same year (at the age of 27), the crown prince ascended the throne and became King Carl XVI Gustaf. Its motto is "For Sweden - at all times!"
Three generations of the royal family.
Queen's career
The translator Silvia Sommerlath, a native of Germany, at one time, probably, could not have imagined that she was destined to become the Queen of Sweden. Sylvia met her future husband in 1972, at the Olympic Games in Munich, where Sylvia worked as a senior guide.
Silvia is the first Queen of Sweden to have a professional career before her marriage. At that time marriages royalty with "people from the people" were extremely rare. Queen Silvia managed to change the image of the queen, making it more modern. In her relationship with the king, she reigns, and Sylvia herself is engaged in social activities, paying especially much attention to the rights of children.
Photo: Kate Gabor/Kungahuset
For Sweden - at all times!
Sweden combines what a few decades ago seemed incongruous: based on the principles of equality, and a monarchy with strong historical traditions.
The most important symbol of Sweden and formally the head of state, according to the constitution of 1974, the king has no political power. The duties of the monarch are mainly ceremonial and representational.
King Carl XVI Gustaf makes a lot of efforts for and is considered an authority on environmental issues. Among other things, he was awarded the Agency for Protection environment USA. He pays no less attention to the preservation of the cultural heritage of Sweden and believes that the royal palaces with their magnificent collections and parks should be available to everyone.
Difficult everyday life of the monarch
King Carl XVI Gustaf is an active monarch who is interested in what is happening in the country, including Swedish business. In addition to two or three annual official visits to other countries, he participates in international trips organized by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering and the World Scout Organization.
Every year the royal receives thousands of invitations. Once a week, the King holds a meeting with the Queen, the Crown Princess and immediate subordinates to review the invitations and decide which ones are the most important. During the year, the royal family manages to visit all corners of Sweden.
When the King is unable to fulfill his duties (for example, during a trip abroad), Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip or Princess Madeleine - in that order - temporarily assume the duties of regents.
Famous Swedish Monarchs
Gustav II Adolf
Gustav II Adolf ruled from 1611 to 1632. Thanks to his participation in the Thirty Years' War, he was able to prove himself as a talented military figure and an experienced diplomat. Under his leadership, Sweden acquired one of the most combat-ready armies. Gustav II Adolf was killed in 1632 at the battle of Lützen. Parliament decided to honor the memory of the monarch by giving him the title of Gustavus Adolphus the Great. None of the Swedish kings ever received such an honor.
Queen Christina
With the exception of the short (1719-1720) reign of Queen Ulrika Elenora, Queen Christina is the only female monarch in recent history Sweden. Queen Christina succeeded Gustav II Adolf in 1632, on the eve of her sixth birthday, reigned for 22 years, and abdicated in 1654. Then she converted to Catholicism and settled in Rome, yielding the throne to her cousin Carl Gustav. When he died in 1660, she returned to Sweden in the hope of regaining the throne. However, her demand was rejected by Parliament, and Christina had to return to Rome.
Gustav III
Gustav III ruled from 1771 to 1792 and is often referred to as the "King of the Theatre". He was a keen patron of the arts, especially theater and opera, founding the first opera in Stockholm (in 1782), the Swedish Academy and the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Gustav III's methods of government were not popular with the higher aristocracy. The result of this confrontation was a conspiracy in 1792: Gustav III was mortally wounded by a shot by Jakob Johan Ankarström during a masquerade ball at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. Ankarström later confessed to his crime and was executed.
Future Queen of Sweden
Replacing her father on the royal throne over time, Crown Princess Victoria will become the 70th Swedish monarch and the third female monarch in Swedish history.
Crown Princess Victoria's daily routine includes official dinners, opening ceremonies and meetings with high-ranking international guests. In addition, she attends the Advisory Council on Foreign Relations and meetings held by ministers, and also temporarily acts as regent when necessary.
Victoria makes many official visits. Her first independent visit took place in 2001 - to Japan, where she presented the achievements of her country:, and. By the way, the Crown Princess takes a personal interest in all these areas. In addition to Swedish, she speaks English, French and German.
What did the crown princess learn
Victoria received her primary education at, and her secondary education at a private school. Despite being dyslexic, thanks to her perseverance and love of learning, she graduated from high school in 1996 with good grades.
After graduating from high school, the Crown Princess studied French at the Western Catholic University in Angers, France.
In 1998, she entered Yale University in the United States, where she studied geology, history, and international relations. During her studies, she became very interested in problems international relations and completed an internship at the UN in New York and at the Swedish Embassy in Washington.
In the spring of 2002, she continued her studies in international relations at the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, Uppsala University, Sweden. As part of a training program at the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), she visited Uganda and Ethiopia. In addition, she trained at the offices of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in Berlin and Paris, received basic military training and attended courses at the National Defense College (Försvarshögskolan) in Stockholm.
useful links
www.royalcourt.se The Royal Court of Sweden
www.sweden.gov.se Swedish government agencies
Love for art
Crown Princess Victoria loves painting and drawing. She appreciates cultural heritage left by her ancestors. During big celebrations, she proudly wears the family jewels.
Office in the old town
Like the king and queen, the office of Crown Princess Victoria, in which her subordinates work, is located in the royal palace in the Old Town of Stockholm.
Hobby
Crown Princess Victoria loves spending time outdoors. She enjoys long walks, skiing and other outdoor activities. She is very fond of animals, especially dogs. As a young mother, she spends a lot of time with her daughter Estelle.
Life in Haga Palace
Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel and their daughter Estelle live in the Haga Palace near Stockholm, where King Carl XVI Gustaf was born and lived for some time.
The Children's Fund The Crown Princess Victoria's Fund was established in 1997 to help organize recreational activities for children with functional disabilities or chronic illnesses.
The traditions of the Swedish crown allowed only marriages with representatives of royal families, but for the sake of happiness with the woman he loved, the current king of Sweden decided to change the age-old foundations and allowed the current kings to marry representatives of ordinary families.
True, even before this official permission, this already happened in Swedish history, when in 1568 King Eric XIV, the son of the founder of the Wasa / Vasa dynasty, “... humiliated his Majesty by a shameful marriage” to a commoner.
Queen Silvia / Silvia, nee Silvia Renate Sommerlath / Silvia Renate Sommerlath, was born on December 23, 1943 in Germany and became the fourth child in the family (she has three brothers). She can not boast of nobility origin.
Her father - Walther Sommerlath / Walter Sommerlath (1901-1990) came from a German merchant family. In 1920 he left for Brazil, and in 1925 he married Alice Soares de Toledo / Alice Suarez de Toledo. While still in Brazil, he joined the Nazi Party of Germany.
In 1938 he returned with his family to Germany and became the director of a metallurgical plant.
Her mother - Alice Soares de Toledo / Alice Suarez de Toledo (1906-1997) was of Brazilian-Portuguese origin.
From February 1947 until 1957 the family lived in Brazil, where Walther Sommerlath worked for the Swedish steel company Uddeholm.
When the family returned to Germany, Silvia/Silvia entered the University of Munich in the department of translation from Spanish (Silvia/Silvia speaks Swedish, Portuguese, German, English, Spanish, French and sign language of the deaf and dumb). After training, she got a job at the consulate of the Argentine Embassy. In 1972, at the Olympic Games in Munich, Sylvia was appointed to the executive committee. At one of the celebrations, she met the Crown Prince of Sweden.
Silvia became Queen of Sweden on June 19, 1976. She wore a Dior dress designed by Marc Bohan with a train carried by two footmen. On her head was a diadem that belonged to her mother.
Queen Silvia, a German by birth, managed to become the favorite of all Sweden and revive the popularity of the monarchy in the country. The foreigner managed to do the impossible: she not only won the hearts of the heir to the throne and his subjects, but also changed the traditions of the royal family.
Silvia Renata Sommerlath was born in Heidelberg to German businessman Walter Sommerlath and Brazilian mother Alice de Toledo. The girl became the fourth child in the family. Shortly after the birth of their daughter, the Sommerlats moved to São Paulo, where they lived for several years. Sylvia was a very assiduous child, she studied well at school. It was especially easy for her to learn foreign languages. In addition to her native German, she easily learned Portuguese and English. When the family returned to Germany, Silvia entered the University of Munich in the department of translation from Spanish. After training, she got a job at the Argentine Embassy, worked as an interpreter at the Olympic Games more than once. By the way, it was sport that played a decisive role in the fate of the German woman. In 1972, at the Olympic Games in Munich, Sylvia was appointed to the executive committee. At one of the celebrations, she met Crown Prince Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. “It was as if something clicked between us at once,” the Swedish king later told about the first meeting. The German won the prince's heart at first sight. And although the feelings of Carl Gustav were mutual, the happiness of the lovers seemed impossible. The traditions of the Swedish crown allowed only marriages with representatives of royal families, and a simple German woman was clearly an unsuitable party. But despite the prohibitions, young people continued to communicate.
Soon the serene life of the prince changed. In 1973, Carl Gustav's father, King Gustav Adolf, died, and the throne passed to the young prince. This period turned out to be the most difficult for the couple - it seemed that there would be no end to separation. However, it soon became clear that what is not allowed to the entire royal family, the king himself can afford. For the sake of happiness with his beloved woman, Karl Gustav decided to change the age-old foundations and allowed the current kings to marry representatives of ordinary families. Democratic-minded Swedes approved this decision. Nevertheless, the future queen was treated with all severity.
Flawless biography, good education, possession of five foreign languages made a good impression on the Swedes. And yet, her every step, every word was closely watched by photo and video cameras. A few days after the wedding, Sylvia's first joint interview with King Carl Gustav took place. At that time, Sylvia practically did not know the Swedish language - she communicated with her husband mainly in English. As befits a queen, she was not at all embarrassed when the journalist, aware of her weakness, began a conversation in Swedish. Sylvia politely greeted the interlocutor, uttering a couple of simple Swedish phrases. But the reporter did not give in: he asked one question after another, addressing them to the newly-made queen. "Help me!" - in desperation, Sylvia turned to her husband when the vocabulary was exhausted. "He asked you," the king replied jokingly, "and you should answer."
But even such hitches could not overshadow the happiness of lovers. "I love you," the direct Sylvia whispered in the king's ear after the interview. "Shhh! There are journalists everywhere," her husband continued to admonish. Of course, the reporters did not miss this moment and did not hide the footage. But the sincerity and charm of the German woman conquered even the most callous hearts. Having failed the first test for the ability to communicate with journalists, she brilliantly won the first battle for the hearts of her subjects.
“Someone falls in love with directors, someone falls in love with presidents. And I love the king,” Sylvia said in the first days of her marriage. She could not even imagine what it was like to be the wife of the Swedish King. However, in over 40 years on the throne, Queen Silvia has proven time and time again that she deserves to be queen like no one else. She quickly learned Swedish and was soon able to speak fluently on any topic. She is actively involved in charitable activities, and always respectfully and adequately responds to even the most caustic criticism of journalists. Sylvia gave birth to three heirs - Princess Victoria, Prince Philip and Princess Madeleine, in which most Swedes simply do not care. It was thanks to the queen that the popularity of the Swedish monarchy grew from year to year. According to a public opinion poll in 2012, 70 percent of Swedes adhere to monarchist views.
But all this might not be. After all, it is not the first year that the royal family has been pursued by a series of high-profile scandals. And most of all goes to King Carl Gustav. Over the past three years, several exposé books have been published in Sweden at once. Each of them reveals new secrets from the life of the monarch: numerous mistresses, connections with the mafia. The royal court refrains from any comments on this topic. The scandal also affected Sylvia. In 2002, an archive was declassified in Germany that confirmed that Sylvia's father, Walter Sommerlath, was a member of the Nazi Party. This was the first spot in the immaculate biography of Sylvia, so the journalists seized on this idea especially zealously. But the queen answered these accusations with calmness. She openly told reporters about her childhood and explained that her parents never talked to her about this topic. And now, thanks to historians, she has the opportunity to bit by bit restore the picture of the past. "There are many questions I would like to ask. But my parents and loved ones from their generation have already died. Perhaps many wondered why I did not talk about my father ... And it was not only difficulties with emotional control. This the case required in-depth research into events that took place more than seventy years ago," Sylvia said.
Of course, one cannot say about Queen Silvia that she radically changed the history of Sweden. This was not required of her. But when you see how, despite all the gossip and scandals, most Swedes proudly tell what a wonderful monarchy they have, you clearly understand that the main merit in this belongs to Sylvia. She not only changed the traditions of the royal family, she brought her closer to the people. And thus forever won the love of Sweden.
Flikr/ Bengt Nyman / King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia at Skansen
The celebrations were held modestly, in a narrow family circle in the Solliden Palace on the island of Öland
Swedish tabloid Expressen reported that Princess Madeleine was absent from the celebrations - youngest daughter Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
In the fall of 2015, the job of her husband, banker Christopher O'Neill, demanded a change of residence. The princess did not appear at her parents' "ruby wedding" due to the abundance of anniversaries, anniversaries and significant events that happened in the Swedish royal family in 2016.
In March and April, Princess Madeleine's nephews, Princes Oscar, were born. Naturally, christenings followed the replenishment of the royal family. On April 30, Madeleine's father turned 70 years old. The king's birthday was widely celebrated in the country. The 40th wedding anniversary of Carl Gustav and Silvia was much more modest. The only official event dedicated to the anniversary is the exhibition wedding dresses Queen Silvia, her daughters Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine, sister-in-law, and Carl Gustaf's late aunt, Princess Lillian.
The exposition will open on October 22 at the Royal Palace in Stockholm and will last until March 5, 2017. On the eve of the wedding anniversary, Their Royal Majesties went on an official visit to Bhutan. This was the first state visit by Swedish officials to an Asian monarchy.
The future Carl XVI Gustaf met Sylvia Sommerlath at the 1972 Munich Olympics. A year later, he ascended the Swedish throne. Their relationship was kept secret for several more years. Carl Gustaf and Silvia were married on June 19, 1976 in Stockholm at St. Nicholas Church (Storkyrken), located next to royal palace in the old city center. The marriage ceremony was the first royal wedding in Sweden since 1797. The newlyweds left the church in a carriage. On the streets of the city they were greeted by 180,000 people.
A few days before their 40th wedding anniversary, the Swedish royal couple helped start a water pump in a remote village in the Kingdom of Bhutan. In an interview with the newspaper Expressen, the king, taking the opportunity, explained with an example what is the basis of his long marriage with Sylvia: “Take a situation like today. Now we're standing here in a small village in Bhutan - it's kind of amazing, I think. Over the years we have traveled together representing Sweden, both at home and abroad. After all, we work together – not everyone can do it.”
Loading...