Today it is 50 years since a change of throne took place in Sweden. King Carl XVI Gustaf, the longest-serving Swedish regent, ascended the throne on September 15, 1973, and the Riksdag has therefore decided on a temporary general flag day.
Although the celebration has been going on all year, it culminates over the weekend. The kick-off for the big celebration went off on Thursday, but today the celebration really picked up speed.
This is how King Carl XVI Gustaf is celebrated
Friday began with a thanksgiving service, Te Deum, in the Castle Church. Royal guests from Norway and Denmark as well as presidential couples from Finland and Iceland gathered there. Party leaders, government representatives and religious communities were also present.
At 12 o’clock the Stockholm amphibious regiment fired a salute from Skeppsholmen. Both the King and Prince Carl Philip were present at the unveiling of the high guard in the outer castle courtyard.
After lunchtime, the king was also honored at a singer’s tribute in the outer castle courtyard. The king, the queen, the crown princess, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip, Princess Sofia, Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill were there when children’s choirs from Linköping and Västerås took the tone in a new song written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson.
The king gives a speech to the nation
Tonight there will also be a large anniversary dinner in the Rikssalan at Stockholm Palace.
Heads of state will participate, but also the Armed Forces, governors, representatives of authorities, culture, media and business. Speeches will be made by, among others, the king himself but also the speaker and the prime minister.
A pre-recorded speech by the king to the nation will also be broadcast this evening at 19:20 on SVT.
Increased security ahead of the anniversary weekend
Tomorrow there is a folk festival. Thousands are expected to gather on the capital’s streets on Saturday to celebrate the king’s 50 years on the throne. The highlights for tomorrow will be a cortege and boat trip through Stockholm starting at 2:30 p.m. and an anniversary concert in front of the castle at 4 p.m.
The police have geared up to strengthen security over the weekend due to the heightened terror threat. Drones will, among other things, monitor parts of central Stockholm.
Watch Tronen on TV4 Play
A historical series about Sweden’s throne. We follow King Carl XVI Gustaf from his birth, childhood, youth and the wedding to Silvia Sommerlath.