Facts about Sweden: Monarchy sweden.se The Swedish monarchy Sweden’s head of state is King Carl XVI Gustaf. In 1980, Sweden became the first monarchy to change its succession rites so that the first- born child of the monarch is heir to the throne, regardless of gender. Heir apparent to the Swedish throne is Crown Princess Victoria. Sweden is one of the world’s most stable and Carl XVI Gustaf egalitarian democracies, with a monarchy King Carl XVI Gustaf is the seventh monarch that has strong roots. of the House of Bernadotte. He was born As head of state, the King is Sweden’s fore- on 30 April 1946 as the fifth child and only Clockwise from left: Crown most unifying symbol. According to the 1974 son of Hereditary Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Victoria, heir apparent; constitution, the monarch has no political Princess Sibylla. Hereditary Prince Gustaf King Carl XVI Gustaf, head of state; Princess Estelle, second power or affinity. The King’s duties are of Adolf died in an airplane crash in Denmark in line to the Swedish throne. a ceremonial and representative nature. the following year. Photo: Sandra Birgersdotter Sandra Ek/Royal Sweden CourtPhoto: of Facts about Sweden: Monarchy sweden.se In 1950, Carl Gustaf became Crown Prince since he took part in the UN Conference on of Sweden when his great-grandfather the Human Environment – the first of its kind The Royal Palace Gustaf V died and was succeeded by the – in Stockholm back in 1972. The Royal Palace of Stockholm is the then 68-year-old Gustaf VI Adolf, the Crown He is likewise deeply committed to the King's official residence. While most Prince’s grandfather. preservation of Sweden’s cultural heritage of the monarchy's official receptions After serving as monarch for 23 years, and considers it important that the public are held here, the palace is also open King Gustaf Adolf passed away in 1973. has access to the royal palaces with their to the public all year round. As a royal That same year, at the age of 27, the Crown collections and parks. residence, workplace and culture- historical monument in one, the Royal Prince became King Carl XVI Gustaf. His Queen Silvia motto is ‘For Sweden – with the times’. Palace is unique in Europe. In 1972, while still the Crown Prince, Carl In 2018, King Carl Gustaf became Sweden’s Ericson/imagebank.sweden.se Ola Photo: Gustaf met his German-Brazilian future wife, longest reigning monarch, surpassing the Silvia Sommerlath, who was born in 1943 in 14th century king Magnus Eriksson. Germany. They met in Munich during the Keeping busy Olympic Games, where Silvia Sommerlath King Carl XVI Gustaf is an active monarch was chief hostess. who keeps up to date on current affairs, both through his work and privately. Anna-LenaPhoto: Ahlström/Royal Sweden Court of Each year in September, he formally opens the annual session of the Riksdag, the Swedish parliament. Regularly, he also chairs Councils of State at the Royal Palace. During these meetings, the King is briefed Built in baroque style by architect by government ministers about political Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and initiatives, investigations and legislation. formed as a Roman palace, it has The King also chairs the Advisory Council on more than 600 rooms divided between Foreign Affairs, a parliamentary forum where eleven floors. It was erected on the the government informs on foreign policy same spot as the medieval Tre Kronor matters with potential impact on Sweden. Castle, which was destroyed in a fire According to the Constitution, it is the prime in 1697. King Adolf Fredrik and Queen minister’s responsibility to ensure that Queen Silvia. Lovisa Ulrika were first to move into the head of state remains informed about the Royal Palace in 1754, into what matters regarding the nation. A trained interpreter without royal or noble is now known as the Bernadotte Together with his wife Queen Silvia, King origins, she is the first Swedish queen to have Apartments. Carl XVI Gustaf performs two to three state had a professional career. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen visits per year, either as host of Sweden Silvia Sommerlath married King Carl Gustaf Silvia lived here until 1981, when or as a guest abroad. These events are of in 1976. At the time royal weddings that in- they chose to take up residence at important symbolic value as they underline cluded non-nobility were highly unusual, Drottningholm Palace, on the outskirts of Stockholm. good relations between Sweden and a specif- and Queen Silvia has since modernised the ic country. The visits abroad have the intent position of queen so that it is in step with to strengthen personal relations and also the times. Drottningholm Palace increase trade, political exchange and She has taken strong initiatives to pursue Photo: Ola Ola Ericson/imagebank.sweden.sePhoto: cultural interest. several social issues close to her heart, in King Carl XVI Gustaf has remained strongly particular children’s rights as well as care for committed to the global environment ever people suffering from dementia. A modern move Sweden Court of Ekströmer/Royal Jonas Photo: In 2019, King Carl Gustaf relieved five of his Drottningholm Palace, outside grandchildren – Prince Carl Philip and Princess Stockholm, is on UNESCO’s World Sofia’s two children and Princess Madeleine and Heritage List. The palace was built by Christopher O’Neill’s three – from royal duties. the architect Nicodemus Tessin the Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel, Princess Elder in the 17th century and is highly Leonore, Prince Nicolas and Princess Adrienne characteristic of European royal remain Royal Family members and keep their architecture of the time. Large parts Duke and Duchess titles, but no longer have of the palace and park are open to the style of Royal Highness and are no longer visitors. It is home to the Royal Family members of the Royal House. since 1981, but only the King and With the change, the King wanted to signal Queen live here today. that in the future, his grandchildren – with the All of Sweden’s royal palaces are exception of Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar state owned, and most of them are – will not be expected to perform royal duties. The Royal Family in 2017. open to the public. Facts about Sweden: Monarchy sweden.se Sweden's future queen French origins As the eldest of three siblings, Crown Princess Victoria is first in line Swedish monarchs date back around to the Swedish throne. As such, she has become a highly popular a thousand years and have belonged to eleven dynasties, with the current ambassador for the country. one, the House of Bernadotte, ruling the longest. Photo: Sara Friberg/Royal Court of Sweden Friberg/Royal Court Sara of Photo: In 1810, Prince Karl August – adopted son of King Karl XIII and heir apparent – suddenly died of a stroke. This left King Karl XIII, whose two biological children had died during infancy, with- out a successor. Adopted heir King Karl XIII – himself appointed in 1809 following his nephew King Gustav IV Adolf’s deposal – opted to adopt Frenchman Jean Baptiste Bernadotte (1763–1844), a former general under Napoleon Bonaparte, thus finding his heir to the throne. Photo: Alexis Daflos/Royal Court of Sweden The Crown Princess during a visit to RFSL – the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights – in 2020. Already before the Crown Princess was born As one of 17 ambassadors in the Sustain- (14 July 1977), there were discussions about able Development Goals Advocacy Group reforming the Act of Succession and make it during 2016-2018, the Crown Princess pro- gender neutral. The change came into force moted the UN’s Sustainable Development two-and-a-half years after Princess Victoria’s Goals (SDG) for 2030. birth but was made retroactive, which im- As an SDG Advocate Alumni, she continues mediately changed her title from Princess to contribute actively to SDG Advocacy in to Crown Princess. Sweden and around the world, especially on Bernadotte as Crown Prince Karl Johan; oil painting by François When she succeeds her father, Crown issues concerning health and water, such as Gérard (1811). Princess Victoria will become Sweden’s sustainable fishing and equitable access to 70th monarch, the fourth female monarch in clean water. A valid successor Sweden’s history and the first since 1720. Both Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Why Bernadotte? At the time, Sweden’s She already assumes the duties of tempo- Daniel – previously a gym chain owner and power in Europe was declining, with rary regent when the King is prevented from personal trainer – are strong advocates of the country having lost Finland to performing his duties as head of state, for physical activity. In 2017, in connection with Russia in 1809. example during his travels abroad. her 40th birthday, the Crown Princess initiat- With his experience as military ed a project to walk through all 25 provinces Ambassador and advocate commander, Bernadotte was deemed of Sweden, while promoting the importance Crown Princess Victoria’s regular agenda a valid successor. Also, as a marshal of outdoor activities and movement. She includes visits to various parts of Swedish under Napoleon, Bernadotte had completed the project with walk number 25 society, and visits from foreign dignitaries. actively advised against an invasion in Fulufjället National Park, Dalarna, in 2019. She also attends the Councils of State and the of Sweden, which made him a popular Advisory Councils on Foreign Affairs. Royal nuptials choice. Together with her husband Prince Daniel, On 19 June in 2010, Crown Princess Victoria the Crown Princess each year undertakes married Daniel Westling in Stockholm Karl XIV Johan a couple of official visits overseas at the Cathedral, Storkyrkan.