Wedding of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, 1976

Happy Anniversary to King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, who got married in Stockholm on this day in 1976! The German Translator married the Swedish King and automatically became Queen, in the first marriage of a reigning Swedish monarch since 1797. Unlike other Swedish Royal Weddings, this was strangely not a White Tie affair and instead took place earlier in the day, but the date was very special as their daughter, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, got married on the same day in 2010!

On the eve of the wedding, the couple and their Royal Guests from around Europe attended a Gala Performance at the Royal Opera in Stockholm, which was followed by a Dinner and Dance for 200 at Drottningholm Palace, more HERE. The highlight of the evening was the world premiere of Swedish band ABBA’s famous song “Dancing Queen”.

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The wedding ceremony took place at the Storkyrkan in Stockholm, and was officiated by the Archbishop of Uppsala, Olof Sundby, along with the First Chaplain to the Swedish Court, and Reverend Ernst Sommerlath, Queen Silvia’s uncle and a Professor of Theology at Leipzig University. According to Swedish tradition, both the bride and groom walked up the aisle together. Two historic crowns were displayed alongside a new breed of red roses in two antique silver vases.

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Afterwards, the Kind and his new Queen rode through the streets of Stockholm in an open horse-drawn landau and then boarded the Royal Barge towards the Royal Palace of Stockholm.

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At the Royal Place, the King and his new Queen were serenaded by 200 folk musicians from Dalarna playing a Swedish bridal march, before they appeared on the balcony to greet the crowds. Afterwards, there was a luncheon for 300 in the Vita Havet Hall of the Royal Palace.

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Royal Guests and Relatives included Queen Ingrid (aunt), Queen Margrethe II (cousin) and Prince Henrik of Denmark, King Olav V of Norway, King Constantine II and Queen Anne Marie of Greece (cousin), King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium, Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, Tsar Simeon II and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, Crown Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus of The Netherlands, Princess Benedikte of Denmark (cousin) and the Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and Lord Mountbatten among 1200 guests.

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Queen Silvia wore a floor-length white duchesse silk Dior gown with the Swedish Cameo Tiara and Queen Sofia’s Veil. King Carl XVI Gustaf wore his Swedish Naval Admiral’s Uniform with the insignia of the Order of the Seraphim, the Order of the Polar Star, and the Order of the Sword.

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