Swedish State Visit to France, 1980

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden were hosted by President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing and First Lady Anne-Aymone Giscard d’Estaing on their State Visit to France on this day in 1980, the highlight of which was a State Banquet in honour of the King and Queen (wearing the Leuchtenberg Sapphire Parure) at the Palace of Versailles.

The following evening, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia (in the Cameo Parure) hosted a Return Banquet in honour of the President (wearing the Swedish Order of the Seraphim) and First Lady at the Palace of Versailles. Both Tiaras originated from the court of Emperor Napoleon, and were a symbolic choice to celebrate Sweden’s links with France.

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8 thoughts on “Swedish State Visit to France, 1980

  1. Aaaah! That gala dinner at the Palace of Versailles must have been amazing! It’s an absolutely magical place. Everyone looks more beautiful and handsomer there because its beauty permeates everything! It’s the perfect background for the gorgeous heirloom jewels Queen Silvia brought with her. Simply divine!

      1. I don’t think forbidden, but recent French Presidents have not even opted for Black Tie dinners, let alone anything grand enough for Versailles!

  2. I guess that will be the “politically correct” police in action. It’s something I don’t agree with at all. These are beautiful things that are admired the world over and represent their country. They’re not spending money building anything because it’s already there! It’s almost as if they were ashamed of them, isn’t it?

    1. I totally agree! It is much better to actually use those precious pieces of art instead of them gathering dust in some vault somewhere. And even in those countries where there are no royal ladies to wear grand jewels at incoming State Visits I still don’t understand why they cannot make those State Visits something special, something colourful – something to show off the history and culture of both the hosting as well as the visiting countries instead of those dreary “business like” suit & tie “get togethers”.

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