Happy Birthday to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who turns 75 today! While we have covered a plethora of important Swedish Royal Events, we have been waiting for today to feature all of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s splendid Birthday Celebrations over the years, a good time to revisit the splendid events given the cancelled celebrations that would have been happening today!
40th Birthday
The highlight of the King’s 40th Birthday Celebrations was a Gala Dinner held by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia at Drottningholm Palace, where Five Kings and Six Queens led the Royal Guests and Relatives.
Queen Silvia of Sweden (wearing the Baden Diamond Rose Brooch)
Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands
Queen Margrethe II (in Queen Alexandrine’s Sapphire Parure) and Prince Henrik of Denmark
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain (wearing her Jordanian Turquoise Suite)
King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium
Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte of Luxembourg (in the Citrine Parure)
Tsar Simeon II and Tsaritsa Margarita of Bulgaria
Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja of Norway (wearing Queen Alexandra’s Diamond Pendant Earrings)
Hereditary Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
Hereditary Prince Hans Adam and Hereditary Princess Marie of Liechtenstein
Prince Bertil and Princess Lilian of Sweden (in Crown Princess Margareta’s Egyptian Necklace)
Princess Benedikte of Denmark (wearing her Diamond Fan Earrings)
Lord and Lady Romsey (wearing her Diamond Necklace)
50th Birthday
The Birthday Celebrations began with a Gala Performance at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm, following which the Swedish Royal Family and the Royal Guests walked through the streets of Stockholm back to the Royal Palace.
The following day, there was a Changing of the Guard Ceremony in the courtyard of the Royal Palace of Stockholm, a Te Deum Service at the Palace Chapel, a Balcony Appearance, and, following a carriage ride through the streets of Stockholm, a Lunch at Stockholm City Hall.
In the evening, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia held a magnificent Banquet in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, which also included a few performances.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden (wearing the Connaught Diamond Tiara and Pink Topaz Parure)
Crown Princess Victoria (in her Diamond Spike Tiara), Prince Carl Philip, and Princess Madeleine of Sweden
Queen Margrethe II (wearing the Floral Aigrette Tiara) and Prince Henrik of Denmark
King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway (in the Norwegian Emerald Parure)
Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands (wearing the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara)
Queen Sofia of Spain (in the Mellerio Shell Tiara) with the Prince of Asturias, Infanta Elena (wearing the Marichalar Tiara), and Infanta Cristina (in the Spanish Floral Tiara)
King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium (in Queen Elisabeth’s Diamond Bandeau) with the Duke of Brabant
Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte of Luxembourg (wearing the Belgian Scroll Tiara) with Hereditary Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg (in the Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara)
King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece (wearing the Greek Emerald Parure) with Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece (in the Antique Corsage Tiara)
The Prince of Orange, the Prince of Asturias, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, and Prince Ali bin Hussein of Jordan
Prince Albert and Princess Caroline of Monaco (wearing the Cartier Pearl Drop Tiara and Diamond Fringe Necklace)
King Michael and Crown Princess Margareta of Romania (in the Romanian Greek Key Tiara)
Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia (wearing her Diamond Chain-Link Suite)
Princess Lilian of Sweden (in the Baden Fringe Tiara)
Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld (wearing Queen Louise’s Diamond Tiara)
Princess Christina, Mrs Magnuson (in the Napoleonic Cut Steel Tiara)
Prince Carl Johan Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg and Countess Gunnila Bernadotte (wearing her Tiara)
Princess Benedikte of Denmark (wearing the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara) and Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg with Princess Alexandra (in Queen Sofia’s Pearl and Star Tiara) and Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (wearing the Diamond Floral Tiara)
The Duke and Duchess in Bavaria (in the Pearl and Diamond Floral Tiara) with Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway (wearing King Olav’s Gift Tiara)
Prince Leopold and Princess Ursula of Bavaria (in the Bavarian Sunburst Tiara)
Lord and Lady Romsey (wearing the Mountbatten Pearl Star Tiara)
The Duchess of Marlborough (in the Marlborough Tiara)
60th Birthday
Celebrations began with a Gala Dinner hosted by the King and Queen at Drottningholm Palace, which was attended by several of the Royal Guests who had arrived on the eve of the Birthday, led by King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway with Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit as well as Princess Astrid
Prince Henrik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain
Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece with Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal as well as Prince Nikolaos
The Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan
The Duke and Duchess of Braganza
Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu of Romania
Prince Ali bin Hussein and Princess Rym Ali of Jordan
The Swedish Royal Family was joined by the Royal Guests for a Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, a Te Deum Service at the Palace Chapel, a balcony appearance, and, following a carriage ride through the streets of Stockholm, a Lunch at Stockholm City Hall.
Finally, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia held a magnificent Banquet at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, attended by Royal Guests and Relatives from around Europe.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden (wearing the Braganza Tiara)
Crown Princess Victoria (in the Baden Fringe Tiara) and Princess Madeleine of Sweden (wearing the Modern Fringe Tiara)
Princess Lilian of Sweden (in the Laurel Wreath Tiara) and Prince Carl Philip
King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway (wearing the Norwegian Emerald Parure)
Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands (in Queen Emma’s Diamond Tiara) and Prince Henrik of Denmark
King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium (in Queen Elisabeth’s Diamond Bandeau)
Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg (wearing the Chaumet Choker Tiara)
Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein
King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece (wearing the Greek Ruby Parure)
Tsar Simeon II and Tsaritsa Margarita of Bulgaria with Princess Rosario
The Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands (wearing the Mellerio Ruby Tiara) with Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (in her Wedding Tiara)
The Duke of Brabant and Princess Mathilde of Belgium (wearing the Laurel Wreath Tiara)
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway (in the Diamond Daisy Bandeau)
Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece (wearing the Miller Fringe Tiara)
Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan (in her Floral Tiara)
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand
Princess Astrid of Norway (in the Vasa Tiara)
The Duke and Duchess of Braganza (wearing Queen Amélie’s Diamond Choker Tiara)
Crown Princess Margareta (in the Romanian Greek Key Tiara) and Prince Radu of Romania
Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia
Prince Ali bin Hussein and Princess Rym Ali of Jordan (in her Diamond Tiara)
70th Birthday
On the eve of the King’s 70th Birthday, several of the Foreign Royal Guests joined the Swedish Royal Family for a Concert at the Nordic Museum in Stockholm, at the end of which the King gave a speech:
What an extraordinary concert we have got to be involved tonight! It is hard to imagine a more beautiful prelude to this evening. […] On the eve of my 70th birthday, it feels useful to gather representatives of both Swedish society and the Swedish people. It is an occasion to look back but also to look ahead. And above all, to say: Thank you!”
The following day, the Swedish Royal Family and Royal Guests attended a Te Deum Service and Armed Forces celebration at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, and, following a carriage ride through the streets of Stockholm, a Lunch at Stockholm City Hall.
Finally, in the evening, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia held a Banquet for Royal Guests and Dignitaries in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.
Queen Silvia of Sweden (wearing the Connaught Diamond Tiara)
Crown Princess Victoria (in the Laurel Wreath Tiara) and Prince Daniel of Sweden with Prince Carl Philip
Princess Madeleine of Sweden (wearing the Modern Fringe Tiara) and Christopher O’Neill
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (wearing the Baden Palmette Tiara)
Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands (in the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara)
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium (wearing the Wolfers Necklace Tiara)
Tsar Simeon II and Tsaritsa Margarita of Bulgaria
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (wearing a Ole Lynggaard Hairpiece)
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway (in King Olav’s Gift Tiara) and Ari Behn
Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein (wearing the Habsburg Fringe Tiara)
Princess Benedikte of Denmark (in the Queen Sofia’s Pearl and Star Tiara)
Princess Margaretha (wearing the Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara), Princess Birgitta (in the Baden Fringe Tiara), Princess Désirée (wearing Queen Louise’s Diamond Tiara), and Princess Christina (in the Aquamarine Bandeau Tiara)
Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan
Princess Takamado of Japan (wearing her Diamond Bandeau Tiara)
Crown Princess Margareta (in the Romanian Greek Key Tiara) and Prince Radu of Romania
Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia (wearing a Tiara)
The Duke and Duchess in Bavaria (in the Douglas Floral Tiara)
Prince Leopold and Princess Ursula of Bavaria (in a Diamond Tiara)
The Hereditary Prince and Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (wearing the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Turquoise Tiara)
Prince Manuel and Princess Anna of Bavaria (in a Diamond Tiara)
King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 70th Birthday Gala
King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 60th Birthday Gala
King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 50th Birthday Celebrations
King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 40th Birthday Gala
King Carl XVI Gustaf’s Portrait Brooch
Swedish Aquamarine Kokoshnik Tiara
Princess Lilian’s Laurel Wreath Tiara
Princess Sofia’s Wedding Tiara
King Carl XVI Gustaf’s Portrait Brooch
40th Birthday
King Carl XVI Gustaf’s first major Birthday Celebration was for his 40th Birthday in 1986, the highlight of which was a big Gala Dinner at Drottningholm Palace, which was attended by Royalty from around Europe, including King Olav V of Norway and former Queen Juliana of The Netherlands (who shared a birthday with King Carl Gustaf) – both godparents of the King, King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of the Belgians, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain, Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark, Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja of Norway, Hereditary Prince Hans Adam and Hereditary Princess Marie of Liechtenstein, Hereditary Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Princess Benedikte of Denmark and Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, and Prince Leopold and Princess Ursula of Bavaria among Royal Guests and Relatives from around Europe.
50th Birthday
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King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 50th Birthday celebrations in 1996 were the first of the major celebrations, beginning with a Gala Performance at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm, following which the Swedish Royal Family and the Royal Guests from around the world walked through the streets of Stockholm back to the Royal Palace.
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The following day, there was a Changing of the Guard Ceremony in the courtyard of the Royal Palace of Stockholm, a Te Deum Service at the Palace Chapel, a Balcony Appearance, and, following a carriage ride through the streets of Stockholm, a Lunch at Stockholm City Hall.
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In the evening, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia (wearing the Connaught Diamond Tiara) hosted a Banquet in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, which was also attended by the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Margrethe II (in the Floral Aigrette Tiara), Prince Henrik and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands (in the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara) and the Prince of Orange, King Albert, Queen Paola (wearing Queen Elisabeth’s Diamond Bandeau), and Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium, King Harald, Queen Sonja (in the Emerald Parure Tiara), and Princess Martha Louise of Norway (wearing King Olav’s Gift Tiara), Queen Sofia (in the Mellerio Shell Tiara), the Prince of Asturias, Infanta Elena (wearing the Marichalar Tiara) and Infanta Cristina of Spain (in the Floral Tiara), King Constantine, Queen Anne Marie (in the Emerald Parure Tiara), Crown Prince Pavlos, and Crown Princess Marie Chantal of Greece (wearing the Antique Corsage Tiara), Grand Duke Jean, Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte (in the Belgian Scroll Tiara), Hereditary Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg (in the Grand Duchess Adélaïde Tiara), Hereditary Prince Albert and Princess Caroline of Monaco (in her Cartier Pearl Drop Tiara and Diamond Fringe Necklace), King Michael and Crown Princess Margretha of Romania (wearing the Romanian Greek Key Tiara), Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia (in her Diamond Chain-Link Suite), the Duke and Duchess in Bavaria (wearing the Bavarian Pearl and Diamond Floral Tiara), Princess Benedikte of Denmark (wearing the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara), the Duchess of Marlborough (wearing the Marlborough Tiara), Prince Leopold and Princess Ursula of Bavaria, Lord and Lady Romsey (wearing the Mountbatten Pearl Star Tiara), among a host of Royal and Noble guests.
60th Birthday
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Celebrations for King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 60th Birthday celebrations in 2006 began with a Gala Dinner hosted by the King and Queen at Drottningholm Palace, which was attended by King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette Marit and Princess Astrid of Norway, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg, Prince Henrik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, the Prince of Orange and Princess Maxima of The Netherlands, King Constantine, Queen Anne Marie, Crown Prince Pavlos, and Crown Princess Marie Chantal of Greece, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Tsar Simeon and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, Crown Princess Margretha and Prince Radu of Romania, Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan, and the Duke and Duchess of Braganza.
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The following day, the Swedish Royal Family was joined by all the Royal Guests for a Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, a Te Deum Service at the Palace Chapel, a balcony appearance, and, following a carriage ride through the streets of Stockholm, a Lunch at Stockholm City Hall.
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In the evening, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia (wearing the Braganza Tiara) hosted a Banquet at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, which was attended by many royal guests and relatives from around Europe, including King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway (in the Emerald Parure Tiara), Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands (wearing Queen Emma’s Diamond Tiara), King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium (in Queen Elisabeth’s Diamond Bandeau), Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg (wearing the Chaumet Pearl and Diamond Choker Tiara), Prince Henrik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark in the (wearing her Wedding Tiara and Aquamarine Suite), the Prince of Orange and Princess Maxima of The Netherlands (in the Mellerio Ruby Tiara), Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium (in the Laurel Wreath Tiara), King Constantine, Queen Anne Marie (in the Emerald Parure Tiara), Crown Prince Pavlos, and Crown Princess Marie Chantal of Greece (in the Miller Fringe Tiara), Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette Marit (wearing the Diamond Daisy Bandeau) and Princess Astrid of Norway (wearing the Vasa Tiara), Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Maha Chakri of Thailand, Tsar Simeon and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, Crown Princess Margretha (in the Romanian Greek Key Tiara) and Prince Radu of Romania, Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan (in her Floral Tiara), and the Duke and Duchess of Braganza (wearing Queen Amélie’s Choker Tiara).
70th Birthday
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King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 70th Birthday in 2016 was one of the first big royal events we covered on the Royal Watcher, and included a Concert at the Nordic Museum in Stockholm, a Te Deum Service and Armed Forces celebration at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, and, following a carriage ride through the streets of Stockholm, a Lunch at Stockholm City Hall.
In the evening, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia (in the Connaught Diamond Tiara) hosted a Banquet in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, which was also attended by Queen Margrethe II (wearing the Baden Palmette Tiara), Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary (in the Ole Lynggaard Hairpiece), and Princess Benedikte of Denmark (in Queen Sophia’s Star and Pearl Tiara), Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands (wearing the Württemberg Ornate Pearl Tiara), King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium (in the Wolfers Necklace Tiara), Prince Albert II of Monaco, Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein (wearing the Hapsburg Fringe Tiara), Princess Martha Louise of Norway (in King Olav’s Gift Tiara) and Ari Behn, Princess Takamado of Japan (wearing her Laurel Tiara), Tsar Simeon and Queen Margarita of Bulgaria, Crown Princess Margretha (in the Romanian Greek Key Tiara) and Prince Radu of Romania, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia (wearing her Tiara), the Duke and Duchess in Bavaria (in the Douglas Floral Tiara), the Hereditary Prince and Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (wearing the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Turquoise Tiara), Prince Leopold, Princess Ursula, Prince Manuel and Princess Anna of Bavaria (wearing a Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Tiara), among a host of Royal and Noble guests. More HERE.
How not to like this!? 🙂 I really hope we will see a lot of glitter again once the King reaches 80 in five years.
I really hope so too! What I find intriguing is how they don’t really have a set pattern for the celebrations, which makes things really interesting for us!