This week, Royal Guests and Relatives will gather from around Europe to celebrate the 80th Birthday of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, and after featuring his 40th Birthday Gala, we are looking back at when Royal Guests and Relatives gathered in Stockholm to celebrate the King’s 50th Birthday in 1996, 30 years ago!
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 surprise performance made by the King’s children.
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)
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
