Category Archives: Swedish Royals

National Day of Sweden – June 6 – Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Swedish National Day Celebration at Skansen, an open-air museum in Stockholm, Sweden in 2016; Credit – Av Bengt Nyman – Eget arbete, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=49299826

History

Skansen Entrance Building; Credit – By Pwagenblast – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31962088

The idea of a national day started at Skansen, an open-air museum in Stockholm, Sweden, still in existence (which this author has been fortunate to visit), designed to show the way of life in the different parts of Sweden before the industrial era. On June 6, 1893, Skansen had its spring festival and chose to celebrate the day in a nationalist spirit. The celebration was the idea of Artur Hazelius, a teacher, scholar, folklorist, and founder of the Nordic Museum and Skansen.

Gustav I Vasa, King of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Two historic events occurred on June 6. Gustav Vasa was elected King of Sweden on June 6, 1523. The 1809 Instrument of Government was adopted on June 6, 1809, by the Riksdag (the Swedish legislature) and King Carl XIII of Sweden. It was the constitution of the Kingdom of Sweden from 1809 until it was replaced by the Instrument of Government of 1974.

After the celebration on June 6, 1893, Artur Hazelius wrote in Skansen’s yearbook for 1893 that “just as the holiday of patriotic memories has been introduced at Skansen on June 6, Gustafsdagen, which has been celebrated there and will henceforth be celebrated as Swedish national day”. In 1894, a Swedish newspaper wrote that June 6 “like last year will be celebrated as Swedish National Day”. However, it took a long time before June 6 gained status as a national day. In 1916, June 6 became the Swedish Flag Day, celebrating Sweden acquiring its own flag following the dissolution of the  United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway in 1905.

In 1983, June 6 was named Swedish National Day by the Riksdag, the Swedish legislature. It became a public holiday in 2005 replacing Whit Monday. This change led to fewer days off from work because June 6 will periodically fall on the weekend, unlike Whit Monday, which was always celebrated on a Monday.

What Happens on Swedish National Day?

Swedish National Day Celebration at the Royal Palace in Stockholm; Credit – By Frankie Fouganthin – Own work CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39867164

Swedish National Day celebrations are subdued. There are no fireworks or spectacular national events. It is the day that Swedes celebrate their nationality. At a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, new Swedish citizens receive their certificate of citizenship and are welcomed by the Swedish monarch. However, most new Swedish citizens receive their certificate of citizenship during Swedish National Day ceremonies in their towns.

Though the celebrations are subdued, an annual event occurs at Skansen, the open-air museum in Stockholm. Children present the Swedish monarch and his/her spouse with flowers, and then the flag is raised. The royal family attends celebrations, which include traditional folk dancing, flag-making, history lectures, performances, and much more.

King Carl XVI and Queen Silvia visit Strängnäs on Swedish National Day, June 6, 2023

During the day, the Swedish monarch and his/her spouse usually visit a city and participate in the National Day events. In 2023, King Carl XVI and Queen Silvia visited the city of Strängnäs to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the day on which Gustav Vasa was elected King of Sweden in Strängnäs in 1523.

Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Estelle, Prince Oscar, and Prince Daniel welcome visitors to the Royal Palace in Stockholm on June 6, 2023; Photo by PELLE T NILSSON/Swedish Press Agency

Crown Princess Victoria and her family usually welcome visitors to the Royal Palace in Stockholm, which has free admission on Sweden’s National Day. During the day, the public also had the opportunity to visit Logården (the Royal Palace’s garden) and the Bernadotte Library, which are normally closed to visitors.

Changing of the Guard in the Outer Courtyard of the Royal Palace in Stockholm on June 6, 2023; Credit – Photo by PELLE T NILSSON/Swedish Press Agency

Prince Carl Philip usually attends the changing of the guard in the Outer Courtyard at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. After the changing of the guard, twenty-one gun salutes are fired from Skeppsholmen, Kastellholmen, and HMS Kullen, a minesweeper in the Swedish Navy.

King Carl XVI Gustaf & Queen Silvia arrive at Skansen on June 6, 2023. Photo: Clément Morin

The Royal Family, wearing traditional dress, travels by horse-drawn carriages to watch the National Day celebrations on the Solliden Stage at Skansen. Children dress up in peasant outfits and present bouquets containing blue and yellow flowers to the Swedish monarch and his/her spouse. During the celebrations, the Swedish monarch presents banners to various associations. The Swedish flag is raised and activities include folk dancing, flag-making, and historical performances.

National Day reception at the Nordic Museum on June 6, 2023. Photo: Clément Morin

In the evening, there is a National Day reception and a Military Tatoo. In 2023, to mark the 500th anniversary of Gustav Vasa’s election as King of Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia invited representatives from the Government, the Riksdag (the Swedish legislature), the diplomatic corps, and other officials to a National Day Reception at the Nordic Museum. The evening concluded with a military tattoo at the Nordic Museum.

Military Tatoo on June 6, 2023; Photo: Clément Morin

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • National Day Calendar. (2019). NATIONAL DAY OF SWEDEN – June 6. National Day Calendar. https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/international/national-day-of-sweden-june-6
  • National Day of Sweden. (2020). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Sweden
  • Sveriges nationaldag. (2020, November 25). Wikipedia. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sveriges_nationaldag
  • Sweden’s National Day 2022. (2022). Kungahuset.se. https://www.kungahuset.se/english/archive/news/2022-06-06-swedens-national-day-2022
  • Sweden’s National Day 2023. (2023). Kungahuset.se. https://www.kungahuset.se/english/archive/news/2023-06-06-swedens-national-day-2023

Princess Birgitta of Sweden – Funeral and Burial Information

Princess Birgitta of Sweden, Princess of Hohenzollern; Credit: Wikipedia

The funeral of Princess Birgitta of Sweden, Princess of Hohenzollern sister of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, will be held on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at the Royal Chapel at Drottningholm Palace in Ekerö Municipality, Sweden followed by the burial at the Royal Burial Ground in Haga Park in Solna, Sweden. In accordance with Princess Birgitta’s wishes, the funeral and burial will take place in the circle of family and special invitees.

Princess Birgitta, the second of the four elder sisters of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, died, aged 87, on December 4, 2024, in Majorca, Spain, where she lived. She is the first of the five siblings to die. Born January 19, 1937, at the Haga Palace in Solna, Sweden, Princess Birgitta was the second of the five children and the second of the four daughters of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Sadly, her father Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten died in an airplane crash in 1947, when Princess Birgitta was ten years old. Princess Birgitta was the widow of Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern. They had three children and six grandchildren.

Nobel Prize Events – Sweden – December 10

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

1950 Nobel Prize medal in Physiology/Medicine awarded to researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; Photograph: Erik Lindberg –  File:NobelPrize.JPG, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58432969

Except for the Nobel Peace Prize, presented in Oslo, Norway, the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences are presented in Stockholm, Sweden. On December 10th of each year, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896, the Swedish monarch presents the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences at the Stockholm Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden. Each recipient, known as a laureate, receives an 18-carat green gold medal plated with 24-carat gold, a diploma, and a monetary award. The ceremony is followed by a banquet at the Stockholm City Hall for about 1,300 people, including 250 students.

Queen Silvia, Prince Daniel, King Carl XVI, and Crown Princess Victoria attend the 2023 Nobel Prize Award Ceremony

In attendance are the Swedish Monarch, his/her spouse, members of the Swedish royal family, representatives of the Swedish Riksdag (the Swedish legislature), representatives of the Swedish Government, international guests especially those who represent the sciences and cultural life, and Swedish citizens who participate in Nobel Prize-related functions.

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Who was Alfred Nobel?

Alfred Nobel; Credit – Wikipedia 

Alfred Nobel (1833 – 1896) was a Swedish chemist, inventor, engineer, and businessman, known for inventing dynamite. His invention of dynamite in 1866 was developed with the idea of using it for mining, not for war. However, just four years later, dynamite was used by the Prussians and the French in the Franco-Prussian War (1870 – 1871). In 1891, Nobel commented about his dynamite factories, “Perhaps my factories will put an end to war sooner than your congresses: on the day that two army corps can mutually annihilate each other in a second, all civilized nations will surely recoil with horror and disband their troops.” Alfred Nobel died in 1896, so he was not alive during World War I to see how wrong his idea was.

On December 10, 1896, 63-year-old Alfred Nobel died in his villa in San Remo, Italy, from a cerebral hemorrhage. In his will, Nobel left instructions that his fortune be used to create a series of prizes for those who develop the “greatest benefit on mankind” in physics, chemistry, physiology, medicine, literature, and peace. Nobel bequeathed 94% of his total assets to establish the five Nobel Prizes. A sixth prize for Economic Sciences, endowed by Sweden’s central bank, Sveriges Riksbank, was first presented in 1969.

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The Nobel Prizes

The Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences, are administered by five Nobel Committees, one for each Nobel prize. These committees come from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (for the prizes in physics, chemistry, and economic sciences), the Karolinska Institute (for the prize in physiology or medicine), and the Swedish Academy (for the prize in literature).

Nomination forms are sent by the Nobel Committees to about 3,000 individuals, usually in September the year before the prizes are awarded. These individuals are generally prominent academics working in an area relevant to each Nobel Prize. The Nobel Committees prepare reports reflecting the advice of experts in the relevant fields. The reports and a list of preliminary candidates are then submitted to the prize-awarding institutions: the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for the prizes in physics, chemistry, and economic sciences, the Karolinska Institute for the prize in physiology or medicine, and the Swedish Academy for the prize in literature. Each institution then meets to choose the laureate(s) in for each Nobel Prize by a majority vote.

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Nobel Prize Ceremonies and Events

The Nobel Lectures

Jon Fosse, Norwegian author, playwright, and 2023 Literature Nobel Prize Laureate, gives his Nobel Lecture at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 7, 2023.

The Nobel Foundation statutes state that each laureate is required to give a public lecture on a subject related to the topic of their Nobel Prize within six months of receiving the prize. The Nobel Lectures usually occur during Nobel Week, the week leading up to the award ceremony and banquet. The lectures are organized by the same association which selected the laureates.

The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony

The Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony on December 10, 2023. Queen Silvia, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Prince Daniel, and Crown Princess Victoria can be seen on the right.

The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony takes place at 4:00 PM at the Stockholm Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden on December 10th of each year, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. While at the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony in Oslo, Norway, the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee presents the Nobel Peace Prize in the presence of the Norwegian monarch, in Sweden, the Swedish monarch presents the Nobel Prizes to the laureates.

King Carl XVI Gustaf presents the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Moungi Bawendi in 2023

The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony begins with the Swedish Royal Anthem Kungssången followed by a short piece of music played by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra while the Nobel Laureates take their seats. The Chairman of the Board of the Nobel Foundation makes an introductory speech followed by a short piece of music.

Each of the five Nobel Prizes – Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences – is introduced by an academic in that field of study. The laureates then receive their diploma and gold medal from the Swedish monarch. After each Nobel Prize presentation, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra plays a short piece of music. The ceremony ends with the playing of the Swedish National Anthem Du gamla, Du fria. As the guests leave, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra plays a lively piece of music.

The Nobel Banquet

The Nobel Prize Banquet at Stockholm City Hall on December 10, 2023

The Nobel Banquet is held on December 10th of each year in the Blue Hall of Stockholm City Hall after the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony. The Nobel Banquet is a formal affair, and for men, the dress code is white tie, and orders and decorations should be worn. Approximately 1,300 guests attend including 200 students. The Swedish royal family attends as guests of honor. The Nobel Prize laureates are usually accompanied by their entire family.

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Nobel Foundation and Queen Silvia and Vidar Helgesen, Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation descend the Grand Stairway into the Blue Hall of the Stockholm City Hall in 2023

The banquet begins with the entry procession of the Swedish royal family and guests of honor down the Grand Stairway and into the Blue Hall at 7:00 PM.

During the banquet, which lasts four hours, each Nobel laureate gives a speech, usually of a lighter nature. Two ceremonial toasts are given – one to the Swedish monarch and one the Swedish monarch gives in memory of Alfred Nobel. The speeches and toasts are presented by the banquet’s toastmaster, traditionally a Swedish student who holds the job for four years. Musical interludes are performed in between courses.

Golden Hall in Stockholm City Hall; Credit – Av Holger.Ellgaard – Eget arbete, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5820905

The banquet ends at around 11:00 PM. Dancing then begins in the Golden Hall of Stockholm City Hall.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsgivare till Wikimedia-projekten. (2005). Bankett Hållen i Blå Hallen i Stockholms Stadshus efter utdelningen av Nobelpriset. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobelbanketten
  • Royen, Ulrika. (2021). The Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies and Banquets – NobelPrize.org. NobelPrize.org. https://www.nobelprize.org/ceremony/the-nobel-prize-award-ceremonies-and-banquets/
  • Royen, Ulrika. (2023). The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony 2023 – NobelPrize.org. NobelPrize.org. https://www.nobelprize.org/ceremony/the-nobel-prize-award-ceremony-2023/
  • Stockholm Award Ceremony Program 2023. (2023). Bawendi, M., Brus, L., & Yekimov, A. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2023/12/stockholm-award-ceremony-program-2023.pdf
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2019). Alfred Nobel. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Nobel
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Nobel Banquet. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2018). Nobel Prize. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize

Sweden – Accession to the Throne

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

King Carl XVI Gustaf sitting on the Silver Throne of Queen Cristina during the Royal Affirmation Ceremony on September 19, 1973

The last accession to the Swedish throne occurred when 27-year-old King Carl XVI Gustaf succeeded his grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf who died on September 15, 1973.

At the time of Carl Gustaf’s birth in 1946, the current King of Sweden was his great-grandfather King Gustaf V (reigned 1907 – 1950). On January 26, 1947, when Carl Gustaf was only nine months old, his father Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten died in an airplane crash at Kastrup Airport near Copenhagen, Denmark. Prince Gustaf Adolf had been second in the line of succession behind his father, the future King Gustaf VI Adolf (reigned 1950 – 1973) and his son four-year-old Prince Carl Gustaf had been third in the line of succession. When his father died Carl Gustaf became second in the line of succession behind his grandfather. Carl Gustaf’s great-grandfather King Gustaf V died on October 29, 1950, and his grandfather became King Gustaf VI Adolf while four-year-old Carl Gustaf became Crown Prince.

History

King Oscar II, wearing the Regalia of Sweden, was the last monarch of Sweden to have a coronation (1873); Credit – Wikipedia

King Eric X was the first King of Sweden known to have a coronation. He was crowned in November 1210 in Uppsala, then the religious center of Sweden, by Archbishop Valerius of Uppsala. Coronations were held in various cities during the 13th and 14th centuries. From the middle of the 15th century onward, coronations were held at Uppsala Cathedral or the Storkyrkan (The Great Church) in Stockholm. The only exception is the coronation of King Gustav IV Adolf, which took place in Norrköping in 1800, where the Riksdag (Swedish legislature) was located because the political atmosphere in Stockholm was considered too uncertain.

Following the coronation of King Oscar II in 1873, all subsequent Swedish monarchs chose not to be crowned although there is no law preventing a coronation.

Since 1594, all Swedish monarchs have issued the required Konungaförsäkran (King’s Declaration). The King’s Declaration stated that the Swedish monarch would fulfill the duties required but not exceed them. For example, this meant that the Swedish monarch promised not to start a war without consulting the Riksdag and the Government and would follow the statutes of the constitution. The royal declaration also included the more solemn royal oath. However, the current Basic Laws of Sweden no longer mandate a King’s Declaration.

The Royal Affirmation, a eulogy for the deceased monarch and the announcement of the new monarch’s accession to the throne, is usually the new monarch’s first public statement. The new monarch also announces their royal name, title, and motto and gives a speech.

What Happened?

Minister for Justice Lennart Geijer administering the King’s Oath to King Carl XVI Gustaf in the Council Room at the Royal Palace; Credit – Photo: TT

On September 19, 1973, King Carl XVI Gustaf took the then-required King’s Declaration and Oath during a meeting of the Council of State, was enthroned in a simple ceremony, and made an accession speech.

The King’s Declaration and Oath

The Council Chamber at the Royal Palace of Stockholm; By Øyvind Holmstad – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45911100

King Carl XVI Gustaf swore The King’s Declaration and Oath before the Council of State in the Council Chamber at the Royal Palace of Stockholm on Wednesday, September 19, 1973, at 2:00 p.m. The King’s paternal uncle Prince Bertil also participated in the council. Prime Minister Olof Palme read King Gustaf VI Adolf’s death certificate. Minister for Justice Lennart Geijer administered the King’s Oath to King Carl XVI Gustaf. After the oath was sworn, King Carl XVI Gustaf signed it.

King Carl XVI Gustaf’s King’s Declaration and Oath read as follows:

“We, Carl Gustaf, King of Sweden, solemnly swear that as it pleased the most high God, to call upon the formerly Most Mighty High Prince and Lord Gustaf VI Adolf, King of Sweden, Göte and Vende, and We, according to and by virtue of the Estates of the Kingdom of Sweden established on September 26, 1810, and the established Order of Succession, ascend to the Royal Swedish Throne.

Therefore, We hereby solemnly and most strongly affirm that We will govern the Kingdom according to the literal form of government established by the Estates of the Kingdom on June 6, 1809, and adopted by the King and the Estates of the Kingdom for compliance, as well as the Kingdom’s other valid constitutions, general laws, and make statutes.

We will, in accordance with the just-mentioned form of government, make laws, as a righteous King, and be a devoted father to the Swedish people, through a legal, just, and gentle government. May We with the help of God the most high, and with a clear conscience, to the best of Our ability, be able to defend, seek, and promote the true benefit and good of the kingdom and every citizen. Through free will and after mature consideration, We therefore confirm with the signature of Our name and with this oath, that We will comply with and fulfill this. So true, God help me for life and soul.”

The King then announced his royal name, title, and motto: “Since my dear ancestor, King of Sweden, the Goths and the Wends, Gustaf VI Adolf has died, I have succeeded Him as King of our nation. My regnal name shall be Carl XVI Gustaf, my regnal title shall be King of Sweden, and my motto shall be For Sweden – With the Times.”

Royal Affirmation

King Carl XVI Gustaf reading his Royal Affirmation; Credit – Bernadotte Library’s image archive

King Carl XVI Gustaf then appeared before the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament), the diplomatic corps, and other Swedish officials, for a ceremony in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.

The impressive Hall of State in the Royal Palace in Stockholm and Silver Throne of Queen Cristina; Photo Credit: © Susan Flantzer

In the Hall of State, sitting on the Silver Throne of Queen Cristina, King Carl XVI Gustaf gave a speech in remembrance of his grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf. Like his two predecessors, King Gustaf V and King Gustaf VI Adolf, King Carl XVI was not crowned. The Regalia of Sweden were displayed on cushions to the right and left of the Silver Throne but were never given to the king.

King Carl XVI Gustaf with his four sisters on the balcony of the Royal Palace of Stockholm

After the ceremonies, King Carl XVI Gustaf waved to the crowds from the balcony of the Royal Palace of Stockholm. He was joined by his four elder sisters Princess Margaretha, Princess Birgitta, Princess Désirée, Princess Christina and his paternal uncle Prince Bertil.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsgivare till Wikimedia-projekten. (2005). Anger kungens förpliktelse vid trontillträdet. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konungaf%C3%B6rs%C3%A4kran
  • Bidragsgivare till Wikimedia-projekten. (2011). Kröningar av Sveriges regent. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svenska_kr%C3%B6ningar
  • Carl XVI Gustaf. (2022). Wikipedia. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_XVI_Gustaf
  • HM The King. (2016). Kungahuset.se. https://www.kungahuset.se/english/royal-house/hm-the-king#h-Biography
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Coronation of the Swedish monarch. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Royal Burial Ground in Haga Park in Solna, Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

The bridge and gate to the Royal Burial Ground in Haga Park; Credit – Wikipedia

The Royal Burial Ground (in Swedish Kungliga Begravningsplatsen) in Haga Park in Solna, Sweden, is located just north of Stockholm on the island of Karlsborg in the Bay of Brunnsviken. The Royal Burial Ground was established in 1922 and now covers the whole island.

Karlsborg Island where the Royal Cemetery is located; Credit – Wikipedia

Born Princess Margaret of Connaught, the daughter of Queen Victoria’s son Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Crown Princess Margeret of Sweden, the first wife of the future King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden (reigned 1950 – 1973), came up with the idea to build a cemetery on the island. Margaret loved gardens and the outdoors and expressed her desire not to be buried inside a church. Riddarholmen Church, the traditional site for royal ceremonies, funerals, and burials, no longer had space for new burials. Margaret and Gustaf Adolf picked a site for the future burial site of the Swedish royal family near Haga Palace whose park was located on the Bay of Brunnsviken. The tip of a small cape was excavated to form Karlsborg Island where the new Royal Cemetery in Haga Park would be located. The entrance to the cemetery is accessible by a small bridge from the mainland part of Haga Park. Swedish architect Ferdinand Boberg designed the bridge to the island and the cemetery.

Crown Prince Margaret of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Ironically, Crown Princess Margaret was the first member of the Swedish royal family to be buried at the Royal Burial Ground. Margaret was eight months pregnant with her sixth child in 1920 when she underwent mastoid surgery. An infection set in, killing Margaret, at the age of 38, and her unborn child on May 1, 1920, her father’s 70th birthday. Her family along with the Swedish and British public mourned her death greatly.

Grave of Crown Princess Margaret, her husband King Gustaf VI Adolf, and his second wife Queen Louise; Credit – Wikipedia

Until the Royal Burial Ground was completed, Crown Princess Margaret was temporarily interred at the Storkyrkan (The Great Church) next to the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1922, Margaret’s remains were transferred to a burial site in the Royal Burial Ground that Margaret and her husband had chosen for themselves. Since 1922, with a few exceptions, all male members of the House of Bernadotte and their wives have been buried at the Royal Burial Ground. (See Wikipedia: Family buried elsewhere since 1922.) Recently deceased Princess Birgitta, sister of current King Carl XVI Gustaf and daughter of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, who would have been King of Sweden if he had not died in a plane crash, is expected to be buried at the Royal Burial Ground in keeping with her wishes.

The grave of Prince Gustaf Adolf and Princess Sibylla, parents of Carl XVI Gustaf, the current King of Sweden; Credit – By Holger.Ellgaard, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2431747

Burials at the Royal Burial Ground in Haga Park in Solna, Sweden:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsgivare till Wikimedia-projekten. (2005). Kyrkogård för svenska kungliga familjen. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kungliga_begravningsplatsen#Andra_kungliga_gravplatser
  • The Royal Cemetery. (2023). Kungligaslotten.se. https://www.kungligaslotten.se/english/royal-palaces-and-sites/royal-national-city-park/the-royal-cemetery.html
  • ‌Wikipedia Contributors. (2023). Kungliga begravningsplatsen. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation

Breaking News: Princess Birgitta of Sweden, Princess of Hohenzollern has died

Princess Birgitta of Sweden, Princess of Hohenzollern; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Birgitta of Sweden, Princess of Hohenzollern, one of the four elder sisters of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, died, aged 87, on December 4, 2024, in Majorca, Spain, where she lived. She is the first of the five siblings to die.

Her brother King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden made the following statement:

“With great sadness today I have received the news that my sister, Princess Birgitta, has died. My sister was a colorful and straightforward person who will be deeply missed by me and my family. Together with my entire family today I send my condolences to Princess Birgitta’s children and grandchildren.”

Princess Birgitta Ingeborg Alice of Sweden was born on January 19, 1937, at the Haga Palace in Solna, Sweden. She was the second of the five children and the second of the four daughters of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Her paternal grandparents were King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and Princess Margaret of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Her maternal grandparents were Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a grandson of Queen Victoria, and Princess Victoria Adelaide of Schleswig-Holstein. Sadly, her father Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten died in an airplane crash in 1947, when Princess Birgitta was ten years old.

Princess Birgitta met her future husband, Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern, a fine arts expert, at a cocktail party in Germany in 1959. Their engagement was announced in December 1960. The couple was married in a civil ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden on May 25, 1961. A religious ceremony followed on May 30, 1961, at the parish church of St John The Evangelist at Sigmaringen Castle, the seat of the Princes of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, in the Swabian Alb region of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Because her husband was of princely status, Birgitta retained her royal style and title as Princess of Sweden and was the only one of her sisters to remain an official member of the Swedish Royal House.

Princess Birgitta and Prince Johann Georg had three children:

  • Prince Carl Christian of Hohenzollern (born 1962), married Nicole Helene Neschitsch, had one son
  • Princess Désirée of Hohenzollern (born 1963), married (1) Heinrich, Count of Ortenburg, had two sons and one daughter, divorced (2) Eckbert von Bohlen and Halbach, no children
  • Prince Hubertus of Hohenzollern (born 1966), married Uta Maria König, had one son and one daughter

Princess Birgitta and her husband separated in 1990 but remained married. Prince Johann Georg lived in Munich, Germany while Princess Birgitta lived on the island of Majorca, in Spain. They were occasionally seen together at family functions. Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern died in Munich, Germany on March 2, 2016, following a brief illness at the age of 83.

Read more about the Swedish royal family at Unofficial Royalty: Kingdom of Sweden Index

Opening of the Parliamentary Session – Sweden – 2nd Tuesday of September

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Parliament House in Stockholm, Sweden; By Photo by CEphoto, Uwe Aranas or alternatively © CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56836627

The Opening of the Parliamentary Session is held on the second Tuesday of September to mark the new parliamentary year. The current ceremony, first held in 1975, replaced an older ceremony known as the Solemn Opening of the Riksdag. During the ceremony, the monarch declares the new session open and the Prime Minister of Sweden makes a speech outlining the government’s plans for the upcoming year.

Storkyrkan (to the right is the Royal Palace of Stockholm); By Julian Herzog, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62714436

In the morning, the members of the Riksdag, the Swedish Parliament, meet in Parliament House for a roll call. Then they walk the short distance to the Storkyrkan, in English, the Great Church, also known as Stockholm Cathedral and Saint Nicholas Church, for a special service conducted by the Archbishop of Uppsala or the Bishop of Stockholm.

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and  Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlen lead the Swedish royal family into the Storkyrkan; Credit – Swedish Royal Court, Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

The tradition of holding a church service before the Opening of the Parliamentary Session dates back hundreds of years. Members of the Swedish royal family attend and family of the Riksdag members also attend the service.

After the church service, Riksdag members walk from Storkyrkan to the Parliament building Credit – Swedish Royal Court, Photo – Sara Friberg

After the church service, the Riksdag members walk back to Parliament House, entering through its main entrance and walking up the grand staircase.

Speaker of the Riksdag Andreas Norlen, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Princess Sofia, and Prince Carl Philp arrive at the opening of the Riksdag in 2022

The Swedish royal family travels from the Royal Palace of Stockholm to Parliament House in coaches escorted by the Life Guards on horses. The royal family wears black and white, harkening back to when they wore black and white court dress. A trumpet fanfare announces the royal family’s arrival and the Speaker of the Riksdag is waiting to greet them.

When the monarch enters the Riksdag chamber, the Kungssången (The King’s Song), the Swedish royal anthem, is sung. It is also sung on the monarch’s birthday and at the Nobel Prize ceremonies but is not considered the Swedish national anthem. While The King’s Song is sung, the royal family and the prime minister take their seats.

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden addressing the Riksdag

The Speaker of the Riksdag invites the monarch to the rostrum where he/she delivers a short speech that includes topics the monarch thinks are important for the upcoming parliamentary year and words of encouragement to the Riksdag members. The monarch then declares the new session of the Riksdag open and is seated with the rest of the royal family. The Prime Minister then presents the Statement of Government Policy, outlining the policies the government intends to pursue during the coming year. During the ceremony, there are various musical performances. The Opening of the Parliamentary Session concludes with the singing of the Swedish national anthem “Du gamla, du fria” (“Thou old, Thou free”).

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • HM The King opens the Parliamentary Session. (2022). Kungahuset.se. https://www.kungahuset.se/english/archive/news/2022-09-27-hm-the-king-opens-the-parliamentary-session
  • The opening of the Riksdag Session. (2024). Riksdagen.se. https://www.riksdagen.se/en/news/the-opening-of-the-riksdag-session/
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Opening of the Riksdag. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opening_of_the_Riksdag#:~:text=It%20is%20held%20every%20year

Ancestors of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden

compiled by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2023

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Both of Crown Princess Victoria’s paternal grandparents were great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Her paternal grandfather Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten was the son of Princess Margaret of Connaught, the daughter of Queen Victoria’s son Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught. Her paternal grandmother Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the daughter of Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the son of Queen Victoria’s son Prince Leopold of the United Kingdom, Duke of Albany.

On the side of Victoria’s father King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, all her ancestors from the last six generations are royal except for one great-great-great-great-grandmother Countess Louise Sophie of Danneskiold-Samsøe who was a member of a Danish noble family descended illegitimately from King Christian V of Denmark and his mistress Sophie Amalie Moth. Among Victoria’s ancestors from the last six generations are monarchs of the current monarchies of Sweden and the United Kingdom and the monarchs of the former German monarchies of Anhalt, Baden, German Empire, Nassau, Prussia, Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Schaumburg-Lippe, and Waldeck-Pyrmont.

On the side of her mother Queen Silvia, born Silvia Sommerlath in Heidelberg, Germany, Crown Princess Victoria has a German maternal grandfather, Walther Sommerlath, and a Brazilian maternal grandmother, Alice Soares de Toledo.

Parents, Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Great-Great-Grandparents, and Great-Great-Great-Grandparents of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (born July 14, 1977)

The links below are from Unofficial Royalty,  Wikipedia, Leo’s Genealogics Website, The Peerage, or Geni.

Parents

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Silvia Sommerlath, parents; Credit – By Holger Motzkau 2010, Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons (cc-by-sa-3.0), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10943255

Grandparents

Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, paternal grandparents; Credit – Wikipedia

Great-Grandparents

Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Princess Victoria Adelaide of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, great-grandparents; Credit – Wikipedia

Great-Great-Grandparents

King Gustaf V of Sweden and Princess Victoria of Baden, great-great-grandparents; Credit – Wikipedia

Great-Great-Great-Grandparents

Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, twice great-great-great-grandparents; Credit – Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Sources:

Uppsala Cathedral in Uppsala, Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Uppsala Cathedral; Credit – Av Andrew Friberg – Eget arbete, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62401111

Originally, a Roman Catholic church, Uppsala Cathedral in Uppsala, Sweden became a Lutheran church during the Protestant Reformation in Sweden. It is now a Church of Sweden, the Evangelical Lutheran national church in Sweden. Uppsala Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Uppsala, the Primate of Sweden.

The church at Gamala Uppsala (Old Upsala) as it looks today; Credit – By Lestat (Jan Mehlich) – From Polish Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=459228

At the end of the Viking Age (circa 793 – 1066), the Viking temple at Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala) was replaced by a Christian church. The date of construction of the church at Gamala Uppsala is unknown but a Bishop of Uppsala was appointed in 1123. After the church was damaged by a fire, local church officials sought permission from Pope Alexander IV to build a larger church nearby. Permission was given with the condition that the location name of Uppsala would be preserved. A new site was chosen in nearby Östra Aros whose name was changed to Uppsala.

Construction started in 1272 on the site of an earlier stone church dedicated to the Holy Trinity. This earlier church is related to the story of Saint Erik IX of Sweden (reigned circa 1156 – 1160), Sweden’s patron saint who is buried at Uppsala Cathedral. Magnus Henriksson, a Danish lord and a claimant to the throne of Sweden, gathered an army near Östra Aros where Erik planned to attend Mass, in that earlier stone church, on the Feast of the Ascension, May 18, 1160. After Erik attended Mass, he armed himself, and with a few men, went out to meet Magnus’ troops. Erik was pulled off his horse by Magnus’ troops who stabbed him and then beheaded him. Magnus Henriksson reigned for a year as King Magnus II before he was killed.

The church was designed by unknown French architects who supervised the construction until 1281. Progress on the construction was slow because of the cold climate, the plague, and financial difficulties. In 1287, French master builder Étienne de Bonneuil and his assistants traveled to Sweden to work on the cathedral. By the end of the 14th century, the initial plans were completed. However, when the cathedral was consecrated in 1435 by Archbishop Olaus Laurentii, it still was not complete. The cathedral was dedicated to Saint Lawrence (one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome who were martyred in 258) Saint Eric IX of Sweden (the patron saint of Sweden although he was never canonized by the Roman Catholic Church), and Saint Olaf (the patron saint of Norway).

A photograph of Uppsala Cathedral circa 1860, before Zettervall’s restoration; Credit – Wikipedia

Uppsala Cathedral today; Credit – Wikipedia

Over the years, fire damage required some renovations. From 1885 – 1893, the architect Helgo Zettervall oversaw comprehensive restoration work, seeking to give the cathedral a French High Gothic appearance. He added pointed French spires to the towers and in an attempt to give the cathedral a slimmer appearance, Zettervall significantly altered large portions of the medieval outer brick walls. He has been criticized for not respecting the cathedral’s original Brick Gothic style. Further renovation work from 1963 – 1977 led by Swedish architect Åke Porne (link in Swedish) improved the building’s structure and included restoration of the walls and windows. Large portions of Zettervall’s cement additions to the exterior of the cathedral were removed.

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The Shrine of Saint Erik IX of Sweden

The shrine of Saint Erik IX of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Saint Erik IX of Sweden is said to have been buried first in the church at Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala). In 1273, his remains were transferred to the new cathedral in Uppsala which was still under construction. The gilded silver casket that we see today was made in 1574 – 1579 by King Johan III of Sweden to replace an earlier casket that was melted down when he needed money.

From 2014 – 2016, the remains in the shrine were examined. The researchers were 90% sure that the remains are those of Saint Erik IX of Sweden. Carbon-14 testing matched the date of Erik’s death and the manner of death fits the story of Erik’s death. The remains are from a person who died a violent death, probably decapitation. The remains also show that the person was about 35 years old at the time of his death, was strongly built, healthy, and physically active during his life.

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The High Altar

The high altar; By .ky – Inside the church in Uppsala, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4968508

The high altar is used for the cathedral’s most important services. It is also here that all Swedish bishops are ordained. The silver chandelier is from 1647. The large crucifix in silver and crystal was installed in 1976.

Burchard Precht’s altarpiece was in Uppsala Cathedral until Helgo Zettervall removed it during his late 19th-century restoration. The altarpiece is now in the Gustav Vasa Church in Stockholm; Credit – Wikipedia

The altarpieces have changed over the years. From 1725 – 1731, Swedish-German furniture maker and sculptor Burchard Precht worked on a large Baroque altarpiece. It remained in Uppsala Cathedral until it was removed during Helgo Zettervall’s restoration at the end of the nineteenth century. At that time, Precht’s altarpiece was replaced by a neo-Gothic oak altarpiece designed by Swedish architect Folke Zettervall, Helgo Zettervall’s son. However, Precht’s altarpiece can still be seen at the high altar in the Gustaf Vasa Church in Stockholm.

The current altarpiece, a cross in silver and crystal installed in 1976; Credit – By Bo Berggren – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25916597

Folke Zettervall’s altarpiece was removed in 1964. It was replaced for several years by the Skånelaskåpet, a late medieval altar cabinet in oak, made in Brussels during the early 16th century, purchased for the Uppsala Cathedral from Skånela Church in 1912. The current altarpiece consists of a cross in silver and crystal. It was designed by Swedish architect Åke Porne, who led the 1963 – 1977 renovation of Uppsala Cathedral, and was made by Bertil Berggren-Askenström (link in Swedish), a Swedish sculptor and silversmith.

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The Pulpit

The pulpit; Credit – By Szilas – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27571416

The ornate pulpit, the largest in Sweden, was designed by Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and carved by Swedish-German furniture maker and sculptor Burchard Precht. It was a gift from Queen Hedwig Eleonora, the wife of King Karl X Gustav, after the fire of 1702 and completed in 1710. Helgo Zettervall had the pulpit removed during the 1885 – 1893 renovation he led. He wanted to replace the Baroque masterpiece with a pulpit in the Gothic style. However, he did not have the funds for a new pulpit and so Precht’s pulpit returned to its place.

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The Restored Frescoes

Restored frescoes; Credit – Wikipedia

During the Reformation, the medieval frescoes on the walls and ceilings had been whitewashed. Many of these beautiful frescoes were uncovered and restored during Åke Porne’s 1963 – 1977 renovations.

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Coronations

Coronation of Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden in 1719; Credit – Wikipedia

From 1441 – 1719, all but three Swedish monarchs were crowned at Uppsala Cathedral.

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Wedding

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Burials

Tomb of King Gustav I Vasa and his first two wives; Credit – Von Skippy13 – Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=726933

Except for Saint Erik IX, all the royal burials at Uppsala Cathedral are members of the family of King Gustav I Vasa. He was the first king of the House of Vasa and is considered the founding father of the modern Swedish state. During the Swedish War of Liberation (1521 – 1523), Gustav Vasa successfully deposed King Christian II from the throne of Sweden, ending the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. On June 6, 1523, Gustav Vasa was elected King of Sweden by the Swedish Riksdag (legislature) and soon all Danish troops were driven out of the country. King Gustav I Vasa ranks among Sweden’s greatest monarchs and some argue that he was the most significant ruler in Swedish history. He ended foreign domination in Sweden, centralized and reorganized the government, cut religious ties to Rome, established the Church of Sweden, and founded Sweden’s hereditary monarchy.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Eric IX of Sweden – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_IX_of_Sweden> [Accessed 7 December 2021].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Uppsala Cathedral – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uppsala_Cathedral> [Accessed 7 December 2021].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Svenska kröningar – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svenska_kr%C3%B6ningar> [Accessed 7 December 2021].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Uppsala domkyrka – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uppsala_domkyrka> [Accessed 7 December 2021].

Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) in Stockholm, Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Stockholm Cathedral with the Royal Palace of Stockholm on the right; Credit – By Julian Herzog, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62714436

Stockholm Cathedral is between the Royal Palace of Stockholm and Stortorget, the old main square of Stockholm, in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm. Originally, a Roman Catholic church, Stockholm Cathedral became a Lutheran church during the Protestant Reformation in Sweden. It is now a Church of Sweden, the Evangelical Lutheran national church in Sweden. The church has several names: Storkyrkan (in Swedish, stor = great and krykan = church, hence Great Church), Stockholms domkyrka (Stockholm Cathedral) and Sankt Nikolai kyrka (Saint Nicholas Church). In Sweden, it is most commonly called Storkyrkan.

The mail aisle of Stockholm Cathedral; Credit – By Holger.Ellgaard – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14668823

According to tradition, the first church on the site was dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra and was built in the 13th century by Birger Jarl, the founder of Stockholm A large donation to the church in 1346 by King Magnus IV of Sweden and his wife Blanche of Namur probably indicates the beginning of renovations and additions. After significant renovations and additions in the 14th and 15th centuries, the church reached its present size and shape as a five-aisled hall church in 1480. The church was originally built in the Brick Gothic style of the 13th century with a tower. From 1736 – 1742, Swedish architect Johan Eberhard Carlberg was employed to renovate the exterior and build a new tower. The exterior was transformed from a Gothic style to a Baroque style. The exterior seen today is still largely the result of Carlberg’s work.

Eustachius Erdmüller’s altarpiece; Credit – By Øyvind Holmstad – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45574353

The Baroque altarpiece over the main altar was made in silver and ebony by Hamburg goldsmith Eustachius Erdmüller and was completed in 1652. The central part is divided into three levels with each level containing a panel with a silver relief. The reliefs depict, from bottom to top, the Crucifixion, the Entombment, and Christ in the realm of the dead. Silver statuettes of Moses and John the Baptist flank the Crucifixion panel. The second and third panels are flanked by the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Royal Pews; Credit – By Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia – Royal Pews and their crowns – Sankt Nikolai kyrka, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66006973

On either side of the nave are the two royal pews. The lower part is a seating area enclosed by a decorated wooden barrier. Originally a throne was placed in each pew. The upper part of each pew is a gilt wooden canopy in the form of an oversize royal crown carried by angels against a background of imitated drapery. The royal pews, intended for the royal family, were designed by Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and made by Swedish-German furniture maker and sculptor Burchard Precht.

Pulpit; Credit – By Øyvind Holmstad – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45764645

The gilt wooden pulpit in the French Baroque style was also made by the sculptor Burchard Precht between 1698 and 1702.

Saint George and the Dragon; By Tuomas Vitikainen – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67092031

Perhaps the most impressive sight at Stockholm Cathedral is the wooden sculpture that depicts the legend of Saint George and the Dragon. The statue was commissioned by Sten Sture the Elder, Swedish statesman and Regent of Sweden from 1470 – 1497 and 1501 -1503, following his victory over the Danish army in the Battle of Brunkeberg in 1471. During the battle, Sten Sture had prayed to Saint George to protect his army. The sculpture is attributed to Bernt Notke, one of the foremost artists in northern Europe at that time. The 12 feet/3.75 meters high statue depicts Saint George on horseback and stands on a wooden plinth, decorated with scenes from the legend of Saint George.

Statue of Saint George and the Dragon; Credit – By BugWarp – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87483011

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Royal Events at Stockholm Cathedral

Over the centuries, many royal events have occurred at Stockholm Cathedral. The list below does not purport to be complete.

Coronations

The Coronation of King Gustav III of Sweden (Uncompleted) by Carl Gustav Pilo; Credit – Wikipedia

Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) along with Uppsala Cathedral and a few other churches have served as sites for the coronation of Sweden’s rulers. In 1873, King Oscar II was the last Swedish monarch to have a coronation. His son King Gustav V of Sweden (reigned 1907 – 1950) chose not to be crowned and his successors King Gustaf VI Adolf and King Carl XVI Gustav followed suit.

Christenings

Christening of Crown Prince Victoria, 1977; Credit – http://www.nordstjernan.com/news/people/4354/

Weddings

Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling, 2010

Funerals

Funeral of King Gustaf VI Adolf, 1973

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • De.wikipedia.org. 2022. Sankt Nikolai kyrka – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankt_Nikolai_kyrka> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Saint George and the Dragon (Notke) – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George_and_the_Dragon_(Notke)> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Storkyrkan – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storkyrkan> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2022. Sankt Göran och draken, Gamla stan – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankt_G%C3%B6ran_och_draken,_Gamla_stan> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2022. Storkyrkan – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storkyrkan> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2022. Svenska kröningar – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svenska_kr%C3%B6ningar> [Accessed 17 January 2022].