It has been 50 years since the then relatively freshly crowned King Carl XVI Gustaf (80) and Silvia Sommerlath (82) exchanged their wedding vows. The Swedish Royal House is marking this historic anniversary about a week before the actual wedding day with a magnificent celebration, which was ceremonially inaugurated on Saturday morning with the thanksgiving service Te Deum in the palace chapel of the Royal Palace of Stockholm.
Queen Silvia in Radiant Red
In the morning, the first high-profile guests gathered in the decorated chapel. To celebrate the day, Queen Silvia chose the color of love and radiated in an elegant red coat. Together with King Carl Gustaf, who greeted the leading priest of the thanksgiving service beforehand, she entered the palace chapel arm in arm. The couple took their seats in the altar area on two golden chairs that Swedes are otherwise familiar with from the ceremonial Nobel Prize awards.
The Swedish heir apparent also showed her best side. Princess Victoria (48) next to husband Prince Daniel (52) radiated in a pastel yellow ensemble. On the church pews, Victoria took a seat next to her son Prince Oscar (10). However, one family member was missing from this historic moment: Princess Estelle (14) cannot attend the celebrations as she is currently on a language trip previously announced by the palace.
The younger generations of the Bernadottes provided heartwarming scenes. Chris O'Neill (51) appeared holding the hands of his two daughters, Princess Adrienne (8) and Princess Leonore (12). Walking ahead of them were Prince Nicolas (10) and his mother, Princess Madeleine (44), who was dressed in radiant white.
Prince Carl Philip's (47) family provided a special eye-catcher. He carried the youngest star of the royal family, Princess Ines (1), in a floral dress into the chapel on his arm. The father-daughter duo was flanked by the visibly proud big brothers Prince Alexander (10) and Prince Gabriel (8). Directly behind them followed Princess Sofia (41) in a bright pink dress, leading her youngest, somewhat tired-looking son Prince Julian (5) by the hand.
Numerous Guests in Attendance
The extended family also celebrated the wedding anniversary. Princess Sofia's mother, Marie Hellqvist, came arm in arm with Queen Silvia's nephew Patrick Sommerlath.
In addition, the golden anniversary attracted high-profile guests from home and abroad to Stockholm. From Serbia, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine as well as Prince Philip with his wife Princess Danica traveled. The German high nobility was represented by Leopold, Prince of Bavaria. From the Scandinavian neighboring houses and the Asian region, Princess Benedikte, the sister of former Queen Margrethe of Denmark, and Princess Hisako of Takamado for the Japanese Imperial House attended the service.
Festive Program for Carl Gustaf and Silvia
After the ceremonial service, all of Stockholm is in the spirit of the anniversary, with the program largely mirroring the historic celebrations of 1976. In the afternoon, a traditional voyage on the royal sloop Vasaorden awaits the royal couple, followed by a magnificent horse-drawn carriage parade through downtown.
The parade ends at Kungsträdgården, where the city of Stockholm is hosting a large open-air concert "in the spirit of love." On stage, artists will showcase musical highlights from the past five decades.
The crowning conclusion of the celebrations takes place in the evening with a gala concert at the Royal Opera. This completes a full circle for the royal couple. It was at this very location that, on the eve of their wedding in 1976, that legendary gala took place where the pop group ABBA presented their world hit Dancing Queen live for the first time.
