Queen Silvia of Sweden (82) will celebrate not only her golden wedding anniversary with King Carl XVI Gustaf (80) on June 19, but also another special milestone: Through her marriage to the Swedish monarch, Silvia has been Queen for 50 years as of today, Friday. To mark the anniversary, the Swedish Palace has released new official photos of the Queen.
The pictures were taken in a summery natural setting and in the palace gardens of Drottningholm. They show the German-born Queen in traditional Swedish costume amid the blooming landscape. In one picture, Silvia stands on a vast, green meadow, surrounded by densely wooded trees. The warm sunlight falls sideways on the scene, lending the photograph a calm, almost painterly atmosphere.
Silvia in traditional Swedish costume
The Queen wears a traditional Swedish costume with a bright red skirt, a blue bodice, and a white blouse with wide sleeves. Over her shoulders lies a white shawl with fine, colored embroidery, fastened at the front with a brooch. With a gentle smile, she looks directly at the camera and holds a small white flower in both hands in front of her.
Another photo shows the Queen in a noticeably wilder and more expansive setting. She stands in the middle of a tall, white-flowering meadow that surrounds her almost up to her waist. In her arms she holds a large, colorful bouquet of various summer flowers that forms a strong contrast to the green and white surroundings. Here too, she wears the same traditional costume.
The new photographs emphasize not only the Queen's long tenure, but also her close connection to Swedish tradition and nature. Silvia was born in 1943 as Silvia Sommerlath in Heidelberg; at the 1972 Olympic Games she met the then Swedish Crown Prince Carl Gustaf while working as a hostess. The couple married in 1976, three years after Carl Gustaf's accession to the throne. With the wedding, Silvia became Queen of Sweden.
