Modern monarchy in Sweden. What Queen Silvia thinks about retirement Queen Silvia

In 1993, the Riksbank (Bank of Sweden) issued a commemorative version of 1,000 crowns in honor of the 50th birthday of Sylvia Renata Sommerlath, Queen of Sweden, wife of Carl XVI Gustaf. The coin weighing 5.8 grams and 20 millimeters in diameter was minted from 900 gold at the national mint in Eskilstuna. In total, 14 thousand copies appeared, to which another thousand with exquisite dressing (prooflike) were then added.

On the obverse is the profile of Queen Silvia, facing right. The image is complemented by a crown (left) and a lily (right). At the top, along the circumference, the words "Queen Silvia of Sweden" are engraved, and at the bottom is the date. memorable event: December 23, 1943-1993. Reverse fully occupied great option Swedish coat of arms. The shield is divided into four fields by a golden cross. At the top left and bottom right are three golden crowns, two above one - a national symbol since the era of Albert of Mecklenburg. At the top right and bottom left is a golden crowned lion with its tongue hanging out, representing the ruling house of the Folkungs. The coat of arms of the ruling royal house of Bernadotte is located on the central shield, combining the emblem of Vase (a sheaf of ears, on the left) and Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte (an eagle over the bridge, on the right). The shield topped with a crown is supported on the sides by heraldic lions standing on their hind legs, in crowns and with forked tails. Below is the denomination in abbreviated form (100 kg), to the left of it is the letter E, to the right is the letter D; they stand for Myntverket AB, which issued Swedish coins UNTIL 2011. Sylvia Renata Sommerlath was born on December 23, 1943 in Heidelberg, Germany. Her father, Walter Sommerlath, was a German entrepreneur; mother, Alice Soares de Toledo, was from Sao Paolo, Brazil, where the family moved in 1947-1957.

After returning to Germany, Silvia graduated from the Faculty of Philology at the University of Düsseldorf. In 1972 she participated in the organization Olympic Games in Munich, during which she met her future husband, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Their marriage took place on June 19, 1976 in the Stockholm Cathedral. To mark the occasion, the Royal Family invited the Swedish pop group ABBA to perform at the Stockholm Opera House. After wedding ceremony, having received the title of "Her Majesty the Queen Consort" of Sweden, Sylvia moved with Karl to the royal palace in Drottingholm. The monarchs have three children: Princess Victoria (born 14 July 1977), Prince Carl-Philip (13 May 1979) and Princess Madeleine (June 1982). there are also real scandals in her name, although she was not always really involved in them. In spite of everything, Sylvia held herself in line with her high rank and won the favor and sympathy of the majority of her fellow citizens. In addition to the traditional duties of the Queen, Sylvia also performs other duties related to the patronage of many public organizations.

Flikr/ Bengt Nyman / King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia at Skansen

The celebrations were held modestly, in a narrow family circle in the Solliden Palace on the island of Öland

Swedish tabloid Expressen reported that Princess Madeleine was absent from the celebrations - youngest daughter Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.

In the fall of 2015, the job of her husband, banker Christopher O'Neill, demanded a change of residence. The princess did not appear at her parents' "ruby wedding" due to the abundance of anniversaries, anniversaries and significant events that happened in the Swedish royal family in 2016.

In March and April, Princess Madeleine's nephews, Princes Oscar, were born royal family christenings naturally followed. On April 30, Madeleine's father turned 70 years old. The king's birthday was widely celebrated in the country. The 40th wedding anniversary of Carl Gustav and Silvia was much more modest. The only official event dedicated to the anniversary is the exhibition wedding dresses Queen Silvia, her daughters Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine, sister-in-law, and Carl Gustaf's late aunt, Princess Lillian.

The exposition will open on October 22 at the Royal Palace in Stockholm and will last until March 5, 2017. On the eve of their wedding anniversary, Their Royal Majesties traveled with official visit to Bhutan. This was the first state visit by Swedish officials to an Asian monarchy.

The future Carl XVI Gustaf met Sylvia Sommerlath at the 1972 Munich Olympics. A year later, he ascended the Swedish throne. Their relationship was kept secret for several more years. Carl Gustav and Silvia were married on June 19, 1976 in Stockholm at the St. Nicholas Church (Storkyrken), located next to the royal palace in the old city center. The marriage ceremony was the first royal wedding in Sweden since 1797. The newlyweds left the church in a carriage. On the streets of the city they were greeted by 180,000 people.

A few days before their 40th wedding anniversary, the Swedish royal couple helped start a water pump in a remote village in the Kingdom of Bhutan. In an interview with the newspaper Expressen, the king, taking the opportunity, explained with an example what is the basis of them with Silvia long marriage: “Take a situation like today. Now we're standing here in a small village in Bhutan - it's kind of amazing, I think. Over the years we have traveled together representing Sweden, both at home and abroad. After all, we work together – not everyone can do it.”

In the Royal Palace of Sweden in December, they celebrate not only Christmas, but also an important family holiday: December 23 is the birthday of Queen Silvia. This year, the wife of Carl Gustav celebrates her 75th birthday, in honor of which Her Majesty gave an interview to the Swedish media, in which she spoke about her plans for the future.

Sylvia's fans are pleased: Her Majesty is not going to retire and intends to continue her social and public activities for the foreseeable future. As the Queen said, as long as she can work, she will work. Sylvia assures that she does not feel really serious changes in her condition on the eve of her 75th birthday, but admits that she has become wiser with age. Now the lady just wants to continue the work that brings her satisfaction.

Her Majesty also spoke of a joint decision with her husband: Crown Princess Victoria should spend as much time as possible with her children before she takes the throne ( read also: "Crown Princess Victoria: Queen of Swedish Hearts"). Sylvia herself adores her grandchildren and calls them "the dessert of her life" (according to Her Majesty, she borrowed this definition from her mother).

However, the queen is not only interested in her grandchildren. Sylvia is very concerned about the drug use of young people in Sweden and the problem of violence. The support of young people was one of the essential parts work of Her Majesty since she married Carl XVI Gustaf on 19 June 1976. Silvia collaborated with many organizations that provide assistance and support to children and adolescents, and in 1999 she founded World Foundation childhood (World Childhood Foundation), whose main goal is to protect children from sexual abuse and helping those who have already been victims of sexual abuse.

In a new interview, the Queen spoke about how important such problems were and still are for her, and stressed that she strives to help as many people as possible (

Once upon a time, once upon a time, once upon a time there was a king...

He ruled, as best he could, the country and people ... (c)

The Swedish Royal Family, which is this moment of King Carl XVI Gustaf, his graceful wife, Queen Silvia, Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Magdalena, is one of the oldest in the world.

monarchical form of government Konungariket Sverige ) has existed in Sweden for over 1000 years. The first Swedish king, Eric Segersall, ruled from about 970 to 995 AD. e. In the 11th-13th centuries, representatives of the Stenkil, Sverker and Erik families succeeded each other on the throne. Starting from the second half of the 13th century, the country was ruled by German princes from the Volkung families, and in the 15th century they were replaced by representatives of the Oldenburg dynasty.

The situation changed in 1523, when Gustav I Erikson Vasa liberated Sweden from Danish rule and the country became a hereditary monarchy. Representatives of the Vaza clan stayed on the throne for a little over a century. They were replaced by the Palatinate, then the Hessians, then the Holstein-Gottorp.

New changes took place in 1810, after the death of the heir to the throne, Charles August. One of Napoleon's marshals, the commoner Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, became king, to whom Bonaparte awarded the title of Prince of Pontecorvo. He was formally adopted by King Charles XIII and on 1 May 1818 was crowned as Charles XIV Johan, King of Sweden and Norway.

The reigning King Carl XVI Gustaf is the seventh representative of the Bernadotte dynasty on the Swedish throne.

O His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf

His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf. Carl Gustav Folke Hubertus was born on April 30, 1946 at the Haga Palace in Stockholm to Prince Gustav Adolf and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. By that time, the family already had four children, but all were girls, so the newborn turned out to be the eldest son and heir. In 1947, Prince Gustav Adolf tragically died in a plane crash at Copenhagen Airport (Denmark). After the death of his father in 1947, Carl Gustav was raised by his mother and grandfather, who in 1950 ascended the Swedish throne under the name of King Gustav VI. Simultaneously with the proclamation of the grandfather as king, the four-year-old grandson was proclaimed heir to the throne. The crown prince was first taught by private teachers invited to the palace. Then he began to attend the Broms school in Stockholm, then the Sigtuna boarding house.

The prince served two and a half years in the armed forces under a special program that included internships in all branches of the military, with particular emphasis on the navy. In the winter of 1966-1967, he went on a long trip on the minesweeper "Alvslabben", after which in 1968 he passed the exam for the rank of officer in the Navy. The prince continued his military education at the Swedish National Defense College, combining his studies with service on various ships. navy. After army service studied one course at the University of Uppsala, and then another one at the Faculty of Economics of Stockholm University. The heir to the throne traveled a lot around the country, studying the activities of state and local governments, visiting factories, laboratories and schools. The Crown Prince took part in the activities of the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN and the Swedish International Agency for Development and Cooperation in Africa. Carl Gustav spent some time in London, working at Hambro`s Bank, the Swedish Embassy and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, and then in France at the Alfa Laval plant.

September 15, 1973, after the death of his grandfather, Carl Gustav came to the Swedish throne. He rules under the motto "For the sake of Sweden and in step with the times." In accordance with the country's new constitution, which came into force in 1975, the king had, in fact, only ceremonial duties.

In 1972, then crown prince Carl Gustav met at the Summer Olympics in Munich with an interpreter from Germany, Sylvia Sommerlath. In March 1976, they announced their engagement. The wedding took place on June 19, 1976 at the Stockholm Cathedral.

About Queen Silvia

Queen Silvia ( Drottning Silvia ) was born on December 23, 1943 in the family of German businessman Walter Sommerlath and Brazilian Alice Sommerlath, née de Toledo. The queen has three older brothers - Ralph, Walter and Jurg.

From 1947 to 1957, the Sommerlat family lived in Sao Paulo (Brazil), after which they returned to Germany. Silvia Sommerlath graduated from school in Düsseldorf in 1963, and then from the Institute of Translators in Munich, having received a diploma as a "translator from Spanish". After graduation, she worked at the Argentine consulate in Munich. In 1971-1973 she worked in the organizing committee of the Summer Olympic Games in Munich, since 1973 - Deputy Head of the Protocol Service of the Organizing Committee of the Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck (Austria).

The King and Queen have three children - Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine.

According to the Swedish law of succession from 1980, the throne passes to the eldest child of the king, regardless of gender. Previously, the throne was occupied by the eldest son. There were two exceptions to this rule - Queen Christina in the 17th century and Queen Ulrika Eleonora in the 18th century. Thus, Crown Prince Carl Philip, being less than one year old, forfeited his first right to the throne, ceding it to older sister Victoria.

About Crown Princess Victoria

Victoria Ingrid, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Westergotland, Elis Desiree ( Kronprinsessan Victoria was born on July 14, 1977 at the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm. In 1982-1984 she attended preparatory school in Wasterled County. In the autumn of 1984 she entered the Smedslattskolan school in Bromma, then moved to Alstenskolan Bromma and completed schooling at the Enskilda Gymnasium in Stockholm.

The Crown Princess usually spent her school holidays abroad, in particular in the United States and Germany. She completed her training and production practice at the Museum of the Collections of the Royal Family and at the Museum of National Antiquities. In 1996-1997 academic year princess studied French at the international language center in Angers (France). The princess also passed special program acquaintance with the activities of the parliament and government of Sweden.

The princess studied at Yale University (USA), where she studied political science and history. During her time in the US, she worked as an intern at the Swedish Mission to the United Nations and the Swedish Embassy in the US.

In early 2003, the princess served three weeks in the Swedish army.

Prince Carl Philip