On Wednesday, September 7, 2016, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden hosted a symposium at the Kungliga Slottet in Stockholm.
Held under the theme, Så vill vi att vuxna pratar med oss om nätet, the discussions focused on “…young adults on the internet and life online…”
On the morning of Thursday, September 1, 2016, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden gave an opening speech during the plenary session, Building a Resilient Future Through Water, at the 2016 SIWI World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.
According to the official website for World Water Week today’s session gathered:
“…Global leaders [who highlighted] strategies for delivering the 2030 Agenda and strengthen[ed] climate resilience through wise water management. [Today’s event demonstrated] ways on how the implementation of the 2030 and climate agendas can be better integrated – with water as a useful connector.”
Here is yet another great documentary from the German network, ZDF, entitled Koenigliche Dynastien: Die-Bernadottes. The program focuses on the history of the Swedish royal family.
Here is the SVT documentary, Året med Kungafamiljen 2015, you all have been waiting for!
Enjoy! 🙂
On December 25, 2015, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden delivered his Christmas message live on Sveriges Radio from the Kungliga Slottet in Stockholm.
“Dear Swedish citizens, at home and overseas. Everyone in Sweden!
My family and I would like to wish you all an enjoyable Christmas. This year the cheer of Christmas has perhaps been even more keenly awaited than usual by many of us.
It can’t have escaped anyone’s notice that this has been a challenging year for Sweden and the Swedish population. Global concerns have impacted on us here in a way we haven’t experienced for many years. We should take the opportunity now over the holiday to take a step back for a while, and take time to reflect on the past year and perhaps formulate our hopes for the year ahead of us.
There are 60 million refugees in the world. Some of them have come to seek asylum and a future for themselves and their children here in Sweden. We have a strong desire to help people. Massive and important efforts are being made to assist those seeking asylum and security.
In the autumn I met several young people at an asylum centre outside Östersund and I was greeted by a sense of enthusiasm and a keen aspiration to succeed and do well in their new country.
Together with The Queen, I also visited Kronan School in Trollhättan a while back. A perfectly ordinary Swedish primary and lower secondary school with basketball hoops in the playground and the word “Welcome” painted in large yellow letters at the entrance. It could have been anywhere at all in Sweden if it wasn’t for the terrible act of violence that had occurred at this very school several weeks earlier. Candles in memory of the victims had been lit at the youth recreation centre.
Amidst the grief and gloom it was good to see how the staff were working to restore things for the pupils. To restore a sense of normality and security, which is so valuable, to children and adults alike.
Then in November, 130 young people lost their lives in a series of coordinated terror attacks in Paris. These attacks affected us all deeply, and they reminded us how vulnerable we are. The openness and trust that has characterised our society thus far cannot always be taken for granted. Not even here in Sweden. We must safeguard and stand up for these values.
Undoubtedly, our times are subject to darkness and unrest, but that is one of the reasons why it is so important to also hold onto all the positives and remind one another that we have good reason to feel hope and confidence in the future.
As Sweden’s head of State, I visit many places both in Sweden and beyond our country’s borders and meet many people from different walks of life.
Over the past year, for example, I have visited several authorities working to consolidate our contingency planning for accidents and crises. I have seen some of the important work being done by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency and SOS Alarm. Work that is particularly relevant today. It is also interesting to see how international cooperation is leading to reciprocal exchange. Swedish know-how can save lives in other countries and we in turn are able to learn from others’ knowledge and experience.
During the year I have also met many talented Swedish entrepreneurs who are creating new jobs, in particular through environmental innovations. The people behind these enterprises have extremely varied backgrounds. They may come from Västerås, from Gnosjö or from Pakistan. However, they have certain crucial things in common: they have an idea, and they are focused on working hard to realise it. Such ideas, and the genuine desire and driving force embodied within them, will benefit us all in the future.
It is inspiring to gain an insight, through these meeting and visits, into some of what is being done to not just keep Sweden running, but to ensure future development, even in times of hardship and change.
One of my most recent trips this year was to Paris and the big UN climate conference. I was there when the conference opened, and there was a strong feeling of optimism in the air, but also a sense of gravity and determination.
The countries of the world have worked together on one of our biggest future challenges. We now have a common objective to curb global warming. A historic agreement is in place: the first ever global climate agreement. It is gratifying and inspires hope in the face of future challenges. I am proud to be able to say that Sweden will be a force to be reckoned with in the continued work towards a sustainable future.
Incidentally, it was also in Paris, 120 years ago, that Alfred Nobel wrote the will that formed the basis for the Nobel Prize. It was a particular honour this year to be able to award the Prize in Chemistry to a winner with a Swedish background. Tomas Lindahl began his career as a scientist here in Sweden, and together with colleagues he has laid an important foundation for the development of new cancer treatments, among other things.
The major issues of our time sometimes bring us face to face with a difficult balancing act, as a country and as individuals. It is not always easy to know which is the right way forward.
My desire is for us as a nation to shoulder our shared responsibility to contribute to constructive solutions to the challenges of the future. But we should also take responsibility as people, to show respect and consideration to one another. And our responsibility as adults is to communicate confidence, hope and belief in the future to our children and grandchildren.
On a more personal level, The Queen and I are very happy that The Crown Princess and Prince Daniel are expecting their second child. We are also delighted that Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia are to become parents, which will make us paternal grandparents for the first time.
In this context, let me take this opportunity to thank you for all your good wishes during the year, on the occasion of both Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia’s wedding and Prince Nicolas’ christening. Your kind words and good wishes mean a great deal to all our family.
In conclusion, I want to thank those of you who are actively involved in Swedish clubs and organisations. I believe that broad networks of dedicated individuals are a huge asset to our country, in particular when it comes to taking care of our young people and helping new Swedes to settle into our community. With the new year approaching, I want to offer special encouragement to those of you who devote your time to others. You are needed!
And that brings me to the end of my Christmas message from the Royal Palace. My family and I would once again like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2016!”
On the evening of Monday, December 21, 2015, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden arrived at the Gustaf Vasa Kyrka in Stockholm to attend a Christmas concert entitled, Jul i Vasastan.
Led by Swedish conductor, Mr. Jonas Gidberg, the lovely royal couple and guests listened to traditional as well as contemporary chorale music performed by Mr. Fredrik Nybladh and Ms. Molly Sanden with special guest artists Ms. Linda Brava and Ms. Gladys del Pilar.
On the evening of Sunday, December 20, 2015, Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden and Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Mr. Christopher O’Neill attended the 2015 Formal Gathering of the Svenska Akademiens (Swedish Academy) held at the Börshuset in Stockholm.
Photo courtesy of Kungahuset
On December 16, 2015, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden received several Christmas trees from students from the Sveriges Lantbruksuniversitet (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) at the Kungliga Slottet in Stockholm.
Photo courtesy of Kungahuset
On Tuesday, December 15, 2015, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden met with the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize winners, the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet (TNDQ), at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
The group received the prize for their:
“…decisive contribution to the building of a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia in the wake of the Jasmine Revolution of 2011. The Quartet was formed in the summer of 2013 when the democratization process was in danger of collapsing as a result of political assassinations and widespread social unrest. It established an alternative, peaceful political process at a time when the country was on the brink of civil war. It was thus instrumental in enabling Tunisia, in the space of a few years, to establish a constitutional system of government guaranteeing fundamental rights for the entire population, irrespective of gender, political conviction or religious belief.
The National Dialogue Quartet has comprised four key organizations in Tunisian civil society: the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT, Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail), the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA, Union Tunisienne de l’Industrie, du Commerce et de l’Artisanat), the Tunisian Human Rights League (LTDH, La Ligue Tunisienne pour la Défense des Droits de l’Homme), and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers (Ordre National des Avocats de Tunisie). These organizations represent different sectors and values in Tunisian society: working life and welfare, principles of the rule of law and human rights.”
During this morning’s meeting His Majesty praised TNDQ’s “…role in the success of the democratic transition in Tunisia…an experience that has inspired admiration the world over…” according to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse.
Photos courtesy of Kungahuset
On Monday, December 14, 2015, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden participated in a meeting with representatives from the Kronprinsessan Victorias Stiftelse för Vetenskaplig Forskning (Crown Princess Victoria’s Foundation for Scientific Research and Training) held at the Kungliga Slottet in Stockholm.
Photo courtesy of Kungahuset
On the evening of Friday, December 11, 2015, Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden, Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Mr. Christopher O’Neill, and Her Royal Highness Princess Christina of Sweden and Mr. Tord Magnuson attended the King’s Dinner for the 2015 Nobel Laureates held at the Kungliga Slottet (royal palace) in Stockholm.
Please click the links below to view photos.
Photo Gallery, Photo Gallery 2, Photo Gallery 3, Photo Gallery 4
On the evening of December 10, 2015, Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden accompanied by Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden, Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Mr. Christopher O’Neill, Her Royal Highness Princess Christina of Sweden and Mr. Tord Magnusson attended the 2015 Nobel Prize ceremony held at the Stockholm Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden.
The winners of the 2015 Nobel Prize are:
The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded jointly to Mr. Takaaki Kajita and Mr. Arthur B. McDonald for the “…discovery of neutrino oscillations, which shows that neutrinos have mass.”
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded jointly to Mr. Tomas Lindahl, Mr. Paul Modrich and Mr. Aziz Sancar for “…mechanistic studies of DNA repair.”
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was divided, one half jointly to Mr. William C. Campbell and Mr. Satoshi Ōmura for “…their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites.” And, the other half to Ms. Youyou Tu for her “…discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria.”
The Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Ms. Svetlana Alexievich for her “…polyphonic writings, a monument to suffering and courage in our time”
The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel was awarded to Mr. Angus Deaton for his “…analysis of consumption, poverty, and welfare.”
Please click here and here to view hundreds of photos from the ceremony as well as the Nobel Banquet. The link also provides viewers a chance to watch short video clips from the Nobel Prize ceremony.
On the morning of Friday, December 4, 2015, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden met with the President of Afghanistan, Mr. Ashraf Ghani, at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
On Thursday, December 3, His Royal Highness Prince Daniel of Sweden participated in the conference, Ohälsans Pris, in Stockholm. The purpose of yesterday’s gathering was to “…increase knowledge and awareness of the importance of preventing ill health…” according to the Swedish royal court.
Photos courtesy of the Swedish royal court
