H.M. Konungens tal vid återinvigning av Bernadottemuseet
Pau, Frankrike
(Det talade ordet gäller)
Your Majesty,
Your Royal Highnesses,
Mr. Mayor,
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honour to be here today for the reopening of the Musée Bernadotte.
I sincerely believe that knowing our past makes us better equipped to understand the present.
My ancestor, Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, was born in this house. As an adult, he would be known as King Karl XIV Johan.
This son of Pau became a driving force in the foundation of modern Sweden. A work in which he greatly benefited from knowledge and experience gained in the service of his birth country.
Renovating this museum is an important effort to preserve – and bring to life – a part of the history that connects France and Sweden.
This day marks the end of an extensive project. But, as I am very pleased to see, it is also a starting point for further strengthening the ties between our countries.
It is my hope that the Musée Bernadotte will be a meeting place for Swedish and French culture.
Ladies and gentlemen: Great efforts have gone into making this renovation possible. As a descendant of Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have contributed.
As a token of my appreciation, I will now present Mayor Bayrou with a copy of my ancestor’s adoption certificate.
I hereby declare the Musée Bernadotte reopened!
