The King and Queen visit Gothenburg
On Friday 15 October, The King and Queen visited Gothenburg. At the Nya Varvet shipyard, The King took part in the naming ceremony for the research vessel Skagerak, while The Queen re-opened the newly renovated Queen Silvia's Children's Hospital.
In the afternoon, The King and Queen attended the inauguration of the new organ at Gothenburg Concert Hall.
Naming of the research vessel Skagerak
At the Nya Varvet shipyard, The King was welcomed by Eva Wiberg, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Gothenburg, and Dean Göran Hilmersson.
The naming ceremony began with speeches by County Governor Anders Danielsson and Vice-Chancellor Eva Wiberg.
The King then gave a speech, in which he said:
The aim is that this advanced floating laboratory should make Sweden a world leader within marine research, teaching and cooperation. This is an excellent ambition! I look forward to seeing it become a reality.
HM The King
The King named the vessel the R/V Skagerak by breaking an ice bottle against the hull of the ship.
After the naming ceremony, Professor Katarina Abrahamsson gave a tour of the ship. The King also had the opportunity to take part in a discussion with marine researchers from the University of Gothenburg.
Re-opening of the new Queen Silvia's Children's Hospital
On arrival at Queen Silvia's Children's Hospital, The Queen was welcomed by Area Manager Professor Ian Milsom and Professor Ann-Marie Wennberg Larkö, Director of Sahlgrenska University Hospital.
During her visit, The Queen met staff and young patients on the play therapy ward, and was given a tour of the paediatric intensive care ward.
The opening ceremony was held at a glazed section of the hospital's fourth floor, and began with musical entertainment from the Gothenburg Opera's children's choir. There then followed accounts about the work of the hospital and a speech from Chair of the Regional Council Annika Tännström.
During the ceremony, The Queen gave an opening speech in which she declared the new Queen Silvia's Children's Hospital officially open. In her speech, The Queen said:
As nurses, assistant nurses, doctors and all the other important employees at Queen Silvia's Children's Hospital, you all have unique competence in curing and caring for children of all ages, from seriously ill premature babies to those who are almost young adults.
I am convinced that the well planned environments here at the hospital will make it easier for you to continue developing essential children's healthcare in the future.
HM The Queen
Inauguration of Gothenburg Concert Hall's new organ
At Gothenburg Concert Hall, The King and Queen were welcomed by CEO and Artistic Director of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Sten Cranner, CEO of property company Higab Per-Henrik Hartmann, Chairman of the Board of Higab Anders Sundberg and Chair of the Board of Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra Gun-Marie Daun.
Professor Hans Davidsson, Chairman of Gothenburg International Organ Academy, then played the organ and described how it was built and its unique functions.
The organ was built by Rieger Orgelbau and a team of international experts, combining tradition with new technology and innovation. It is the only organ in the world to have a separate bass organ beneath the feet of the audience, with 40 large bass pipes. It has been designed so that the audience will both hear and feel the low frequencies.