The Jubilee Year 2023
2023 was a double jubilee, marking 500 years since Gustav Vasa was elected king in 1523 – ushering in a new era that shaped modern Sweden – and it was also King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 50th jubilee.
The jubilee days
Programme for the jubilee days, 13–16 September
15 September 2023 was HM The King's 50th jubilee. See detailed programme for the celebrations.
13 September
- Receptions for organisation
The Royal Palace, 10:00–13:00
- Reception for the Riksdag and the Swedish Government för riksdagen och regeringen. The Riksdag and the Government presented an official gift to HM The King.
The Royal Palace, 16:30
- Congratulatory lists. In keeping with tradition, the general public had the opportunity to congratulate The King on his jubilee via lists for signing. These lists was available in the Governor's Wing (the wing between the Royal Palace and Stockholm Cathedral) on 13 and 14 September between 10:00 and 13:00.
The Governor's Wing, the Royal Palace, 10:00–13:00
- Congratulatory lists for the diplomatic corps. In keeping with tradition, the foreign missions in Stockholm had the opportunity to congratulate The King on his jubilee via lists for signing. These lists was available in the Office of the Marshal of the Realm on 13 and 14 September between 10:00 and 13:00.
The Marshal of the Realm's Wing, The Royal Palace, 10:00–13:00
14 September
- Receptions for organisations
The Royal Palace, 10:00–13:00 - Congratulatory lists. In keeping with tradition, the general public had the opportunity to congratulate The King on his jubilee via lists for signing. These lists was available in the Governor's Wing (the wing between the Royal Palace and Stockholm Cathedral) on 13 and 14 September between 10:00 and 13:000.
The Governor's Wing, the Royal Palace, 10:00–13:00 - Congratulatory lists for the diplomatic corps. In keeping with tradition, the foreign missions in Stockholm had the opportunity to congratulate The King on his jubilee via lists for signing. These lists was available in the Office of the Marshal of the Realm on 13 and 14 September between 10:00 and 13:00.
The Marshal of the Realm's Wing, The Royal Palace, 10:00–13:00 - The Royal Swedish Opera's jubilee performance at Drottningholm Palace Theatre
For invited guests (including the Royal Family, Nordic royal guests, the other Nordic heads of state, the Swedish Government and the party leaders, the county governors and representatives from authorities, academia, industry, royal academies, culture and the media), the Royal Swedish Opera gave a jubilee performance on Thursday evening at Drottningholm Palace Theatre, in honour of HM The King. The Royal Swedish Ballet, the Royal Court Orchestra, the choir of the Royal Swedish Opera and soloists took part in the performance.
Drottningholm Palace Theatre, 18:00 - Supper at Drottningholm Palace
After the jubilee performance, Their Majesties The King and Queen hosted a private supper at Drottningholm Palace.
Drottningholm Palace, 20:30
15 September
- The Royal Cemetery will be open
To provide the opportunity to visit King Gustaf VI Adolf's grave, the Royal Cemetery in Haga Park was open to the public on 15 September from 11:00 to 15:00.
The Royal Cemetery, Haga Park, 11:00–15:00 - Te Deum
The Te Deum is an ancient church ceremony which, in a royal context, takes place in connection with important events such as jubilees and other ceremonial occasions. The service was attended by the Royal Family, Nordic royal guests, the other Nordic heads of state, representatives from the Swedish Government, the party leaders, representatives from religious communities, and serving and non-serving members of the Royal Court.
The Royal Chapel, the Royal Palace, 10:30
The Te Deum was broadcasted live on SVT - Changing of the guard
Stockholm Amphibious Regiment fired a salute from Skeppsholmen at 12:00. HM The King, together with HRH Prince Carl Philip, then attended the changing of the guard when the Life Guards Squadron relieved the Life Company. The Army Music Corps, the Life Guards' Dragoon Music Corps and the Navy Music Corps performed a concert during the ceremony.
The Outer Courtyard, 12:00
The changing of the guard was broadcasted live on SVT
- Choral tribute
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music, in partnership with the Children Singing organisation, sang a tribute in honour of HM The King after the changing of the guard. The tribute was sung by the Swedish Radio Choir, Västerås Boys' Choir, the children's choir from Linköping Music Classes, and youth choirs from Lars-Erik Larsson Upper Secondary School in Lund and Boden Music Classes.
The Outer Courtyard, 13:20
The choral tribute was broadcasted live on SVT - HM The King speaks on TV
In the evening, The King gave a speech to the people of Sweden via Sveriges Television.
HM The King's jubilee speech to mark 50 years on the throne was broadcasted on SVT - Jubilee dinner
On the Friday, HM The King hosted a jubilee dinner at the Royal Palace. The invited guests included the Royal Family, the Nordic heads of state and the heirs to the thrones with their spouses, representatives from the Riksdag, the Swedish Government, the party leaders, the county governors, representatives from authorities, the Swedish Armed Forces, academia, industry, culture and the media, the royal academies, foundations, religious communities and the Royal Court of Sweden. The dinner was concluded with musical entertainment.
The Hall of State, the Royal Palace, 19:30
The speeches during the jubilee dinner was broadcasted live on SVT
16 September
- Cortège through Stockholm
On the Saturday, Their Majesties The King and Queen travelled by horse-drawn cortège through central Stockholm.
The horse-drawn cortège travelled along Slottsbacken, Skeppsbron, Strömbron, Kungsträdgårdsgatan, Hamngatan, Sveavägen, Tegnérgatan, Birger Jarlsgatan, Nybroplan and Nybrokajen. From Hovslagargatan, The King and Queen will then be taken by car across Skeppsholmsbron Bridge and along Svensksundsvägen before boarding the Royal Barge Vasaorden at Östra Brobänken Quay. The Vasaorden then row past Kastellholmen and across Stockholm Bay to the lower Logårdstrappan steps below the Royal Palace.
Around 3,000 soldiers and sailors from 24 units from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force was parading along the cortège route.
The Escort Squadron from the Life Guards Squadron will ride in front of and behind the royal carriage.
Military bands from the Swedish Armed Forces played along the route of the cortège.
The Royal Barge Vasaorden was crewed by officers, soldiers and sailors from Stockholm Amphibious Regiment, and by the Third and Fourth Naval Warfare Flotillas.
The Royal Barge Vasaorden was crewed by officers, soldiers and sailors from Stockholm Amphibious Regiment, and by the Third and Fourth Naval Warfare Flotillas.
Horse-drawn cortège, 14:30
Rowing with the Royal Barge Vasaorden, 15:05
The cortège and the rowing was broadcasted live on SVT
Open to the public! - The City of Stockholm's concert in honour of The King
Their Majesties The King and Queen and the Royal Family attended a jubilee concert on Norrbro, arranged by the City of Stockholm to mark The King's 50 years on the throne. Several of Sweden's most popular artists performed Swedish hits created during The King's 50 years on the throne. The artists were accompanied by the Johan Landqvist Orchestra. The compère was Zinat Pirzadeh.
Norrbro, 16:00
Celebrations
Celebrations throughout the year
2023 was a double jubilee, marking 500 years since Gustav Vasa was elected king in 1523 – ushering in a new era that shaped modern Sweden – and it was also King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 50th jubilee.
This year celebrates HM The King's 50 years as Sweden's head of state. The King ascended the throne on 15 September 1973. He is Sweden's longest-reigning monarch of all time.
As Head of State, The King primarily has state ceremonial and official duties, and can shape his own duties within the framework set out in the Instrument of Government.
During his time on the throne, the King has carried out over 80 state visits abroad to promote Sweden and Swedish interests. HM The king is patron and honorary member of a very large number of Swedish academies, organizations and associations.
In connection with the jubilee, a new portrait of The King was unveiled. The photograph was taken by Thron Ullberg in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.
County visits
As part of the celebration of HM The King's 50th anniversary on the throne, the King and Queen visited Sweden's 21 counties in 2023.
The county visits took place in the cities of residence and were hosted by the county governors. The visiting programs were varied but included public events where the King and Queen were given the opportunity to meet the county's residents.
The county visits took place on the following dates:
- 9 February, Nyköping, Södermanlands län
- 16 February, Jönköping, Jönköpings län
- 9 March, Västerås, Västmanlands län
- 30 March, Luleå, Norrbottens län
- 3 April, Östersund, Jämtlands län
- 20 April, Karlskrona, Blekinge län
- 27 April, Uppsala, Uppsala län
- 8 May, Härnösand, Västernorrlands län
- 12 May, Örebro, Örebro län
- 16 May, Kalmar, Kalmar län
- 25 May, Linköping, Östergötlands län
- 31 May, Växjö, Kronobergs län
- 4 June, Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län
- 14 June, Visby, Gotlands län
- 20 June, Malmoe, Skåne län
- 22 June, Stockholm, Stockholms län
- 17 August, Falun, Dalarnas län
- 21 August, Gävle, Gävleborgs län
- 24 August, Halmstad, Hallands län
- 31 August, Umeå, Västerbottens län
- 7 September, Karlstad, Värmlands län
See photos from the county visits!
Celebrating 500 years of Sweden – in Strängnäs and Stockholm
On June 6, 2023, attention it was 500 years since Gustav Vasa was elected king and the country entered a new era that shaped the nation of Sweden.
The King and Queen started the National Day celebrations in Strängnäs and ended the day in Stockholm.
The National Day celebration at Skansen in Stockholm was more extensive this jubilee year. HM The King also gave a larger National Day reception for representatives of the official Sweden and the diplomatic corps at the Nordic Museum.
Exhibitions
During the jubilee year, exhibitions were arranged inside The Royal Palace and on Slottsbacken outside the Royal Palace. In addition, Gripsholm Castle had Gustav Vasa in focus with, among other things, lectures and in-depth tours.