Royal cultural heritage

The Swedish Regalia are the principal symbols of Sweden's form of government. The kingdom's main regalia are the sword, the crown, the sceptre, the orb and the key. Their symbolism was defined during King Erik XIV's coronation in 1561.

The crown is a sign of regal glory and dignity, the sceptre demonstrates the king's earthly power, the orb represents God's appointment of the king to rule over a large, Christian kingdom, and the sword symbolises how the king boldly defends good and punishes evil. Since 1970, the regalia have been on public display in the Treasury at the Royal Palace.

State visits, formal audiences, and church ceremonies such as royal christenings, weddings and funerals are HM The King's state duties. Objects with symbolic meanings have been used on all these occasions. Some are still used to this day, while others have now fallen out of use.

Examples of ceremonial objects include the national banner, the silver throne, the silver baptismal font, the coronation cloak and the ceremonial batons.

Sweden's largest collection of historic furniture can be found at the royal palaces. At the Royal Palace, furniture from many generations form part of the traditional setting for HM The King's official duties. Other castles and palaces such as Gripsholm, Rosersberg, Rosendal and Gustav III's Pavilion in Haga Park are primarily historic attractions, and feature older items of furniture that are often unusually well preserved.

The art at the royal palaces consists of pieces from the royal and state collections. The emphasis of today's collections is on portraits. Portraits of the current Bernadotte dynasty from King Karl XIV Johan and Queen Desideria to King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are on display in the Bernadotte Apartments at the Royal Palace. The portraits from different generations reflect their own times and artistic standards.

The Treasury Collection includes silver cups, turned ivory pieces, and bowls made from semi-precious stones, rock crystal or coral, often with gold and enamel mountings.

The Treasury Collection makes up the oldest part of the royal art collections, and features objects that can be traced back to King Gustav II Adolf in the 1630s. Certain items have been presented as official gifts, while others have been acquired from around Europe. Some were spoils of war from the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) and King Karl X Gustav's military campaigns in Denmark and Poland.

Silverware has a natural place as part of a table setting. Throughout the ages, the Royal Court's ceremonial dining has reflected the splendour of the kingdom and expressed generosity towards the guests of the monarch. HM The King's official banquets still serve the same function to this day.

Table settings have always been an important way for a royal court to demonstrate its unique status. The various pieces have their own practical functions, but should also convey the position of the nation and enhance the dining experience.

Today, the royal table features pieces made of glass, porcelain and silver. This has been the case ever since the 18th century.

The brightly coloured carpets and textiles in the Royal Collections demonstrate exquisite craftsmanship. They are important features of the royal interiors, including both practical and symbolic features, and are carefully preserved for future generations.

The chiming clocks on the hour and the half hour remind visitors to the Royal Palace that this is a living environment and the Head of State's residence. During ceremonies and other official programme items, clocks serve the practical function of measuring time, in a way that we now take for granted.

Today, the Bernadotte Library houses extensive collections of books, photographs, maps, illustrations, sheet music and congratulatory addresses that belonged to the Bernadottes. The library now serves as a library museum and a research library focusing on the personal history of the Bernadotte dynasty.

The Bernadotte photograph collection consists of approximately 500,000 images. This is a unique and carefully preserved collection that documents the history of photography, from its inception in 1839 onwards. It also serves as a visual depiction of the Bernadotte family.

The Bernadotte Library's collections include an extensive collection of sheet music, made up of approximately 6,000 printed and handwritten pieces of music. It includes compositions by several of the second and third generations of the Bernadotte family. King Oskar II was a talented singer who liked to perform music on his pump organ, and many of the collection's printed works belonged to him and to Queen Victoria.

The main task of the Royal Stables is to meet the Royal Family's everyday and ceremonial transportation needs. Its coach sheds are home to around forty carriages and sledges for various purposes, including the famous Sjuglas State Carriage.

Both uniforms and service dress are used within the Royal Court. These garments show the role and position of the wearer, and add to the experience of various ceremonies and events. Some uniforms are used on a daily basis at the Royal Court, while others are worn only on special occasions such as state visits and formal audiences.

Few things give the same sense of occasion as opulent jewellery. The sparkling stones and precious metals have their own special radiance. The jewellery in the Royal Collections has been passed down through many generations, intimately linking it to bygone times, historic events and royal family connections.