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The King and Queen visit Gävleborg County
17:00 The King gave a speech, in which he said:
"I have now been Sweden's Head of State for 40 years. This is a long time, and a great deal has developed and changed during this time, both in Sweden and around the world. Here in Gävleborg, we have met many friendly people during the day — and the day isn't over yet!
"Gävleborg is a county that faces great challenges in terms of structural transformation and unemployment. But Gävleborg is also a strong county with significant assets, particularly in the form of committed, enterprising people. Here there are also companies with strong international links and innovative new ideas that can create growth and faith in the future."
16:55 County Governor Barbro Holmgren gave a speech and welcomed The King up onto the stage.
16:47 The King and Queen arrived at Boulongerskogen City Park in Gävle.
Boulongerskogen City Park is one of Sweden's biggest town parks. The people of Gävle love this park, and many of them come here daily to enjoy the opportunities for outdoor life, fun and recreation.
The King and Queen meet children at the Rapatac recreational centre. Photo: royalcourt.se
Rapatac aims to give children and young people the right conditions for a secure and meaningful upbringing. Participants are offered help with their schoolwork and opportunities for stimulating leisure activities, as well as learning to take responsibility for their actions. Young people from 36 different nationalities are represented. Schoolwork and basketball are the main activities at the centre, but there are also activities relating to technology and design, culture and media, literature and science, and sport and health.
The King and Queen speak with Moussa N'Diaye, founder of the Rapatac foundation. Photo: royalcourt.se
15:36 Author Ulf-Ivar Nilsson, who has written about Gävle, spoke about the town during the journey.
Chairman of the Municipal Council Daniel Olsson explained that the population of Gävle is growing, thanks to inward migration and many people returning here. He also mentioned that the university college is important to the town. One significant current project involves dredging the harbour to make it larger. Culture is also important to Gävle, which features a great deal of public art. The town's symphony orchestra celebrated its centenary last year.
15:27 The coach left for Gävle.
14:42 The King and Queen arrived at Wij Gardens.
Prince Daniel's parents, Olle and Ewa Westling, joined The King and Queen for their visit to Wij Gardens. Photo: royalcourt.se
Two important people from Ockelbo were Katarina Bröms, who owned Wij Mill in the 18th century, and Erik Lundgren, a rally driver during the 1940s.
Katarina Bröms expanded the mill, and when she died in 1735 the mill was the largest in Sweden. Without the mill, Ockelbo would not have been the town it is today.
Erik Lundgren, a rally driver who was born and raised in Mo, made plastic bodywork. In 1959, he started making boats. Ockelbo Boats are still made to this day. In 1961, Erik started making scooters. Lars Sjödin explained that these two people personify the entrepreneurial spirit of Ockelbo.
The kitchen garden at Wij Gardens. Photo: royalcourt.se
The next speaker on the coach was gardener Lars Krantz, who had previously worked at Rosendal on Djurgården in Stockholm. Twelve years ago, he was invited to develop Wij Gardens. He has started a project with the University of Gävle on using the gardens to improve health.
An interview with County Governor Barbro Holmberg, on the coach to Ockelbo
What was important when planning for The King and Queen's visit?
Gävleborg is a county that consists of two provinces, and we want to show both Gästrikland and Hälsingland. The King and Queen will be visiting two municipalities in each province. We also wanted to show the past, the present and the future. Here, Växbo Mill is a good example. This is a historic location that is now being developed with a restaurant, providing essential tourism for the future. And we wanted the programme to be as public as possible, so that people could meet The King and Queen.
We're now halfway through the programme. Has everything gone to plan?
It's been a great success. Leaving some breaks in the programme has provided the opportunity to meet and greet people. It was also good being able to show Sweden's fifteenth World Heritage Site, represented by Erik Anders Farm. We were also able to show a personal favourite of mine, Glada Hudik Theatre.
13:08 Lunch featured specialities from Hälsingland. County Governor Barbro Holmberg explained that cake was being served today at homes for the elderly in many of the county's municipalities in honour of The King and Queen's visit.
12:00 Lunch was served at Växbo Krog
.
11:06 Chairman of Bollnäs Municipal Council Stefan Permickel welcomed The King and Queen to Växbo Mill and Bollnäs. A band of young fiddlers played a selection of Hälsingland melodies, including the Bridal March from Delsbo, which was played at the wedding of Princess Madeleine and Mr Christopher O'Neill.
Växbo Mill is one of Hälsingland's biggest tourist attractions. Växbo is home to Sweden's best preserved settings from the times of flax dressing. The mill tells the story of rural industrialisation during the late 19th century, and shows that the farmers were not always farmers — sometimes they were also businessmen. Here, grain is ground once again using the technology of our forefathers, producing stone-ground flour from organically grown corn.
The King and Queen speak with Theresia Widarsson and Peter Sundén from Glada Hudik Theatre. Photo: royalcourt.se
Peter Sundén from the Glada Hudik Theatre spoke about living with Asperger syndrome, after which he sang My Way. Theresia Widarsson sang a piece from the theatre company's new musical, The Wizard of Oz.
At Växbo, people wait for The King and Queen to arrive. Photo: royalcourt.se
Håkan Karlsson, a businessman who moved from Stockholm to Kilafors in 2003, continued to explain. Håkan is a film editor, and has worked on the Stieg Larsson Millennium trilogy. In the old school that he uses as his work premises, he works with major Swedish and international films. Håkan has been awarded Norrlandsförbundet's honorary Norrland Bear award for his efforts within society and industry, and believes that technological developments have created the necessary conditions.
10:08 Architectural historian Ingela Broström explained to The King and Queen about the history of the farm.
The World Heritage farm, which is now privately owned and open to visitors during the summer, features manorial architecture with interiors inspired by higher classes, included the bourgeoisie of Stockholm. Photo: royalcourt.se
The Hälsingland farms are Sweden's fifteenth World Heritage Site, and tell us about farmers' ways of thinking. The farms had large rooms for parties. All the farmers had the same crockery, so that they could borrow pieces from each other when holding large parties.
The King and Queen arrive at the Erik Anders World Heritage farm in Söderala. Photo: royalcourt.se
09:00 The King and Queen arrived at Rörberg Airport, and were welcomed by County Governor Barbro Holmberg.
The programme for The King and Queen's visit on Thursday 29 August.
09:00 The King and Queen arrive at Rörberg Airport, and are welcomed to Gävleborg County by County Governor Barbro Holmberg.
09:30 The King and Queen arrive at Söderala and visit the Erik Anders World Heritage farm.
11:00 The King and Queen visit Växbo Mill.
12:00 Lunch at Växbo Krog.
14:30 The King and Queen visit Wij Gardens in Ockelbo.
16:00 The King and Queen visit the Rapatac foundation in Gävle.
16:45 The King and Queen arrive at Boulongerskogen City Park in Gävle. The King gives a speech.
The day in Gävleborg County concludes with dinner hosted by the County Governor at the County Governor's official residence, Gävle Castle.
County visits 2013
In connection with The King's 40th jubilee, The King and Queen will be visiting all of Sweden's 21 counties during the year.
Find out more about the county visits here
.
Visa Kungaparets besök i Gävleborgs län på en större karta
