The Swedes Attend Opening of Parliament

The Swedish Parliament was opened for the 2016/2017 session today, with the royal family in attendance at the Riksdaghuset. Arriving by horse drawn carriage, they were greeted by Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and the Parliamentary Speaker Urban Ahlin.

King Carl Gustaf gave a speech during the opening, saying that “we live in a globalised world” and that “it was clearer than ever that what happens outside Sweden also concerns us.” The King spoke heavily about Swedish values and culture and the importance of standing up for those values, and how the country has worked for decades to become one of the world’s most prosperous nations.

All four royal ladies kept to the traditional black and white colour scheme in their outfits, which harkens back to the days when the royal ladies wore full court dress to the event.

Earlier, the family were present at the Storkyrkan for the traditional church service that is held for the Opening of Parliament. In the evening, the King and Queen with Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine attended a concert by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Stockholm Concert Hall.

Filed under Sweden
Tagged Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Concert, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Parliament, Prime Minister Löfven of Sweden, Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, Prince Daniel of Sweden, Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Princess Sofia of Sweden, Queen Silvia of Sweden.