Carl Gustaf acceded to the throne upon his grandfather's death on 15 September 1973. Shortly after he became king, the new 1974 Instrument of Government took effect, formally stripping the monarchy of its remaining executive powers. As a result, Carl Gustaf no longer performs many of the duties normally accorded to a head of state in parliamentary regimes, such as the formal appointment of the prime minister, signing legislation into law, and being commander-in-chief of the nation's military. The new instrument explicitly limited the king to ceremonial and representative functions, while he retained the right to be regularly informed of affairs of state. As head of the House of Bernadotte, Carl Gustaf has also been able to make a number of decisions about the titles and positions of its members.
In June 1976, Carl Gustaf marriedSilvia Sommerlath. They have three children: Victoria, Carl Philip, and Madeleine. The King's heir apparent, after passage on 1 January 1980 of a new law establishing absolute primogeniture,[1] is his eldest child, Crown Princess Victoria. Before the passage of that law, Victoria's younger brother, Carl Philip, was briefly the heir apparent, as of his birth in May 1979. Carl XVI Gustaf is the longest-reigning monarch in Swedish history, having surpassed King Magnus IV's reign of 44 years and 222 days on 26 April 2018.[2]
Prince Carl Gustaf was also given the title of the Duke of Jämtland. His father, Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, was killed in an airplane crash on 26 January 1947 at Copenhagen Airport. His father's death had left the nine-month-old prince second in line for the throne, behind his grandfather, then Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf. When his paternal great-grandfather, Gustaf V died in 1950, the four-year-old prince became the heir apparent of Sweden.[7]
Carl Gustaf was seven years old before he was told about his father's death. He expressed his feelings about growing up without knowing his father in a speech in 2005.[8]
To prepare for his role as the head of state, Crown Prince Carl Gustaf followed a broad program of studies on the court system, social organisations and institutions, trade unions, and employers' associations. In addition, he closely studied the affairs of the Riksdag, Government, and Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Crown Prince also spent time at the Swedish Mission to the United Nations and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), worked at a bank in London and at the Swedish Embassy there, at the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in France, and at the Alfa Laval Company factory in France. In 1970, he represented the King at the head of the Swedish delegation to the World ExpositioninOsaka, Japan. Since his youth the present monarch has been a strong supporter of the Scout Movement in Sweden.[10]
Carl Gustaf has dyslexia, as do his daughter Crown Princess Victoria and his son Prince Carl Philip.[11][12]
King Carl Gustaf and Swedish Senator R. S. Stefanson at Stockholm City Hall in 1975
On 15 September 1973, Carl Gustaf became King of Sweden upon the death of his grandfather, Gustaf VI Adolf. On 19 September, he took the required regal assurance (Swedish: Konungaförsäkran) during an extraordinary meeting of the cabinet. Afterwards, he appeared before the parliament, diplomatic corps, court, etc. in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace where he was enthroned on the Silver Throne and gave a speech. Both the cabinet meeting and ceremony at the Hall were broadcast live on television. Following the ceremonies, he appeared on the balcony to acknowledge gathered crowds. At the cabinet meeting, the King declared that his regnal name would be Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden. He adopted『For Sweden – With the times』as his personal motto[13] (För Sverige – i tiden).[14][15]
The Royal Family at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on the king's 66th birthday on 30 April 2012.
King Carl Gustaf holds the highest ranks in the three branches of the Swedish Armed Forces; this is due to the fact that he was, as stipulated by § 14 of the 1809 Instrument of Government in effect at the time of his accession to the throne in 1973, the Commander-in-Chief (Swedish: Högste Befälhavare; not to be confused with the military professional holding the position of Supreme Commander) and therefore he was promoted ex officio from his earlier ranks of captain (Army & Air Force) and lieutenant (Navy), to general and admiral. Under the provisions of the Instrument of Government of 1974, which became effective on 1 January 1975, the King no longer holds this constitutionally-mandated position, but he kept his ranks à la suite since he no longer has any military command authority, except over His Majesty's Military Staff.
Carl Gustaf has made a number of controversial statements considered political. In his critique of Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland and her Norwegian seal hunt policy, he questioned whether someone who could not take care of the seal problem really could take care of the Norwegian people.[18] In 2004, after a state visit to Brunei, he praised Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and called Brunei a really open country, despite Brunei's controversial human rights history. In 2023 Carl Gustaf said that while he understands that Brunei has a non-democratic form of government it is still an open country.[19][20] Both statements made public support for the monarchy reach the lowest numbers in many years. Public trust increased, however, after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami where many Swedes died. The Swedish prime minister Göran Persson then failed to carry out his constitutional obligation to inform the king on matters of state which resulted in criticism of the government. During a memorial ceremony held at Stockholm City Hall on 10 January 2005 the king gave a highly praised speech which restored support of the monarchy.[21][22]
Carl Gustaf has claimed to have played an important part in solving a diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia in 2015. This crisis began when Foreign Minister Margot Wallström criticized Saudi Arabia's form of government and human-rights situation. As a response the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Sweden was recalled and a military co-operation agreement between the two nations was ended. The Swedish government then reportedly asked for the king's help in solving the crisis. He then wrote a letter to the Saudi Arabian king and shortly thereafter diplomatic relations went back to normal.[23] Carl Gustaf's role in solving the crisis, and his statement regarding said role during which he claimed to have "good relations" with the Saudi King have both received criticism.[24][25]
The King's Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 2023. The celebrations included tours of all of Sweden's 21 counties, a jubilee banquet at the Royal Palace and a carriage procession through the streets of Stockholm. Leading up to that year and including it, beginning already in 2018, some of the most serious criticism ever published took place about Carl Gustaf and the way his monarchy has developed.[26][27][28][29] Support for the monarchy overall remained strong in the Swedish public, however, in large part due to the popularity of Crown Princess Victoria.[30]
The king is passionate about the environment, technology, agriculture, trade, and industry. Like many members of the Swedish royal family, he has a keen interest in automobiles. He owns several Porsche 911s, a car model which is said to be a particular favourite of his, as well as a vintage Volvo PV444, a Ferrari 456M GT, an AC Cobra and other cars.[31] The first pictures taken of him and his future wife were of them sitting in his Porsche 911. In the summer of 2005 he was involved in a traffic accident in Norrköping. The accident was described as a "fender bender", with no serious personal injuries claimed. Nevertheless, the incident caused national headlines.[32] The king and queen of Sweden frequently travel to the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, including in 2014, 2016 and 2018.[33][34]
In December 2020, the king said Sweden's approach to dealing with COVID-19 had failed. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven said that "the fact that so many have died can't be considered as anything other than a failure".[35]
A new Swedish double duchy was created for Princess Madeleine (left) in 1982, whereas her husband in 2013 declined to become a Swedish citizen, prince, and duke, and is called Herr Christopher O'Neill in Sweden
So empowered as head of the House of Bernadotte,[38] King Carl Gustaf since he was enthroned in 1973 has made a number of personal decisions regarding the titles and positions of relatives and family members, including the demotion of a sister, elevation of several commoners to royalty, rebuff of an elderly uncle's wishes and the creation of new Swedish titles and duchies.
1974: his sister Christina married a non-royal Swedish man and Carl Gustaf followed the example which his grandfather and predecessor had set for two of Christina's older sisters with like marriages, so Christina was removed from the Royal House, no longer a Royal Highness and was given the courtesy title Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson (a special non-royal, non-noble style first invented in 1953 by King Haakon VII of Norway for his granddaughter Ragnhild).
1976: his own choice, taking advantage of his constitutional prerogative as king when he married a non-royal German-Brazilian woman, saw her created Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden.
1976: his paternal uncle Bertil (later that year) married the non-royal British woman who had lived with Bertil for decades, and (with Bertil's titles) Carl Gustaf created her a Royal Highness Princess of Sweden and Duchess of Halland.
1977: his daughter Victoria was born, and in 1980, Carl Gustaf created her Duchess of Västergötland (which has had duchesses before).
1979: his son Carl Philip was born, and Carl Gustaf created him Duke of Värmland (which has had dukes before).
1982: his daughter Madeleine was born, and Carl Gustaf created a new duchy for her as Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland.
1983: his paternal uncle Sigvard, since 1934 no longer Prince of Sweden because of a non-royal marriage to a German woman, supported by legal experts[39] announced his own title as Prince Sigvard Bernadotte, 18 years later clearly citing a great-uncle Prince Oscar Bernadotte's title as his main precedent;[40] however, Sigvard died in 2002 with Carl Gustaf never having responded to his uncle's statement, and with the Royal Court of Sweden consistently refusing to honor it.
2003: his paternal grandfather's first cousin Carl died, and Carl Gustaf formally recognized his Belgian title by allowing Prince Carl Bernadotte on the gravestone at the Royal Cemetery which is owned by the king; in 2014 he did the same there, allowing Carl's widow's name as Princess Kristine Bernadotte when she died.
2010: his daughter Victoria married a non-royal Swede whom Carl Gustaf created a Royal Highness Prince of Sweden and (with her title) Duke of Västergötland.
2012: his granddaughter Estelle was born and created Duchess of Östergötland (which has had duchesses before).
2013: his daughter Madeleine married a non-royal British American who declined Swedish citizenship, and Carl Gustaf gave him the special courtesy title of Herr (with a capital h).
2014: his granddaughter Leonore was born and created Duchess of Gotland (which also previously has been a duchy).
2015: his son Carl Philip married a non-royal Swede whom Carl Gustaf created a Royal Highness Princess of Sweden and (with the son's title) Duchess of Värmland.
2015: his grandson Nicolas was born, and Carl Gustaf created a new duchy for him as Duke of Ångermanland.
2016: his grandson Oscar was born and created Duke of Scania (which has had dukes before).
2016: his grandson Alexander was born (later that year) and created Duke of Södermanland (which has had dukes before).
2017: his grandson Gabriel was born and created Duke of Dalarna (which has had dukes before).
2018: his granddaughter Adrienne was born, and Carl Gustaf created a new duchy for her as Duchess of Blekinge.
2019: Carl Gustaf issued a statement rescinding the royal status of his grandchildren Leonore, Nicolas, Alexander, Gabriel and Adrienne in an effort to more strictly associate Swedish royalty to the office of the head of state; the five are still to be styled as princes/princesses and dukes/duchesses of their provinces, and they remain in the line of succession to the throne.[41][42][43]
2021: his grandson Julian was born and created Duke of Halland (which has had dukes before) with the same standing of 2019 as his brothers.
King Carl XVI Gustaf with Queen Silvia at the royal wedding of their daughter Victoria
The King married Silvia Sommerlath, whose father was German and whose mother was Brazilian, and who had grown up in both countries. They met at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, where she was an interpreter and host. The wedding was held on 19 June 1976 at Stockholm Cathedral, the ceremony performed by the Archbishop of Uppsala, Olof Sundby.[44] The wedding was preceded the previous evening by a Royal Variety Performance, at which, among other performances, the Swedish musical group ABBA gave one of the first performances of "Dancing Queen", as a tribute to Sweden's future queen.[45] The King and his family moved to Drottningholm Palace west of Stockholm in 1980. He and the Queen have maintained their business offices at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.
King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia have three children and eight grandchildren:
Prince Carl Philip was born the heir apparent. However, a constitutional reform, which was already under way at the time of his birth, made his elder sister, Victoria, the heir apparent and Crown Princess of Sweden on 1 January 1980, according to the principles of absolute primogeniture, which Sweden was the first recognised monarchy to adopt.[46] King Carl Gustaf objected after the reform, not to the succession by females but to the fact that his son lost the position and title which he had had since birth.[47]
Gustaf VI Adolf was the last king to use the style "by the Grace of God, of the Swedes, Goths and Wends King" (Swedish: med Guds Nåde Sveriges, Götes och Wendes Konung; Latin: Dei Gratia Suecorum, Gothorum et Vandalorum Rex). This title had been in use since its adoption by Gustav I in 1523.[49] Carl XVI Gustaf instead chose the simpler "King of Sweden" (Sveriges Konung), thereby ending a centuries-old tradition.[50][full citation needed]
On his creation as Duke of Jämtland, Carl XVI Gustaf was granted an achievement of arms which featured the arms of Jämtland in base (these arms can be seen on his stallplate as knight of the Danish Order of the ElephantatFrederiksborg Palace). Since his accession to the throne, he has used the greater coat of arms of Sweden although he is still associated with the ducal title of Jämtland he held as a prince.
Arms of Carl Gustaf as Duke of Jämtland from 1950 to his accession
Arms of Carl XVI Gustaf used since his accession to the throne.
^Rudberg, Erik, ed. (1947). Svenska dagbladets årsbok 1946 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Svenska Dagbladet. p. 43. SELIBR283647.
^Lundgren, R.; Larsson, A.; Jaeger, A.; Engman, A.; Malmberg, A.; Fotoreportage, S.; Bild, A. (2017). Sibylla: En biografi (in Swedish). Albert Bonniers Förlag. p. 22-IA52. ISBN978-91-0-017023-3. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
^Schiller, Harald (1970). Olsson, Nils (ed.). Händelser man minns: en krönika i ord och bild 1920–1969 (in Swedish). Stockholm: Samverkande bokförlags försäljningsorganisation. p. 1946/5. SELIBR569745.
^"Toinis metod hjälpte Carl Philip". Expressen (in Swedish). 18 September 1997. p. 109. En dyslektiker kan lära sig att läsa och skriva efter bara 50 timmars träning. Det säger nu Toini Prim, en av Sveriges ledande dyslexiexperter. Prim har tidigare bland annat hjälpt till att behandla prins Carl Philip.
^"Med Drottningholmsom lekplats". Dagens Nyheters bilaga (in Swedish). 16 May 2010. p. 25. 'Rätt snart upptäcktes att Victoria hade ärvt faderns dyslexi och hon kämpade hårt för att hålla jämna steg med klasskamraterna.
^"Monarkens uppgifter" [Duties of the monarch] (in Swedish). Royal Court of Sweden. Archived from the original on 13 May 2006. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
^"Nordisk kontakt". Nordisk Kontakt (in Swedish) (5–16): 809. 1973. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2021. Den nye kungen avgav vid konselj den 19 september den ålderdomliga kungaförsäkran och meddelade att hans namn och titel skulle vara Carl XVI Gustaf, Sveriges konung ( alltså inte som tidigare Sveriges, Götes och Vendes konung)
^Rosén, Staffan. "Kungaparets franska ordnar" [The King's French Order]. Sveriges Kungahus [Swedish Royal Court] (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
^䝪䞊䜲䝇䜹䜴䝖日本連盟 きじ章受章者 [Recipient of the Golden Pheasant Award of the Scout Association of Japan] (PDF). Reinanzaka Scout Club (in Japanese). 23 May 2014. Archived from the original(PDF) on 11 August 2020.
1Also prince of Norway 2Also prince of Poland and Lithuania 3Lost his title due to an unequal marriage 4Not Swedish prince by birth, but created prince of Sweden
Sweden: Recipient of the 90th Birthday Medal of King Gustaf V[52]
Argentina: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín (1998)[54]
Austria: Grand Star of the Order of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria, Special Class (1967)[54][55]
Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (1977)[54]
Brazil: Grand Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross (2007)[54]
Brunei: Recipient of the Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (2004)[54]
Bulgaria: Sash of the Order of Stara Planina[54]
Chile: Collar of the Order of Merit[54]
Croatia: Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav (2013)[56]
Denmark:
Egypt: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Nile[54]
Estonia:
Finland: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose (1974)[54]
France: Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour[61][54]
Germany:
Ducal Family of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha: Knight Grand Cross of the Ducal Royal Saxe-Ernestine Saxe-Coburg and Gotha House Order[54]
Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer[54]
Holy See: Knight with the Collar of the Order of Pope Pius IX[54]
Hungary: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary[54]
Iceland: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Falcon[62][54]
Indonesia: Star of the Republic of Indonesia, 1st Class (2017)[63][54]
Italy: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1991)[64][54]
Japan: Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum[54]
Jordan: Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali[54]
Latvia:
Lithuania: Grand Cross with Golden Chain of the Order of Vytautas the Great (1995)[54]
Luxembourg: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau[54]
Malaysia: Honorary Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (1996)[54]
Mexico: Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (2004)[54]
Netherlands:
Norway: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of St. Olav (1974)[54]
Poland: Knight of the Order of the White Eagle[54]
Portugal:
Romania: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania (2003)[67][54]
Saudi Arabia: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Abdulaziz al Saud[54]
Slovakia: First Class of the Order of the White Double Cross[68][54]
Slovenia: Recipient of the Decoration for Exceptional Merits[54]
South Africa: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Good Hope (1997)[69][54]
South Korea: Recipient of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa (2012)[54]
Spain:
Thailand:
Tunisia: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic[74]
Turkey: Collar of the Order of the State of Republic of Turkey (2013)[75]
Ukraine:[54]
United Kingdom:[54]
Yugoslavia: Order of the Yugoslav Great Star (1976)[citation needed]
Philippines: Mount Makiling Award[79]
Sweden
Media from Commons
Quotations from Wikiquote
Data from Wikidata
