The birthday of the King of Sweden — is the main and very popular holiday in the country.
«There was once one old, old kingdom in the world...» — this is how many Swedish fairy tales begin. One can wonder for a long time which kingdom is meant. But the Swedes themselves are not guessing, they are sure that all good fairy tales — are about them. Moreover, the state of Sweden — is the largest and oldest kingdom in the whole world.
The Swedish monarchy — is a way of life with thousands of years of traditions. Historians do not know for certain who the first monarchs of Sweden were, even after a very thorough study of the country's history, but it is known that Sweden had more than seventy rulers.
The first accurately known ruler was Gustav Vasa, who reigned from 1523 to 1560 and began succession laws in Sweden. By the way, if we talk about the history of not only the world monarchy, but also democracy, then the Swedish parliament — Riksdag, which has existed since 1435, in 1809 issued a set of laws that limit the sole power of both the king and the Riksdag itself in order to avoid abuses in their official position.
These laws are still in effect to this day, turning today's constitutional monarchy of Sweden into a guarantee of high social security for the Swedes. The Swedish monarch Charles XII is quite well known in history, who was a brave warrior and a very experienced military leader. And even the fact that Peter I defeated him near Poltava, according to the Swedes, was rather not a mistake by Charles, but the merit of Peter the Great. But, if we look at the history of Sweden, almost all kings could lead not only the state, but also their valiant troops.
Indicative in this regard is the history of the royal family of Bernadotte, whose representative currently occupies the Swedish throne. Founder of the — family, Frenchman Jean Baptiste Bernadotte — general of the Napoleonic army. He ascended the Swedish throne in 1818 under the name of King Charles XIV Johan and reigned until 1844.
Current ruler of Sweden — King Carl XVI Gustav (Swedish). Carl XVI Gustaf), the seventh of the glorious Bernadotte family. He ascended the throne on September 15, 1973.
Carl Gustav Folke Hubertus, Duke of Jamtland, was born on 30 April 1946 to Crown Prince Gustav Adolf and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. In a plane crash in 1947, Crown Prince Gustav Adolf dies and Karl becomes heir, ascending the throne after his grandfather, Gustav VI Adolf, in 1973. Back in 1972, at the Olympic Games in Munich, the future king of Sweden met translator Silvia Sommerlath, the daughter of German financier Walter Sommerlath and Brazilian Alice Renata.
The lovers got engaged at Stockholm Castle on March 12, 1976 and got married in church on June 19 of the same year. In 1977, Crown Princess Victoria —, the future heir to the Swedish throne, was born into the royal family, in 1979 — Prince Carl Philip, and in 1982 — Princess Madeline. The king also has four sisters: Princesses Margaret, Birgitta, Desiri and Christina.
All Swedish citizens, of course, know the birthdays of all members of the royal family, but the most important holiday — is the birthday of King Carl Gustav. On April 30, citizens from all over the country gather at the Royal Castle in Stockholm, where they have a rare opportunity not only to see the king, but also to personally present him with best wishes. On this day, a military parade and various spectacular events are held in the city center, and the whole country celebrates the monarch’s birthday with great love for its main symbol of Swedish statehood.