Apps

Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden — latest news, discussion & facts — IJR

Reign

Carl Gustaf ascended the throne upon the death of his grandfather, Gustaf VI Adolf, on 15 September 1973. Four days later, he took the required regal assurance (Swedish: Konungaförsäkran) during an extraordinary meeting of the cabinet. Afterwards, he appeared before members of parliament, the diplomatic corps and court 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.

Carl Gustaf undertook his first state visit as king on 6 October 1974, meeting with his godfather King Olav V in Norway.

As head of state, he is the foremost representative of Sweden and pays state visits abroad and receives those to Sweden; he opens the annual session of the Riksdag, chairs the Special Council held during a change of Government (skifteskonselj), holds regular Information Councils with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet (informationskonselj), chairs the meetings of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs (utrikesnämnden), receives letters of credence of foreign ambassadors to Sweden and signs those of Sweden to foreign nations, and annually presents the Nobel Prizes and the Polar Music Prize. As a figurehead, he also voluntarily abstains from voting in Swedish elections.

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.

On 26 April 2018, Carl Gustaf became the longest-reigning Swedish monarch when he surpassed Magnus Eriksson's reign of 44 years and 222 days.

Carl Gustaf'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 his jubilee and beginning in 2018, Carl Gustaf and the way his monarchy has developed saw a rise in criticism being published. Support for the monarchy overall remained strong in the Swedish public, however, in large part due to the popularity of Crown Princess Victoria.

Following the abdication of his cousin, Margrethe II of Denmark, Carl Gustaf became the longest-serving incumbent head of state in Europe. His reign saw Sweden end over 200 years of neutrality by joining NATO on 18 March 2024.

Views

Carl Gustaf has made a number of controversial statements considered political. In 1989, he criticised Norway's seal hunting policy, saying that "if [prime minister] Gro Harlem Brundtland cannot take care of the seal problems, I wonder how she will be able to take care of the Norwegian people". In 2004, after a state visit to Brunei, he praised Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and described Brunei as an "open country", despite its controversial human rights record. In 2023 Carl Gustaf said that while he understands that Brunei has a non-democratic form of government, it is still an open country.

Following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, in which many Swedes died, then-prime minister Göran Persson had failed to carry out his constitutional obligation to inform the king on matters of state, resulting in criticism of his 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.

In 2015, Carl Gustaf offered to assist in resolving a diplomatic crisis between Sweden and Saudi Arabia, which began when foreign minister Margot Wallström criticized Saudi Arabia's form of government and human rights situation. Saudi Arabia responded by recalling its ambassador to Sweden and ending a military co-operation agreement between the two nations. The Swedish government then reportedly asked Carl Gustaf to write a letter to the Saudi Arabian king, which ended the crisis. In 2016, Carl Gustaf said that the letter he wrote played a role in resolving the dispute with Saudi Arabia and added that he had "good relations" with the Saudi king, which led to criticism.

In 2016, Carl Gustaf intervened in a debate surrounding the proposed Nobel Center at Blasieholmen in central Stockholm, near the Nationalmuseum and old town, saying that the proposed structure was "too big and in the wrong place" and that it "could be relocated". Following the 2018 election, the City of Stockholm abandoned the original proposal, opting instead for creating new plans near Slussen.

In December 2020, Carl Gustaf said that Sweden "failed" to save lives with its approach to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, which involved not imposing a full national lockdown.

In March 2022, the King condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine during a visit to the Life Regiment Hussars to present a new standard to the regiment. He stated that Europe was in an extremely difficult situation and accused Russia of violating international law and creating a humanitarian catastrophe.

In 2023, the Nobel Foundation announced that they intended to invite ambassadors from Russia, Belarus and Iran to attend that year's Nobel Prize awards ceremony. This sparked mass criticism and the royal court issued a statement saying the king was still deciding on whether or not to attend the ceremony, as has been tradition since it was first held. Many leaders of political parties also threatened to boycott the ceremony. Eventually the Foundation backed down on its decision.

During a ceremony held outside the Riksdag building to mark Sweden's accession to NATO in 2024, Carl Gustaf described the move to join the alliance as a new era in Swedish security policy and reaffirmed Sweden's wish for peace. At the 2025 Society and Defence National Conference in Sälen, Carl Gustaf addressed Sweden's security situation. He said that whilst Sweden was not at war it could no longer consider itself at peace, echoing a sentiment voiced by prime minister Ulf Kristersson. He also highlighted the need societal preparedness and stated that he believed the public's willingness to defend the realm had grown in recent years.

Marriage and family

Carl Gustaf met Silvia Sommerlath, an interpreter and host born to a German father and a Brazilian mother, at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. They married on 19 June 1976, at Stockholm Cathedral, in a ceremony officiated by the Archbishop of Uppsala, Olof Sundby. 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.

Carl Gustaf and Silvia's first joint state visit was to the Netherlands, on 25 October 1976. In 1980, Carl Gustaf and his family moved to Drottningholm Palace west of Stockholm, although they continue to perform their official working duties at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.

King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia have three children and nine grandchildren:

Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Västergötland (born 14 July 1977), who is married to Daniel Westling and has two children

Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland (born 13 May 1979), who is married to Sofia Hellqvist and has four children

Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland (born 10 June 1982), who is married to Christopher O'Neill and has three children

Prince Carl Philip was born the heir apparent. However, a constitutional reform, which was already underway at the time of his birth, made his elder sister, Victoria, the heir apparent and Crown Princess of Sweden when it took effect on 1 January 1980, making Sweden the first monarchy to adopt absolute primogeniture for its line of succession. Carl Gustaf expressed criticism at his son losing the position and title which he had from birth as a result of the adoption of said law.

On 3 November 2010 the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet published excerpts from a book about the Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf, Den motvillige monarken ("The Reluctant Monarch"), claiming that he had a year-long love affair with pop singer Camilla Henemark in the late 1990s.

Use of remaining power

So empowered as head of the House of Bernadotte, 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 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; 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.

2021: his grandson Julian was born and created Duke of Halland (which has had dukes before) with the same standing of 2019 as his elder brothers.

2025: his granddaughter Ines was born and created Duchess of Västerbotten with the same standing of 2019 as her elder brothers.

Distinctions

Sweden: Lord and Master (and Knight with Collar) of the Order of the Seraphim

Sweden: Lord and Master (and Commander Grand Cross) of the Order of the Sword

Sweden: Lord and Master (and Commander Grand Cross) of the Order of the Polar Star

Sweden: Lord and Master (and Commander Grand Cross) of the Order of Vasa

Sweden: Lord and Master (and Knight) of the Order of Charles XIII

Sweden: Recipient of the 90th Birthday Medal of King Gustaf V

Sweden: Recipient of the 85th Birthday Medal of King Gustaf VI Adolf

Sweden: Recipient of the Wedding Medal of Crown Princess Victoria to Daniel Westling

Argentina: Collar of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín (1998)

Austria: Grand Star of the Order of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria, Special Class (1967)

Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (1977)

Brazil: Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross (2007)

Brunei: Recipient of the Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (2004)

Bulgaria: Sash of the Order of Stara Planina

Chile: Collar of the Order of Merit

Croatia: Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav (2013)

Denmark:

Knight with Collar of the Order of the Elephant (12 January 1965)

Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog (1975)

Egypt: Collar of the Order of the Nile

Estonia:

Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (1995)

Collar of the Order of the White Star (2011)

Finland: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (1974)

France: Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour

Germany:

Grand Cross special class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany

Ducal Family of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha: Grand Cross of the Ducal Royal Saxe-Ernestine Saxe-Coburg and Gotha House Order

Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer

Holy See: Knight with the Collar of the Order of Pope Pius IX

Hungary: Grand Cross (Military Division) of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary

Iceland: Collar with Grand Cross Breast Star of the Order of the Falcon

Indonesia: Star of the Republic of Indonesia, 1st Class (2017)

Italy: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1991)

Japan: Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

Jordan: Collar of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali

Latvia:

Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (1995)

Grand Cross of the Order of Viesturs

Lithuania: Grand Cross with Golden Chain of the Order of Vytautas the Great (1995)

Luxembourg: Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau

Malaysia: Honorary Recipient of the Order of the Crown of the Realm (1996)

Mexico: Collar of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle (2004)

Netherlands:

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion

Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange

Commander of the Order of the Golden Ark

Norway: Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (1974)

Poland: Knight of the Order of the White Eagle

Portugal:

Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword

Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry (1987)

Romania: Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania (2003)

Saudi Arabia: Collar of the Order of Abdulaziz al Saud

Slovakia: First Class of the Order of the White Double Cross

Slovenia: Recipient of the Decoration for Exceptional Merits

South Africa: Grand Collar of the Order of Good Hope (1997)

South Korea: Recipient of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa (2012)

Spain:

1,183rd Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (1983)

Knight of the Collar of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III

Thailand:

Knight of the Most Auspicious Order of the Rajamitrabhorn (2003)

Knight of the Order of Symbolic Propitiousness Ramkeerati (2008)

Tunisia: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Republic

Turkey: Recipient of the Order of the State of Republic of Turkey (2013)

Ukraine:

Member of the Order of Liberty (2008)

First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise

First Class of the Order of Merit, 1st Class

United Kingdom:

Stranger Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter (1983)

Recipient of the Royal Victorian Chain (8 July 1975)

Yugoslavia: Order of the Yugoslav Great Star (1976)

Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

Article

Notable quotes

Related journals

Live room · 1 here

Article

Early life

Youth and education

Reign

Views

Personal life

Personal interests

Marriage and family

Health

Use of remaining power

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Regnal name

Arms

Distinctions

Awards

Honorary military positions

Related journals

Notable quotes