A Royal Visit

King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia have been touring Sweden to mark the Golden Jubilee, 50th anniversary, of the ascension of Carl XVI. Yesterday they arrived by train to Malmö Central Station and paraded along the canal to the royal residence at Stortorget for a reception and ceremony with music and speeches.

I arrived in Malmö about 15 minutes before the royal couple were due on a train from Svedala. The train station was just being roped off, but the patient security officers allowed all the people in the area, including me, to duck under the tape and cross to the other side of the canal where the parade would end at the main square. I wasn’t sure where a good spot to watch would be but somehow ended up with a great view as the horse drawn carriage sped past. There was very little fanfare so that I nearly missed it, thinking that there would be some indication before the king’s carriage got close. Suddenly they were driving past! And then I made my way back to the main square hoping to see their arrival to the reception but got there just as the Home Guard’s band finished playing the “welcome”.

After quite a long while waiting in the sun for the “kungapar” to see the photo display and receive some sort of gift as well as greet their biggest fans who had staked out the front row, I was able to catch a glimpse as they went inside the Residence for lunch. With my Royal Aspirations fulfilled, I did some shopping and headed back to Lund. Luckily, the story continues because Allison of the MN to Malmö gang was able to see most of the events following the luncheon! Here are the photos she so kindly shared. Sadly, none of us were able to stay for the part where one of the American kids in our group got to sing for the king with the Malmö Girls Choir. Maybe the Girl has some video to share and I can update later. Allison did get a photo of them assembling on the stage.

And she got a really nice view of royal couple on the balcony. Looks like she practically got a handshake!

No cheering or audible excitement from the crowd even though clearly everyone was in a hurry to get to the parade and/or back to Stortorget to see the king. When I was accidentally in Edinburgh as QEII’s coffin was being moved to St. Giles’ Cathedral, it was an extremely loud, crowded, high energy affair even for a solemn occasion. By comparison, King Carl G’s visit to Malmö felt much more funereal. The only sounds in my video are the horses and my breathing!!! See this article on Swedish opinions of their Royal Family.