Category Archives: Swedish Royals

Sofia of Nassau, Queen of Sweden and Norway

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Sofia of Nassau, Queen of Sweden and Norway – source: Wikipedia

Queen Sofia of Sweden and Norway was the wife of King Oscar II of Sweden. She was born Princess Sophia Wilhelmine Marianne Henriette of Nassau on July 9, 1836, at the Biebrich Palace in Wiesbaden, Duchy of Nassau, now in Hesse, Germany, the youngest of three children of Wilhelm, Duke of Nassau and his second wife, Pauline of Württemberg.

Sophia’s full siblings were:

Sophia also had eight half-siblings from her father’s first marriage to Princess Louise of Saxe-Hildburghausen:

Sophia was an intelligent child and was educated privately by tutors. She was most interested in languages, history, and religion, three subjects that would serve her well later in life. She spent some time at the Russian court to learn about life in a grand court. Having lost her father at the age of three, and her mother at the age of 20, Sophia lived with her elder half-sister, Princess Marie of Wied.

In July 1856 Sophia met her future husband, Prince Oscar of Sweden, Duke of Östergötland. He was the third son of King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway and Josephine of Leuchtenberg. The two fell in love and were engaged just two months later. Between their engagement and marriage, Sophia learned the Swedish and Norwegian languages and studied the history of both countries.

Sophia and Oscar married on June 6, 1857, at Biebrich Palace in the Duchy of Nassau, now in Hesse, Germany, and made their entrance into Stockholm several weeks later. Sofia, who had now taken the Swedish spelling of her name, was quickly embraced by the Swedish people who nicknamed her The Blue Duchess, because of the blue dress she wore when she arrived. They had four sons:

(Crown Princess Sofia, c. 1870)

In 1859, Sofia and Oscar became the Crown Prince and Crown Princess as Oscar was the heir of his elder brother King Carl XV who had no living male heirs. They lived at the Hereditary Prince’s Palace (Arvfurstens palats) in Stockholm and would remain there until Oscar’s accession. In 1864, they purchased a farm in Helsingborg where they built a small palace called Sofiero. The palace was later enlarged after Oscar’s accession and became a favorite summer residence of the family. In 1905, Sofiero was given to Oscar’s grandson, the future King Gustaf VI Adolf, as a wedding present.

Following the death of King Carl XV of Sweden and Norway on September 18, 1872, Sofia and Oscar became King and Queen of Sweden and Norway. They were crowned in Stockholm, Sweden on May 12, 1873, and in Trondheim, Norway on June 18, 1873. Sofia embraced her role as Queen of both countries and was seen as an insightful advisor to her husband, who was not initially very popular. She often spent her summers in Norway, where she was well-loved by the Norwegian people and admired for her simple lifestyle.

In the late 1870s, Sofia became a follower of the teachings of Lord Radstock, a noted British missionary, and often spent much of her day in prayer. She withdrew significantly from court life, attending functions only when necessary. Her health was also a factor in her reduced activities. She spent several years abroad for various cures and spas, avoiding the harsh winters in Scandinavia.

Queen Sofia was instrumental in establishing organized nursing schools in Sweden. A follower of Florence Nightingale, she learned much from a visit to the United Kingdom in 1881 and began her project upon returning to Sweden. In 1882, Sofia arranged formal classes for nurses at the Sabbatsberg hospital. Two years later, she opened the Sophiahemmet University College, and in 1889 it became the Sophiahemmet, a combined school for nurses and hospitals. Along with her efforts in this area, Queen Sofia also lent her name and her efforts, to nearly 50 other patronages both in Sweden and Norway.

In 1905, she ceased to be Queen of Norway following the dissolution of the union between the two countries. The situation had taken its toll on her husband, and his health soon began to decline.

Queen Dowager Sofia, painted by Anders Zorn, 1909. source: Wikipedia

Following her husband’s death in December 1907, Queen Sofia lived primarily at Ulriksdal Palace. She kept up to date on politics, despite no longer having the influence she had enjoyed during her husband’s reign. She continued to travel extensively and remained very involved with her charitable work, especially Sophiahemmet. Queen Sofia made her last public appearance at the exam celebrations for new nurses at Sophiahemmet, on December 3, 1913.

Just weeks later, Queen Sofia died on December 30, 1913, at Ulriksdal Palace. At the time, she was the longest-serving Queen of Sweden (until surpassed in 2011 by Queen Silvia, wife of King Carl XVI Gustaf). Following her funeral in the Stockholm Cathedral, she was buried with her husband in the Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm, Sweden. Queen Sofia is the ancestress of the current sovereigns of Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

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Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway was born Prince Oscar Fredrik, Duke of Östergötland, on January 21, 1829, at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in Sweden. He was the third of the five children and the third of the four sons of King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway and Princess Josephine of Leuchtenberg, and had four siblings:

Oscar was educated privately for several years and then began a military career with the Swedish Navy at the age of 11 in 1840. By 1845 he had become an officer, and would later rise to the rank of Rear Admiral. He studied at Uppsala University and published several works of poetry and military manuals.

King Oscar II and Queen Sofia, date unknown. source: Wikipedia

Following a tour of Europe to find a bride, in October 1856 Oscar’s engagement to Princess Sophia of Nassau was announced. She was the daughter of Wilhelm, Duke of Nassau and Princess Pauline of Württemberg. The couple married on June 6, 1857, at Biebrich Palace in Wiesbaden, Duchy of Nassau, now in the German state of Hesse. They had four children:

Upon his father’s death in 1859, Oscar became Crown Prince and heir of his elder brother King Karl XV, who had no living male heirs. The second brother Gustaf had died in 1852. Oscar and Sofia (as she was then known) moved to the Hereditary Prince’s Palace (Arvfurstens palats) in Stockholm.

King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway, by Emil Osterman. source: Wikipedia

Oscar became King of Sweden and Norway on September 18, 1872, upon his brother’s death. He was crowned in Sweden on May 12, 1873, and in Norway on July 18, 1873. While living primarily in Sweden, Oscar spent more time in Norway than his predecessors. He also learned to speak and write the language fluently. Also, unlike his predecessors, Oscar recognized the difficulties in trying to maintain the union between Sweden and Norway.

In Sweden, King Oscar II’s reign saw the establishment of the office of Prime Minister in 1876, and a subsequent move to a more constitutional monarchy with Sweden’s power being held by the parliament. Often referred to as “Europe’s most enlightened monarch”, Oscar put great focus and efforts into artistic ventures. He commissioned a new opera house for the Royal Swedish Opera in the 1890s and established the world’s first open-air museum near his summer residence in Oslo. Along with his earlier writings, he also wrote the memoirs of King Karl XII and his own memoirs.

King Oscar would later oversee the end of the union between Sweden and Norway. For many years, Norway had felt it was the “lesser” party in the union, being subordinate to Sweden. This led to increased calls for independence. After becoming King, Oscar gave in to the Norwegian parliament’s decision to eliminate the position of Vice Regent which had often been held by the heir or another son of the Swedish sovereign. After years of disagreements between the two governments, the Norwegian government voted for independence in the Spring of 1905. Following a public vote garnered over 99% in favor of dissolution, negotiations began between the two countries to formally end the union.

On October 26, 1905, King Oscar II formally renounced his claim to the Norwegian throne, with Sweden finally recognizing Norway as an independent constitutional monarchy. At one point during the negotiations, it was suggested that Oscar’s third son Prince Carl be appointed King of a newly independent Norway. However, King Oscar mandated that no prince from his royal house would replace him on the throne. Instead, just weeks after the formal end of the union, Oscar’s great-nephew Prince Carl of Denmark, a grandson of Oscar’s elder brother King Karl XV, was elected King of Norway, taking the name Haakon VII. Ironically, Haakon’s son Olav married the daughter of Prince Carl of Sweden, and in 1991, Oscar’s great-grandson King Harald V became King of Norway. Through his children, Oscar’s descendants currently occupy the thrones of Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and Luxembourg.

King Oscar II with his son, King Gustaf V; grandson, King Gustaf VI Adolf; and great-grandson, Prince Gustav Adolf (father of the current King Carl XVI Gustaf). photo taken June 15, 1906. source: Wikipedia

Soon after the end of the union with Norway, King Oscar’s health began to decline. He died at the Royal Palace of Stockholm on December 8, 1907, and was buried at the Riddarholmen Church. He was succeeded by his eldest son King Gustaf V.

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Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Louise of the Netherlands, Queen of Sweden and Norway

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Queen Lovisa of Sweden and Norway, photographed by Maths. Hansen, c.1865. source: Wikipedia/National Library of Norway

Queen Lovisa of Sweden was the wife of King Carl XV of Sweden (also King Karl IV of Norway). She was born Princess Wilhelmina Frederika Alexandrine Anna Louise of the Netherlands on August 5, 1828, in The Hague, the Netherlands. Her father, Prince Frederik of the Netherlands, was a son of King Willem I of the Netherlands, and her mother, Princess Luise of Prussia, was a daughter of King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia. She had three younger siblings:

  • Prince Frederik (1833 – 1834) – died at 16 months old
  • Prince Willem (1836 – 1846) – died at 9 years old
  • Princess Marie (1845 – 1910) – married Wilhelm, Prince of Wied, had issue

Princess Louise was educated by a governess, studying French, German, English, Russian, and piano. Following her confirmation in 1845, a hunt began to find a suitable husband for the young princess. In 1849, she met Prince Carl of Sweden, the son and heir of King Oscar I, and negotiations were soon underway to arrange a marriage between the two. While Louise was enamored of her future husband from their first meeting, he found her unattractive. However, King Oscar wanted to create familial ties between the relatively new Bernadotte dynasty and the other long-established European dynasties. With Louise’s Dutch and Prussian families and the promise of a large dowry, she was an ideal candidate. Prince Carl eventually conceded to his father’s wishes and the couple’s engagement was announced in February 1850. Louise quickly learned to speak Swedish, although she never studied Norwegian.

Louise and Carl were married on June 19, 1850, at the Storkyrkan in Stockholm, Sweden and the couple had two children:

Lovisa with her husband and daughter, late 1850s. source: Wikipedia

The marriage was an unhappy one. Lovisa (as she was now known) was desperately in love with her husband, but he was consistently unfaithful to her. Having had complications in her second pregnancy, Louise was unable to bear any more children. Following their son’s death in 1854, leaving no male heir to inherit the throne, Lovisa offered her husband a divorce, which he declined.

Upon her father-in-law’s death on July 8, 1859, her husband ascended the thrones of Sweden and Norway and Lovisa became Queen. She was crowned with her husband in Sweden on May 3, 1860, and in Norway on August 5, 1860. She was the first Queen in the union of Sweden and Norway to be crowned in both countries, as the two previous consorts had been Catholic and could not be crowned in Norway.

Unlike her predecessors, Lovisa took little interest in politics. Instead, she put her efforts into philanthropic work, founding and supporting numerous charities in both Sweden and Norway. She preferred these activities to those of the formal court functions she was required to attend as Queen and often feigned illness to avoid attending. However, she did suffer from ill health, often experiencing fainting spells, and at least once having what may have been an epileptic seizure. The cause of these maladies was typically attributed to her husband’s affairs.

Tombs of King Carl XV and Queen Lovisa. photo © Susan Flantzer

Lovisa traveled to the Netherlands to be at her mother’s deathbed in late 1870. Upon returning, her husband fell ill and she nursed him back to health. Physically drained, Lovisa contracted pneumonia and died on March 30, 1871, at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. She was buried at the Riddarholm Churchen in Stockholm, Sweden. Despite their strained relationship, King Carl XV was reportedly distraught at Lovisa’s death and died a year and a half later.

Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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King Carl XV of Sweden/King Karl IV of Norway

By Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

King Carl XV of Sweden/King Karl IV of Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

King Carl XV of Sweden (and King Karl IV of Norway) was the third monarch of the Bernadotte dynasty which has reigned in Sweden since 1818. He was born Prince Carl Ludwig Eugen of Sweden, Duke of Skåne, on May 3, 1826, at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, the eldest child of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg. He had four younger siblings:

Carl was educated privately, earning his baccalaureate in December 1843, and then studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Christiania (Oslo) and the University of Uppsala. From a young age, he was drawn to the arts. He served as an officer in the Swedish army, having been given his first officer’s commission in 1841 by his grandfather, King Carl XIV Johan. Following his father’s accession to the throne in 1844, and following a tradition dating back to the 1700s, Carl was appointed chancellor of the Universities of Uppland and Lund in 1844.

Wedding of Carl and Louise of the Netherlands- source: Wikipedia

On June 19, 1850, Carl married Princess Louise of the Netherlands at the Storkyrkan (Great Church) in Stockholm. She was the daughter of Prince Fredrik of the Netherlands (a son of King Willem I) and Princess Luise of Prussia (a daughter of King Friedrich Wilhelm III). The marriage had been arranged by Carl’s father who wanted to establish familial relationships between the relatively new Bernadotte dynasty and some of the much older ruling dynasties in Europe. They had two children:

The marriage was never happy. While Louise was smitten with her husband, he was rather indifferent to her and took many mistresses and fathered several illegitimate children. After the death of their son in 1854, and discovering that she could no longer bear children, Louise offered Carl a divorce but he refused.

In February 1856, Carl was appointed Viceroy of Norway and spent a year and a half in his father’s “other land”. While in Norway, Carl indulged his interest in drawing and painting, along with his desire to be involved in politics. He developed a strong friendship with King Frederik VII of Denmark, which led to improved relations between the Scandinavian countries. In September 1857, Carl returned to Sweden where he served as Regent for his ailing father for nearly two years.

King Carl XV of Sweden/King Karl IV of Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

Upon his father’s death on July 8, 1859, Carl ascended to the thrones of Sweden – as King Karl XV – and Norway – as King Karl IV. He was crowned in Sweden on May 3, 1860, and in Norway on August 5, 1860. Despite his abrupt manner, he is noted as one of the most successful sovereigns in Sweden. During his reign, he oversaw the enactment of communal law, ecclesiastical law, and criminal law, and in 1858, passed the law of legal majority for unmarried women. He is also noted for helping Louis De Geer reform the Swedish Parliament in 1866.

Tombs of King Carl XV and Queen Louise on the right; Photo © Susan Flantzer

After becoming ill the previous year, King Karl XV died from tuberculosis on September 18, 1872, in Malmö, Sweden.  He is buried in the Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm. As he had no surviving son, the Swedish and Norwegian thrones passed to his younger brother King Oscar II. However, through his daughter, King Karl XV’s descendants occupy the thrones of Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, and Norway, along with the former throne of Greece.

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Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Désirée Clary, Queen Desideria of Sweden and Norway

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Désirée Clary, Queen Desideria of Sweden and Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Desideria of Sweden and Norway was the wife of King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden/King Karl III Johan of Norway, born Jean Baptiste Bernadotte. She was born Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary, on November 8, 1777, in Marseille, France, the youngest of the nine children of François Clary, a wealthy French merchant, and his second wife Françoise Rose Somis. Through Désirée, her parents are the ancestors of the royal families of Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, and Sweden.

Désirée had eight siblings:

  • Joseph Nicolas Clary, 1st Comte Clary et de l’Empire, (1760 – 1823), married Anne Jeanne Rouyer
  • Joseph Honoré Clary (1762 – 1764), died in childhood
  • Marie Anne Rose Clary (1764 – 1835), married Antoine-Ignace Anthoine, baron de Saint-Joseph et de l’Empire, Mayor of Marseille
  • Marseille Clary (1764 – 1784), unmarried
  • Justinien François Clary (1766 – 1794), unmarried
  • Catherine Honorine Clary (1769 – 1843), married Henri Joseph Gabriel Blait de Villeneufve
  • Julie Clary (1771 – 1845), married Joseph Bonaparte, King of Naples and Sicily, King of Spain and the Indies, elder brother of Napoleon Bonaparte
  • Basile Clary (1774 – 1781), died in childhood

Désirée had four half-siblings from her father’s first marriage to Gabrielle Fléchon (1732–1758):

  • François-Joseph Clary (1752 – 1753), died in infancy
  • Marie-Jeanne Clary (1754 – 1815), married (1) Louis Honoré Lejeans (2) Emmanuel Mathieu Pézenas, Baron de Pluvinal
  • Marie Thérèse Catherine Clary (1755 – 1818), married Lazare Lejeans
  • Étienne François Clary (1757 – 1823), married Marcelle Guey, had two children

Désirée was educated at a convent in her early years, before returning home to her family during the French Revolution. Several years later, she met Joseph Bonaparte, the elder brother of Napoleon, and the two became engaged. Soon after, Napoleon suggested that Joseph should instead marry Désirée’s sister Julie and that he would marry Désirée. They became engaged in April 1795, but Napoleon soon became involved with Joséphine de Beauharnais, and the engagement ended in September 1795. Désirée spent the next several years living with her sister and brother-in-law in Genoa and Rome. While in Rome in 1797, she became engaged to a French general Mathurin-Léonard Duphot, allegedly arranged by Napoleon. They were to marry on December 31, 1797, but Duphot was shot and killed in a riot the previous day.

Désirée’s husband Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, the future King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden and Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

Returning to Paris, Désirée soon met Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, a noted French general and future King of Sweden. The couple married on August 17, 1798, and had one son:

In 1804, Bernadotte was made Marshal of France, and Désirée was given an allowance by Napoleon, as well as a house on the Rue d’Anjou Saint-Honoré in Paris, France. Désirée maintained this house for the rest of her life, living there whenever she was in Paris. With her husband often gone, Désirée installed herself in the ranks of Parisian high society, spending her time with both the Bonaparte and Clary families. She occasionally traveled to see her husband but quickly returned to Paris, the only place she felt at home.

Désirée Clary, Queen Desideria of Sweden and Norway. portrait by François Gérard, c.1810. source: Wikipedia

In 1809, King Carl XIII of Sweden ascended the throne of Sweden. He had no living children, and his adopted son and heir died the following year. The Swedes had the idea to offer the position of Crown Prince to one of Napoleon’s Marshals. On August 21, 1810, the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates elected Désirée’s husband Jean Baptiste Bernadotte as Crown Prince of Sweden. He arrived in Stockholm in November 1810 and was formally adopted by the King Carl III of Sweden, taking the name Carl Johan, and converting from Roman Catholicism to Lutheranism.

The new Crown Prince of Sweden was actively involved in the events leading up to the Treaty of Kiel in 1814, in which Denmark was forced to cede Norway to Sweden. Unlike the previous union with Denmark, this was a personal union under a single sovereign, and Norway remained an independent state with its own constitution. King Carl XIII of Sweden also reigned as King Karl II of Norway. The separate kingdoms of Sweden and Norway were under a common monarch from 1814 until its dissolution in 1905.

Not wanting to leave Paris, Désirée did not initially accompany her husband to Sweden. She finally made the trip in December 1810 and was immediately unhappy. She found the Swedish weather very harsh, and could not adapt to the formality and responsibilities of her new role as Crown Princess. Added to that was a very difficult relationship with the wife of King Carl XIII of Sweden, Queen Hedwig, who complained, perhaps rightfully so, about Désirée’s constant complaints about everything that was not French.  The following year, Désirée left Sweden and returned to Paris, where, she acted as a go-between and mediator between her husband and Emperor Napoleon and kept her husband fully advised of the political events in Europe. After Napoleon was overthrown, Désirée often spent time with the court of King Louis XVIII of France.

King Carl XIII of Sweden/King Karl II of Norway died on February 5, 1818, and Bernadotte ascended the thrones of Sweden and Norway as King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden/King Karl III Johan of Norway. However, Désirée, the new Queen of Sweden and Norway, remained in Paris. It would be several years before she made her return to Sweden. In 1822, her son, now Crown Prince Oscar of Sweden and Norway, toured Europe to find a bride and met with his mother twice. The following year, in June 1823, Désirée returned to Sweden, accompanying her future daughter-in-law Princess Josephine of Leuchtenberg, the granddaughter of Napoleons’s first wife Joséphine de Beauharnais from her first marriage to Alexandre, Vicomte de Beauharnais, who had been guillotined during the French Revolution. Although Désirée planned to make just a temporary visit, she remained in Sweden for the rest of her life.

Coronation of Queen Desideria in Sweden, August 1829, by Fredric Westin. source: Wikipedia

Désirée’s coronation was delayed due to the long time she remained in France and the potential religious issues stemming from her remaining a Roman Catholic and not converting to Lutheranism like her husband and son. Finally, on August 21, 1829, Queen Desideria, her official name although she never used it herself, was crowned Queen of Sweden. She was never crowned in Norway due to her religion.

Désirée attempted to fulfill her role as Queen Consort, holding parties and balls, but she soon grew tired of it and longed to return to Paris. Her lack of effort to embrace her new homeland, and her refusal to learn the languages of either Sweden or Norway, led to her never being fully accepted by the Swedish or Norwegian people. Her less-than-royal roots did not help either. She was better received in Norway, where she visited several times, and served as patron of the Eugenia Foundation from 1828 until 1847. Despite plans to return to her home in Paris in 1853, Désirée’s fear of sea travel prevented her from making the trip. She spent her remaining years in Sweden, splitting her time between her apartments at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, Drottningholm Palace, and Haga Palace.

Queen Desideria’s tomb; source: Wikipedia

Désirée died on December 17, 1860, at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Following her funeral in January 1861, she was interred in the Bernadotte Chapel at the Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm, in front of her husband’s tomb.

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Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden/King Karl III Johan of Norway

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2015

King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden/King Karl III Johan of Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden/King Karl III Johan of Norway was born Jean Baptiste Bernadotte on January 26, 1763, in Pau, France. He was the youngest of five children of Jean Henri Bernadotte and Jeanne de Saint-Jean. He was educated to follow his father in the law profession but seems to have had no interest. Following his father’s death, Jean ended his studies and joined the military, where he quickly stood out for his courage and leadership. During the French Revolution, he rose quickly through the ranks, attaining the rank of Brigadier General in 1794.

Désirée Clary, 1807 portrait by Robert Lefèvre. source: Wikipedia

On August 16, 1798, Bernadotte married Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary, known as Désirée, whose sister Julie Clary was married to Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother. Désirée had previously been engaged to Napoleon. They had one son:

In 1804, Napoleon was proclaimed Emperor of France and appointed Bernadotte Marshal of France. He served for several months as Governor of the recently-occupied Hanover, and in December 1805, took part in the battle of Austerlitz. In recognition of his efforts at Austerlitz, Napoleon created Bernadotte Prince of Pontecorvo, a small principality in Italy.

Bernadotte’s relationship with Napoleon was often strained, but the Emperor respected Bernadotte greatly. Bernadotte often went against the Emperor’s orders during battle, at least once being stripped of his command. Despite this, he was later appointed Governor of Rome but never took up the position. Instead, he would find himself heading north to Sweden.

In 1809, King Carl XIII of Sweden ascended the throne of Sweden. He had no living children, and his adopted son and heir died the following year. The Swedes had the idea to offer the position of Crown Prince to one of Napoleon’s Marshals. Bernadotte was well-liked in Sweden, particularly because of his considerate treatment of Swedish prisoners during the recent war with Denmark. In addition, he had a connection to Napoleon and already had a son who could continue the succession. On August 21, 1810, the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates elected Bernadotte as Crown Prince. He arrived in Stockholm in November 1810 and was formally adopted by the King Carl III of Sweden, taking the name Carl Johan, and converting from Roman Catholicism to Lutheranism.

The new Crown Prince quickly took an active role in the Swedish government, particularly in the area of foreign policy. He was actively involved in the events leading up to the Treaty of Kiel in 1814, in which Denmark was forced to cede Norway to Sweden. Norway refused to accept the treaty at first, and the Crown Prince invaded, quickly suppressing the Norwegian forces. Soon, Norway became united with Sweden at the Convention of Moss. Unlike the previous union with Denmark, this was a personal union under a single sovereign, and Norway remained an independent state with its own constitution.  The separate kingdoms of Sweden and Norway were under a common monarch from 1814 until its dissolution in 1905.

Coronation in Norway, painting by Jacob Munch. source: Wikipedia

King Carl XIII of Sweden/King Karl II of Norway died on February 5, 1818, and Bernadotte ascended the thrones of Sweden and Norway. His coronation in Sweden took place on May 11, 1818, at the Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) in Stockholm, Sweden and he took the name Carl XIV Johan. Thus began the Bernadotte dynasty in Sweden, which continues today. In September 1818, he was crowned at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway as King Karl III Johan of Norway.

Following his accession, the King soon lost much of his popularity with the Swedish and Norwegian people. In Norway, his role in the events of 1814 and his constant attempts to change the constitution to allow him great powers, caused him to be viewed skeptically by the people. His attempts to squash the celebrations of Norway’s National Day (May 17th) – going so far as making it illegal – further cemented the negative views of the Norwegians.

In Sweden, where he enjoyed much more power and control, his conservative almost autocratic views caused significant dissent among the population. By the 1830s, there were calls for his abdication, however, he held onto his throne and seems to have regained the respect of many of his subjects.

Tomb of King Carl XIV John and his wife Desiree. photo © Susan Flantzer

On his 81st birthday in January 1844, King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden/King Karl III Johan of Norway suffered a stroke, from which he never recovered. He died on March 8, 1844, at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Following his funeral, he was interred at the Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm.

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Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Louise of Sweden, Queen of Denmark

by Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Louise of Sweden, Queen of Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

The wife of King Frederik VIII of Denmark,  Princess Louise of Sweden (Lovisa Josefina Eugenia in Swedish) was born on October 31, 1851, at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. She was the only surviving child of King Carl XV of Sweden and Princess Louise of the Netherlands. Louise had one younger brother, Prince Carl Oscar, who died when he was a year old. Because of complications during the birth of her brother, Louise’s mother was unable to have any more children. Although Sweden had reigning queens in the past, female succession had been banned in the Constitution of 1809, so Louise could not become Queen. Louise’s father was succeeded by his younger brother King Oscar II. Louise has an interesting royal ancestry. Besides being descended from the Kings of Sweden, Louise is also a descendant of Empress Josephine of France via her first marriage, King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria, King Willem I of the Netherlands, King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia, and King George I of Great Britain.

Louise in 1861; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Because she was an only child, Louise was cherished and adored by her parents. She resembled her mother in appearance and her father in her manner. Children’s balls were arranged for Louise at the Royal Palace that were eagerly attended by children of society parents and her cousins, the sons of her uncle, the future King Oscar II. Louise was educated by her governess Hilda Elfving and received swimming lessons from Nancy Edberg, a pioneer in women’s swimming. Louise’s mother took swimming lessons along with her daughter and as a result, swimming became more accepted for women.

Louise as a young teenager; Credit – Wikipedia

The relations between Denmark and Sweden were tense because Sweden had not helped Denmark during the Second Schleswig War with Prussia and Austria. Further tension developed after Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (the future King Christian IX of Denmark) was chosen over Swedish candidates as the heir presumptive to the Danish throne due to a succession crisis. A marriage between Louise and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark was suggested as a means to improve the relations between the two countries. The couple had met for the first time in 1862 when Louise was eleven and Frederik nineteen. Frederik was aware that Louise would be a popular choice in Denmark because a German bride would be unacceptable to the Danes after Denmark’s loss in the Second Schleswig War. The couple became engaged on April 15, 1868. During her engagement, Louise studied the Danish language, literature, culture, and history with Lorentz Dietrichson, a poet and professor of art history and literature.

17-year-old Louise and 26-year-old Frederik were married at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden on July 28, 1869. Frederik and Louise had eight children:

by Elfelt, vintage postcard print, (circa 1877)

Frederick VIII, King of Denmark with his family by Elfelt, bromide postcard print, (circa 1877), NPG x74398 © National Portrait Gallery, London

The family lived a secluded life, residing at Amalienborg Palace during the winter and Charlottenlund Palace during the summer. Louise was a strict, but caring mother who made sure her children had a sense of duty. It was long an open secret that she wanted one of her daughters to marry into the Swedish royal family, and this was accomplished when her daughter Princess Ingeborg married Prince Carl of Sweden, the third son of King Oscar II of Sweden.

While Louise was popular with the Danish people, she experienced ostracism within the Danish royal family, which was dominated by her mother-in-law Queen Louise, born Louise of Hesse-Kassel. Her sisters-in-law Alexandra (the future Queen of the United Kingdom) and Dagmar (the future Empress of Russia) did not care about her and were not fond of her. Frederik was too timid to support his wife. Louise did have an ally in her sister-in-law Thyra (later Crown Princess of Hanover), who was two years younger.

Louise on the left with her sister-in-law Thyra, circa 1870; Credit – Wikipedia

During her long tenure as the Danish Crown Princess, Louise founded several charitable organizations. She was deeply religious and had a lifelong interest in the Church Association for the Inner Mission in Denmark. In her spare time, Louise did needlework, leatherwork, and painting.

In 1906, Louise’s father-in-law King Christian IX died after a reign of nearly 43 years and her husband became King Frederik VIII. She was politically well-informed, but never intervened in political situations. Louise’s period as Queen of Denmark was short as Frederik reigned for only six years. He died in Hamburg, Germany on May 14, 1912, at the age of 68. He was returning to Denmark after a trip to Nice, France, and made a stop in Hamburg. He went out for a walk on the evening of his arrival, became faint, collapsed, and died on a park bench where he was found by a policeman.

 

As a widow, Louise continued her charity work and took care of her three unmarried children. From 1915-1917, she built Egelund Castle and lived there for the remainder of her life. Upon her death, Egelund Castle passed to her youngest unmarried son, Prince Gustav. In 1922, her youngest daughter Princess Dagmar married a noble landowner despite Louise’s protestations that she was marrying beneath her station. Queen Louise died on March 20, 1926, at Amalienborg Palace and was buried next to her husband in the Glücksburger Chapel at Roskilde Cathedral.

Tomb of King Frederik VIII and Queen Louise; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer

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Haga Palace and Haga Park

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Swedish Royal Court/Håkan Lind

source: Swedish Royal Court/Håkan Lind

Haga Palace

Since 2010, Haga Palace has been the official residence of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her family. Located in Haga Park, in Solna Municipality just north of Stockholm, the palace was originally built in 1802-1805 under the direction of King Gustaf IV Adolf. At the time, he and his family used Gustav III’s Pavilion as a summer home, and the King felt it was too small for his growing family. He had a new building erected, just to the north, which was intended to house his children. Initially known as the Queen’s Pavilion, it would later become known as Haga Palace. The building was completed in 1805 but was not fully furnished until around 1810. With 1500 square meters of living space, the palace was designed to include separate apartments for each of the King’s children, an arrangement that was common at the time, regardless of their young ages.

Haga Palace, c1860, painted by Johan Thorsøe.  source: Wikipedia

In 1810, the Swedish government granted permanent rights to use the palace to the new King Carl XIII, and for many years it remained a royal residence. In the 1820s, it became the summer home of Crown Prince Oscar (later King Oscar I) and Princess Josephine of Leuchtenberg; and in the 1860s, was renovated for his son, Prince August and Princess Therese of Saxe-Altenburg, who would remain there until her death in 1914. Several years later, the palace was used to house children left homeless and orphaned after World War I.

The Living Room, c1940 (now the Grand Room). source: Wikipedia

After an extensive renovation, Haga Palace returned to royal use in 1932 when it became the official residence of Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, and his new wife, Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (the parents of the current King Carl XVI Gustaf). Over the next 15 years, the couple had five children who were all born at the palace.

Prince Gustaf Adolf was killed in a plane crash in 1947, and in 1950, Princess Sibylla and her children left Haga and moved to the Royal Palace of Stockholm. After remaining empty for some time, King Gustaf VI Adolf formally returned the rights of use back to the Government, and Haga Palace became an official guest residence for visiting heads of state and other government officials. However, it was not used very often for this purpose, and in later years was used for meetings and conferences more than anything else.

Following the engagement of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling in 2009, the Prime Minister announced that rights to the property would be returned to the Royal Court, as a wedding present for the couple. In addition, the allocation to the Royal Court for maintaining royal properties was also increased.

under renovation, 2010. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

The palace underwent extensive renovations, as did the surrounding grounds. An area of about 8 acres was enclosed with an iron fence and high-tech security features were installed to ensure the privacy and safety of the new residents. Once all the work was completed, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel moved into Haga Palace on November 15, 2010.

The Playhouse. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

One feature in the grounds which remained is a small playhouse that had been a gift from King Gustav V to his great-grandchildren not long before his death in 1950. The playhouse has been use by Crown Princess Victoria’s children

The private quarters of the Crown Princess and her family are located on the first and second floors. In addition, a series of rooms on the first floor facing the front of the palace is also used for official functions. These include a large salon (the Grand Room) in the center, with a living room to the north, and a library and dining room to the south. In 2013, The Royal Court released several photos of these rooms.

The Entry Hall on the ground floor, source: Swedish Royal Court/Klas Sjöberg

The Entry Hall on the ground floor, source: Swedish Royal Court/Klas Sjöberg

The Grand Room, source: Swedish Royal Court/Klas Sjöberg

The Grand Room, source: Swedish Royal Court/Klas Sjöberg

The Living Room, source: Swedish Royal Court/Klas Sjöberg

The Living Room, source: Swedish Royal Court/Klas Sjöberg

The Library, source: Swedish Royal Court/Klas Sjöberg

The Library, source: Swedish Royal Court/Klas Sjöberg

The Dining Room, source: Swedish Royal Court/Klas Sjöberg

The Dining Room, source: Swedish Royal Court/Klas Sjöberg

Haga Park

Haga Palace is located in the larger Haga Park, which encompasses over 355 acres. The park was originally developed by King Gustav III who had purchased the old Haga farm in 1771. He established a large park (doubled in size in 1785 with the purchase of an adjoining farm) and built several buildings prior to his assassination in 1792. His plans for a large summer palace were never completed, and the ruins of the foundations of the palace still remain.

Other notable features of the park include:

Gustav III’s Pavilion. source: Swedish Royal Court/Alexis Daflos

Gustav III’s Pavilion. source: Swedish Royal Court/Alexis Daflos

Gustav III’s Pavilion was built for King Gustav III in the late 1780s. A previous building on the site was incorporated into the design, forming the central part of the pavilion, while two single-story wings were added. King Gustav III took up residence in December 1790, even though the construction was not fully completed. The Pavilion was finished several months after the King’s assassination in March 1792. The Pavilion was used by several successive sovereigns, and underwent several major restorations, in the 1840s, and again in the 1930s. Today, it is part of the tours of Haga Park and houses much of the Gustav III Haga Library.

The Cooper Tents, 2010. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

Across the grounds from Gustav III’s Pavilion are the Copper Tents, built in 1787 to serve as lodgings and stables for the royal guards. A large building is flanked by two smaller ones, all of which are decorated on the front with painted copper sheeting, designed to resemble Turkish tents. Today, the buildings contain a restaurant, a café, and the Haga Park Museum.

Echo Temple, 2006. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

The Echo Temple was built in 1790 on a hill just next to Gustav III’s Pavilion, to be used for outdoor dining. It was originally called the Green Room but was later renamed the Echo Temple due to the echo which is generated by the vaulted ceilings. Currently, it is part of the tour of Haga Park and is often used for wedding ceremonies.

Entrance to the Royal Burial Ground. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

After the death of Crown Princess Margareta (Margaret of Connaught) in 1920, she was temporarily interred at the Stockholm Cathedral. However, her wishes were that she not be interred in a church, and an area of Haga Park was cleared to be used as a royal cemetery. She was interred there in 1922, and since then it has become the traditional burial place for many of the Swedish royal family.

Learn more about the other Swedish Royal Residences here!

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Drottningholm Palace

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

photo: © Susan Flantzer

photo: © Susan Flantzer

Drottningholm Palace

Drottningholm Palace, on the island Lovön in the lake Mälaren, is the residence of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden.  The island originally contained a royal estate called Torvesund, in the time of King Gustav Vasa. His son, later King Johan III, built a stone palace for his wife, Catherine Jaggelon, in 1579 and named it Drottningholm. After her death, the King only used Drottningholm occasionally, and it was later owned by several other Swedish Queens. In 1650, it was purchased by Magnus De la Gardie, a prominent Swedish statesman and brother-in-law of King Carl X Gustav. He, in turn, sold it to Queen Hedvig Eleonora in 1661 but the castle was destroyed by fire later the same year. Queen Hedvig Eleonora engaged famed Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder (and later his son) to rebuild the palace in the design that we know today. For the next hundred years, it served as a regular royal residence for successive sovereigns. In 1744, it was given to the future Queen Louisa Ulrika when she married the future King Adolf Fredrik. The couple resided through their reign, and a few years after her husband’s death, Louisa Ulrika sold the palace to the Swedish state.

The palace was used less often over the next years and was empty for much of the 19th century. In 1846, King Oscar I began making repairs to the palace which was in danger of being torn down. His son, Oscar II continued with repairs. It was Oscar II’s son, King Gustav V, who in 1907 began a massive renovation project of the palace, which would take four years. Gustav V is credited with restoring the palace to its former glory, having removed much of the more ‘modern’ style put in place by his father and grandfather. By 1911, the palace had returned to royal use and has remained a royal residence ever since. In 1981, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia moved from their apartments in the Royal Palace of Stockholm and made Drottningholm their primary residence, living in the southern wing of the palace.

In 1991, The Royal Domain of Drottningholm – including the palace, outbuildings, and grounds – was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the first such site in Sweden.

The main block of the palace is flanked by two large wings, which surround inner courtyards. The southern wing contains the private residence of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and is not open to the public.

Some of the notable rooms in the palace are:

Hedwig Eleonora’s State Bedchamber, 1966.  source: Wikipedia

Hedvig Eleonora’s State Bedchamber is located on the first floor of the palace and formed the main room of the State Rooms at the time. Despite its name, Hedvig Eleonora never actually used the room, instead, living in more private rooms in the southern wing of the palace.

The Ehrenstrhal Salon, 1966. source: Wikipedia

The Ehrenstrahl Salon was previously known as the Large Audience Room and is situated right next to Hedvig Eleonora’s State Bedchamber. It takes its name from the artist David Ehrenstrahl, who painted six large murals for the room which depict important events in the history of the royal family. More of his work also adorns the ceiling in the room.

The Palace Library. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

The Palace Library is found in the northern wing of the palace, overlooking the gardens. Originally a picture gallery, it was converted into a library by Queen Hedvig Eleonora in 1760, to house her extensive collection of books.

Carl X Gustav Gallery. source: Wikipedia

Carl X Gustav Gallery, on the first floor of the palace, was designed by Queen Hedvig Eleonora as a tribute to her late husband, King Carl X Gustav. The gallery contains paintings depicting the King’s military career.

Carl XI Gallery. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

On the second floor, directly above the Carl X Gustav Gallery is the Carl XI Gallery. This gallery contains paintings illustrating the military career of King Carl XI which was completed in 1695.

The Stone Hall, c1899. source: Wikipedia

The Stone Hall was originally Hedvig Eleonora’s dining room and takes its name from the stone floor. Today, it is part of the Royal Family’s private apartments and has occasionally been seen in personal photos released by the royal family for Christmas and birthday celebrations.

The State Hall. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

Directly above the Stone Hall is the Hall of State. It has often been called the Contemporary Hall after the large portraits of other European sovereigns from the time of King Oscar I. Queen Josefina had arranged for many of these portraits to be painted and upon receiving them, gave them all to the Swedish state. Today the room is used primarily for official functions.

The Porcelain Room. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

The Porcelain Room was designed by King Oscar II to display his large collection of faience from the 1700s. The room was completed in 1897, as a gift to the King from the palace staff.

The Palace Church (Slottskyrkan), 2011. source: Wikipedia, ArildV

The Palace Chapel is on the northern end of the palace and serves as the Lovö parish church. Construction began in 1696 and was completed in 1728. After several renovations, the church reopened in 1746 and has been in continuous use ever since. It has also been the site of many royal christenings.

The Palace Grounds

Just next to the southern wing of the palace is the Lake Wing (Sjoflygeln), which was the residence of Crown Princess Victoria prior to her marriage. Prince Daniel also lived at Drottningholm prior to marrying Victoria. He rented an apartment in the Page Building (Pagebyggnaden), just meters from Victoria’s home.  In April 2016, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia took up residence in Sjoflygeln, while major renovations were being done to their home, Villa Solbacken.

The Baroque Gardens. source: Wikipedia, Hedwig Storch

The palace grounds include a stunning baroque garden on the western side of the palace, developed under Queen Hedvig Eleonora in the late 1600s. These gardens feature numerous sculptures and statues, along with several fountains and water features.

The English Gardens. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

Just north of the Baroque Gardens, King Gustav III designed a large area of the park as an English garden, with two ponds, bridges, and walking paths. The English Gardens feature many statues collected by King Gustav III from Italy.

Other buildings on the grounds of Drottningholm Palace include:

The Palace Theatre. photo: © Susan Flantzer

The Palace Theatre. photo: © Susan Flantzer

Located just north of the palace is the Drottningholm Palace Theatre. The current theatre was built at the direction of Queen Hedvig Eleonora, to replace the previous building which had been destroyed by fire in 1762. It formally opened in 1766. It was used extensively by King Gustav III but was then closed after his assassination. For many years it was used only occasionally and began to fall into disrepair. The theatre underwent a complete restoration and formally re-opened in 1922, and is now managed by a private foundation.

In front of the theatre is Theatre Square, which is flanked by four pavilions. These contain private apartments as well as the Theatre gift shop.

The Chinese Pavilion. photo: © Susan Flantzer

The Chinese Pavilion. photo: © Susan Flantzer

The Chinese Pavilion was originally built as a surprise birthday gift for Queen Louisa Ulrika in 1753. Unfortunately, the hastily constructed building could not stand up to the harsh Swedish weather. By 1763, it was deemed necessary to take the building down and rebuild it. The current structure was completed in 1769 and is surrounded by several pavilions which served as additional rooms.

The Guards Tent. photo: © Susan Flantzer

The Guards Tent. photo: © Susan Flantzer

Near the Chinese Pavilion is the Guards Tent, which was built in 1781-1782 to accommodate the Chinese Pavilion Guards. It was later used for storage for many years, and after a major renovation in the 1990s, serves as an exhibition space and part of the palace tours.

Interior of the Museum de Vries. source: Wikipedia, Bengt Oberger

The Museum de Vries is a collection of statues by the artist Adriaen de Vries. In addition to those in the museum, several of his works are featured in the Baroque Gardens. The museum is housed in the Dragon Stables, formerly the stables for the Life Regiment Dragoons. It was later used to house around 250 sheep, which were used to maintain the grounds of the palace until the 1950s. For the next 40 years it was used by the Royal Collection, and since 2001 has held the Museum de Vries.

Evert Lundquist’s Studio. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

Located at the southern end of the palace grounds is Evert Lundquist’s Studio Museum. Mr. Lundquist was a painter and graphic artist who used this building as his studio from 1953 until 1990. Per the artist’s wishes, the studio was opened as a museum in 1993 and remains a popular site on the palace grounds. Artwork by Mr. Lundquist and his wife (artist Ebba Reutercrona) and their two sons are showcased.

Learn more about the other Swedish Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

The Royal Palace of Stockholm

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia, user Brorsson

source: Wikipedia

The Royal Palace of Stockholm

Located on the island of Stadsholmen in Stockholm’s Old Town (Gamla stan), The Royal Palace of Stockholm is the senior palace of the Swedish monarchy. It houses the offices of the Royal Court, as well as several museums, and serves as the setting for many official functions. It has not been used as an actual residence since 1981, although King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia still retain private apartments there. Instead, they use Drottningholm Palace as their primary residence. The Royal Palace is owned by the Swedish state and maintained by the National Property Board. Within the Royal Court, the Governor of the Royal Palaces is responsible for the daily operation of the palace, including public tours. His formal, and ceremonial role is to protect the King’s royal right to use the palace.

Tre Kroner Castle, as painted by Govert Camphuysen, 1661.  source: Wikipedia

The current palace was built on the site of the former Tre Kroner Castle, built in the 13th century. Nearly all of the palace was destroyed by fire in 1697, other than the Northern wing which had just recently been altered. Plans were immediately drawn up to rebuild the palace, with the expectation of taking 5 years. Needless to say, it was nearly 60 years before the Palace was completed and the royal family could take up residence. In 1754, King Adolf Fredrik and Queen Louisa Ulrika and their family moved into the newly finished palace, taking up residence in what is now known as The Bernadotte Apartments in the Northern wing.

The Palace is constructed with four main wings surrounding an inner courtyard. There are also two wings that protrude from the eastern side, and one off the western side. In addition, two rounded wings next to the western side form the outer courtyard.

The Northern Wing

Northern Wing. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

The Northern wing, which faces the buildings of the Swedish Riksdag (parliament), contains the Bernadotte Apartments on the first floor, and the State Apartments on the second floor. It also features the Tre Kroner Museum (in the basement of both the Northern and Western wings).

The Bernadotte Apartments were the apartments of the Sovereign from 1754 until 1907. At that time, the new King Gustav V chose not to use the Bernadotte apartments upon his accession, instead taking rooms on the second floor of the Eastern wing, now known as Prince Bertil’s Apartments. The Bernadotte Apartments are now used occasionally for State functions as well as private affairs.

"Pelarsalen 800p 2011" by Holger.Ellgaard - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pelarsalen_800p_2011.jpg#/media/File:Pelarsalen_800p_2011.jpg

The Pillar Hall, The Bernadotte Apartments. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

Included in the Bernadotte Apartments are:

  • The Pillar Hall — this was originally King Adolf Fredrik’s dining room, situated on the northeast corner of the apartments. Its name comes from the pillars which flank all four walls of the room.
  • The Victoria Salon — named for the statue of Victoria, goddess of victory, which previously stood in the room
  • The East and West Octagonal Cabinets — often used for ambassadors presenting their credentials to The King and other official presentations
  • The Bernadotte Gallery — contains portraits of many of the Bernadotte rulers of Sweden and their families
  • The Carl XVI Gustaf Jubilee Room — recently redone in honor of the King’s 40th Jubilee
  • Queen Louisa Ulrika’s Audience Room
  • Queen Louisa Ulrika’s Dining Room
Karl XI Gallery. photo: © Susan Flantzer

Karl XI Gallery, The State Apartments. photo: © Susan Flantzer

The State Apartments, on the second floor of the Northern wing, were originally designed to be the residence of the Sovereign. However, upon taking up residence in the newly rebuilt palace, King Adolf Fredrik chose instead to use the rooms on the floor below (now known as the Bernadotte Apartments). Comprised of about 10 rooms, these rooms are now used for State functions and private events, including the wedding banquet for Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist in June 2015.

Vita Havet (White Sea Ballroom), photo: © Susan Flantzer

Vita Havet (White Sea Ballroom), photo: © Susan Flantzer

Included in the State Apartments are:

  • The Cabinet Room — used for the Sovereign’s meetings with the Prime Minister and other members of the government
  • The Audience Room — traditionally used by the King to receive foreign ambassadors, although since 2000 this usually takes place in one of the octagonal cabinets in the Bernadotte Apartments
  • Gustav III’s State Bedchamber
  • Karl XI’s Gallery
  • Sofia Magdalena’s State Bedchamber
  • The Don Quixote Salon — gets its name from the woven wallpaper depicting the story of Don Quixote. This was given to King Gustav III in 1784 by King Louis XVI of France
  • Vita Havet (White Sea Ballroom) — this is the palace’s ballroom and is used for larger functions. The wedding banquet for Prince Carl Philip was held here in 2015, and it was used for dancing following the 2010 wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling.

Tre Kroner Museum. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

The Tre Kroner Museum is located in the basement in the Northern and Western wings. Part of the museum is housed in the original palace kitchens, some of the only rooms which survived the fire in 1697. Here you find information about the original palace, with 3D models and various artifacts.

The Eastern Wing

Eastern wing. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

The Eastern wing, facing the water, includes Princess Sibylla’s Apartments on the first floor, and Prince Bertil’s Apartments on the second floor. The Royal Armory is located in the basement.

Princess Sibylla’s Apartments, named after the current King’s mother, had previously been the private apartments of Queen Victoria, wife of King Gustaf V. From their marriage until Gustav’s accession, the couple shared this apartment. Following his accession, King Gustaf V took the rooms directly above while Queen Victoria remained here until her death in 1930.

In 1950, upon the accession of her father-in-law, King Gustaf VI Adolf, Princess Sibylla and her five children moved from their home at Haga Palace, and took up residence in this suite of rooms, remaining there until her death in 1972. The rooms then became the primary residence of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia from their marriage until moving to Drottningholm Palace in 1981. Today, these rooms remain the private apartments of the King and Queen and are used as everyday reception rooms.

View image | gettyimages.com

One of the rooms often seen is the Blue Salon. It was here in 1976 that the engagement of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Silvia Sommerlath was announced, and again in 2009 for Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling.

A meeting behind held in Prince Bertil's Apartments. source: Swedish Royal Court

A meeting held in Prince Bertil’s Apartments. source: Swedish Royal Court

Prince Bertil’s Apartments are on the second floor of the eastern wing and are named for the King’s uncle, Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland. These rooms have typically been used as a royal residence, most recently for Prince Bertil until his death in 1997. They are now used primarily for meetings and seminars, and occasionally to house visitors in conjunction with State or official visits.

The Royal Armory. source: Wikipedia Commons, Livrustkammaren (The Royal Armory)/Göran Schmidt

The Royal Armory is housed primarily in the basement of the Eastern Wing. It contains countless artifacts including a large collection of armor, as well as clothing, jewelry, and artwork.  Also on display are several carriages used by the Royal Family in the past.  

The Northeastern wing, source: Wikipedia

There are also two smaller wings that extend off the Eastern wing. The Northeast wing contains the Bernadotte Library on the ground floor and Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities in the basement.  The Southeast wing contains part of the Royal Armory.

The Bernadotte Library. source: Swedish Royal Court

The Bernadotte Library. source: Swedish Royal Court

The Bernadotte Library is the private research library of the Bernadotte sovereigns.  Containing over 100,000 books, over 1 million photographs and a large collection of sheet music.  The library is occasionally used for events, such as small concerts and exhibitions, and can be visited by appointment for purposes of research.  The space was originally used, in 1796, to house the Swedish National Library, which moved to a larger space in 1877.  After several years used by the Royal Armory, the King’s Library was established in the space following the death of King Oscar II in 1907.  The name was later changed to The Bernadotte Library.

Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities, source: Swedish Royal Court

Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities, source: Swedish Royal Court

Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities is the oldest public museum in Sweden, having first been opened (in its present location) in 1794 to display a vast collection of antique sculptures that had been collected by King Gustav III.  Through the years, the museum was moved several times but returned to the northeast wing in 1958.

The Southern Wing

The Southern wing. source: Wikipedia

The Southern wing is perhaps the one most often seen in connection with special occasions, both official and private. The wing contains the Hall of State and the Royal Chapel spanning three floors, and the Treasury which is found in the basement.

King Oscar II opening Parliament, 1898, in the Hall of State. source: Wikipedia

The Hall of State was originally used for the Opening of Parliament each year, beginning in 1755. This continued until 1975 when the event was moved to the neighboring Parliament building.  Today, the Hall is used for official and ceremonial functions.  This was the site of the wedding banquet in 2010 for Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling.

The Hall of State. photo: ©Susan Flantzer

The Hall of State. photo: ©Susan Flantzer

At the far end sits a silver throne, given to Queen Cristina for her coronation in 1650.   

 

The Royal Chapel (seen above at the 2013 funeral of Princess Lilian, Duchess of Halland) has been in use since the Palace was built in 1754.  It is the third chapel, the first going back to the late 1200s.  The second was in the northern wing of the Tre Kroner Palace which was destroyed by fire in 1697.  Many of the fittings, including some of the benches, were saved from the fire and are in use today.  The chapel is used as a parish church for members of the Royal Court and their families and is also open to the public.  It has also been used for many weddings, christenings, and funerals.

The Treasury. source: Swedish Royal Court

The Treasury. source: Swedish Royal Court

The Treasury, located below the Hall of State, in the basement of the Southern wing, contains the Swedish Regalia and Crown Jewels. Included are Gustaf Vasa’s Sword of State, Eric XIV’s crown, scepter, and orb, and Louisa Ulrika’s crown, as well as the silver baptismal font made in 1696 and still used for royal baptisms.

The Western Wing

The Western wing. source: Wikipedia, Holger.Ellgaard

The Western wing includes the Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry on the first floor and the Guest Apartments on the second floor.

The Apartments of the Orders of Chivalry consist of four rooms, each dedicated to one of the Orders of Chivalry: the Order of the Seraphim, the Order of the Sword, the Order of the Polar Star, and the Order of Vasa. Originally these rooms were used by the Privy Council, and from 1789 until 1949, housed the Swedish Supreme Court.

The Empire Salon, The Guest Apartments. source: Wikipedia

The Guest Apartments, on the second floor, are used for visiting Heads of State in conjunction with State visits to Sweden. Included is the Margareta Room, named for Crown Princess Margareta (born Princess Margaret of Connaught), and features several of her paintings.

"Kunliga slottet 2 copy1" by Grishasergei - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kunliga_slottet_2_copy1.jpg#/media/File:Kunliga_slottet_2_copy1.jpg

Western wing and Outer Courtyard. source: Wikipedia

Off the Western wing is an extension built onto the northern side of the outer courtyard. This is known as the Chancery Wing. (upper left in the photo above)

Originally intended for use by the Royal Chancery, the northwest wing was used as a guardhouse, and housed offices and the Swedish National Archives. In 1780 it was converted into a royal apartment for the future King Gustav IV Adolf. It was later the apartments of Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf (Gustaf VI Adolf) from 1905, and he continued to live there until his death in 1973.  Today it houses the palace archives.

Flanking the outer courtyard are two curved buildings, which house the Royal Guard and the Royal Gift Shop.  The Royal Guard has been stationed at the palace, and its predecessor, since 1523, and are charged with guarding the Royal Palace and Drottningholm Palace, as well as providing a Guard of Honor for The King.  Each day, the changing of the guard takes place in the outer courtyard of the Palace.  In the summer months, this includes a parade through Stockholm with a military band.

Learn more about the other Swedish Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.