Hi everyone. Welcome back to the channel. Today, we’re diving into all the royal arrivals for King Carl Gustaf’s big birthday lunch. First through the doors is Queen Margrethe of Denmark. There’s a lovely family connection here, too. She’s actually the King’s first cousin. Her mother, Queen Ingrid, was the sister of the King’s father, Prince Gustaf Adolf.
Queen Margrethe actually just had a big day of her own. She turned 86 back on April 16th. It’s also worth taking a closer look at what she’s wearing. She has her famous daisy brooch pinned on. This isn’t just a beautiful piece of jewelry. It’s a deeply sentimental heirloom with a direct link to the family’s history.
The diamonds actually belonged to Crown Princess Margaretha of Sweden, who was the grandmother to both Queen Margrethe and King Carl Gustaf. It was first worn by Margrethe’s mother, Princess Ingrid, for her wedding right here in Stockholm, before being passed down to Margrethe. Wearing it back in Stockholm today is such a poignant gesture.
It’s a beautiful way to honor the grandmother they both share, while celebrating the historic ties between their two nations. Next up is Margareta, custodian of the Romanian Crown. She is the eldest daughter of the late King Michael I. Next up, in green, is Princess Christina, the youngest of the King’s four older sisters, and a truly beloved figure in Sweden.
Before the King married Queen Silvia, Christina actually stepped in as the country’s unofficial first lady, helping her brother navigate his early years on the throne. Next to her is Princess Benedikte of Denmark. Next we have Prince Hubertus of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the King’s cousin through his mother, Princess Sibylla, and his wife, Kelly.
Next we have Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein and her son, representing one of Europe’s oldest dynasties. Here we see Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia. Behind them, we see Hereditary Prince Philip and Princess Danica of Serbia, who represent the next generation of the Serbian royal family and share a wonderful long-standing friendship with the Swedish royals.
In white, we see the President of Iceland, Ms. Halla Tómasdóttir, and her husband, Björn Sigurbjörnsson. Behind them is the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, and his wife, Inez Stubb. It’s also a long-standing tradition to invite the heads of state from the Nordic Republics, so it’s wonderful to see the Presidents of Iceland and Finland here to honor that close bond between their nations and Sweden.
Just behind them, we have the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, who are not only close friends of the King, but also his cousins through the Swedish Princess Astrid. Next, we see King Rama X of Thailand and Queen Suthida, who have traveled all the way from Bangkok to honor the King. And here are King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark, who always bring such a modern and vibrant energy to these family gatherings.
Mary is looking as elegant as ever in that brown pillbox hat. And if it looks familiar, it’s because we just saw her daughter, Princess Isabella, borrow it only 2 weeks ago for her sibling’s confirmation. Mary is stunning in a silk and wool Dior suit, a chic look that’s become a total favorite among the royal ladies lately.
It’s wonderful to see Frederik and Mary here. They share a wonderful bond with the Swedish royals, and seeing them join the celebrations really highlights the close, lifelong friendship between these two monarchies. Next we have Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, and Princess Estelle, with Victoria looking lovely in a cream boucle midi dress by Self-Portrait.
And how sweet is it that Estelle coordinated with her mom in a light blue dress by the same brand? Next we have Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, who definitely turned heads in her striking Roland Mouret dress and a hat that practically stole the show. It actually sparked a bit of a frenzy online, with fans jokingly wondering if she could even see where she was going under there.
Right behind them are Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill, with Madeleine looking effortlessly chic in a navy blue double-breasted coat dress, paired with a stunning velvet and satin pillbox hat from Lock and Co. Hatters. It’s always such a treat to see Madeleine and Chris back in the mix for these big family moments, especially now that they’ve made their permanent move back home to Sweden.
And now, here is the man of the hour. The King made a grand entrance in his beloved 1946 Volvo PV60, a classic car that’s a real favorite of his and always adds such a stylish, personal touch to these big occasions. Right there with him is Queen Silvia, looking absolutely radiant in a classic navy blue suit.
They make such a fantastic pair as they arrive to kick off the celebrations for his birthday. It’s such a thoughtful touch, but did you catch that little step stool being used to help Queen Silvia out of the car? Since that vintage Volvo sits quite a bit higher than a modern sedan, the stool is a permanent fixture for these arrivals, making sure the Queen can make her entrance with all the grace and ease we’re used to seeing from her.
2026 is actually a double celebration for the couple. Not only is it the King’s 80th birthday, but they are also celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this summer. They first met back at the 1972 Munich Olympics, where the King famously said it just clicked, and they’ve been an inseparable team ever since.
That vintage 1946 Volvo PV60 is actually the same year the King was born, and it was a special 50th birthday gift to him, so it’s full of personal history. It’s those little details, like the King’s love for classic cars and the way they still look at each other after five decades, that really make the crowd cheer.
