”It was just a click”.
The first meeting with the king and queen after their engagement in March 1976 has become a classic. A newly in love king and a future queen who could barely speak a word in Swedish in front of a sea of curious reporters.
”Couldn’t have been better”
And the Swedes loved their new queen, who has been described by several court experts as the savior of the Swedish monarchy, which was in a declining state in the early 70s.
”It’s the best thing that has happened to both the King and the monarchy. She has made it into a strong royal house and much of the credit goes to today’s birthday girl,” said Sten Hedman, a court reporter for Se & Hör during SVT’s broadcast on the queen’s 60th birthday in 2003.
How the Queen is Celebrated
Queen Silvia’s birthday on December 23 is celebrated with a private dinner at Drottningholm Palace with children and grandchildren.
Throughout December, the queen has also met with representatives from the parliament, government, and various organizations.
What’s on the wish list then?
She has primarily asked for gifts for Ukrainian projects for children suffering from mental health issues as a result of Russia’s invasion. Ahead of her 80th birthday, Queen Silvia has chosen to start a fundraising campaign for the benefit of children in Ukraine, and so far, over 3 million SEK have been raised.
