Even as the echoes of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s historic 80th birthday celebrations continue, the Swedish Royal House has released a series of images taken by the monarch’s nine grandchildren, offering a more intimate and personal perspective on how they experienced the milestone.
Showing the King’s 80th birthday through the lens of his grandchildren int the new photos, the post presents a new point of view on a celebration attended not only by Queen Sofia of Spain, but also by a wide range of European royalty, including the full Bernadotte family, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary and Queen Margrethe of Denmark, the Grand Ducal family of Luxembourg, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway, and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, among others.
© Patrick van KatwijkIn the images, the children of Prince Carl Philip appear with a child-friendly blue digital camera, capturing moments of the celebration from their own perspective. Alexander and Gabriel are seen documenting unique scenes from the day, as is Prince Oscar, while little Ines emerges as another central figure of the occasion.
© kungahusetIt is especially striking to see the perspective of the youngest members of the palace and what captured their attention most. Royal guests such as Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands are shown seated on a palace terrace while the Swedish monarch delivers a speech to the crowd.
© kungahusetIn another image, Prince Oscar poses with his parents in what appears to be a spontaneous selfie. Elsewhere, Alexander can be seen guiding his cousin on where to aim the camera so nothing is missed.
© kungahusetMilitary formations, royal guards, a vintage 1946 Volvo PV in which King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia arrived for the luncheon at Stockholm City Hall, a photograph of Princess Estelle with her aunt Princess Sofia, images of Princess Madeleine, floral arrangements, chairs, a portrait of the children’s grandmother, crowds, and the interiors of the palace all appear among the moments captured by the young photographers. One particularly charming image shows a grandchild watching the King’s speech on television during the gala dinner.
© Patrick van KatwijkAlthough Ines drew much of the attention, her cousins also stood out for their ease with royal protocol and for offering an unfiltered and spontaneous view of the celebrations.
Fourteen-year-old Princess Estelle of Sweden acted as a natural hostess, showing a strong command of royal etiquette. Despite her age, she moves comfortably among kings and princes, and takes on the role of eldest cousin and guiding figure for her goddaughter, her youngest cousin Ines.
© kungahusetWhile all of the King’s grandchildren attended the daytime events, only his eldest granddaughter and future heir, Princess Estelle, attended the evening celebration for adults.
That same Thursday night, the monarch hosted a gala dinner at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, closing his 80th birthday celebrations in spectacular fashion. It was a procession of tiaras and jewels rarely seen in recent memory.
© kungahusetQueen Sofia of Spain notably wore a tiara at the event, bringing out the Mellerio shell diadem, known in Spain as La Chata, after two decades. She paired it with a diamond necklace and a turquoise gown by designer Alejandro de Miguel, one of her trusted couturiers.
Originally a wedding gift in 1867, the tiara became a favorite of Infanta Isabel of Spain. Its design features shell-like or wave-inspired forms set with diamonds and suspended pearls, evoking a sense of movement and maritime elegance.
© Patrick van Katwijk
