King Carl XVI Gustaf's Life in Photos
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The head of the House of Bernadotte (a.k.a. the Swedish royal family), Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus was born on April 30, 1946 at Haga Palace in Solna, Sweden. He's now the longest-reigning Swedish king in history, and set to celebrate his Golden Jubilee—marking 50 years on the throne—this September.
Following the death of his father when he was just nine months old, Prince Carl Gustaf became the Crown Prince and heir to the throne when his when his grandfather ascended when Carl Gustaf was a 3-year-old. In 1973, he ascended to the throne himself as King Carl XVI Gustaf at age 27. He married Silvia Renate Sommerlath, a German-Brazilian interpreter, in 1976, and they have three children: Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip, and Princess Madeleine. He's now a grandfather of eight. According to his official bio, King Carl Gustaf is a big fan of nature, and his hobbies include fishing, hunting, and game preservation. He often travels to the Olympics to support Swedish athletes, and partakes in cross-country and downhill skiing himself.
Here, see the best photos of King Carl XVI Gustaf throughout his life.
1946
Prince Carl Gustaf at just six months old, with his older sister Princess Christina, who is 3 here.
1947
The young Swedish prince was the youngest of five siblings, and the only son.
1947
Carl Gustaf with mother Princess Sibylla and oldest sister Princess Margaretha in Stockholm.
1947
King Gustav V poses with his great-grandchildren at his summer quarters at the Solliden castle. From left to right, Princess Birgitta, the King, Prince Carl Gustaf (aged 1), Princesses Margaretha (13) and Christina (4), Princess Sibylla, and Princess Desiree (9).
1949
Another snap from King Gustaf V's summer residence, this time just with Carl Gustaf, who is three years old in this photo. Upon the death of King Gustaf V, Carl Gustaf became next in line to the royal throne of Sweden.
1950
Crown Prince Carl Gustaf (second from right), 4, and his sister, Princess Christina (right), 7, with their friends on a motoring trip in a Stockholm park.
1951
The original caption of this photo says it all: "Bubbling over with the joy of living as small boys the world over on a bright and sunny spring day, is little Crown Prince Carl Gustav of Sweden, who will celebrate his fifth birthday on April 30th. ... At the moment little Crown Prince Carl isn't thinking in terms of titles and crowns. He is just a small boy, with mischief in his eyes, starting out on an adventure all his own."
1952
Prince Carl Gustav is shown playing with a model plane at the Royal Palace just outside of Stockholm.
1954
A young prince at school. Carl Gustaf wasn't told about his father's death until he was seven years old.
1955
"Chewing on his pencil boy-fashion, is young Carl Gustaf, Crown Prince of Sweden, who is probably daydreaming about the birthday party in store for him when he celebrates his ninth birthday on April 30. This picture, released in connection with his birthday, shows the young heir to the throne during [sic] his homework," reads the original caption of this photo.
1956
The Swedish royal family attend an Olympic equestrian event at Jarvafaltet, outside Stockholm, together in June. The royal party includes Princess Sibylla and her children (left to right): Crown Prince Carl Gustaf, Princesses Christina, Désirée, Birgitta and Margaretha. Between Princesses Christina and Désirée is Queen Elizabeth's lady-in-waiting Lady Pamela Mountbatten.
1957
Prince Carl Gustaf plays ice hockey at Brunnsviken, near the Haga Castle, outside Stockholm.
1959
In a play, Carl Gustaf portrayed Richard Lion Heart. In this photo, he's with his grandmother, Queen of Sweden Louise Mountbatten.
1960
Carl Gustaf smiles for a photo.
1964
An 18-year-old Prince Carl Gustaf takes part in the Scholars' Rifle Championships.
1965
Prince Carl Gustaf swore an oath of allegiance before his grandfather and all the military and civil chiefs of Sweden.
1966
Prince Carl on a boat, which the caption declares to be "his favorite sport."
1966
King Gustaf Adolf, 83, and Crown Prince Carl Gustaf, 19, walk together in Stockholm.
1966
The Swedish prince attended the Swedish Royal Naval Academy.
1966
He is thrown high into the air after he successfully completed his matriculation examination at the Sigtuna boarding school.
1972
A snap of Carl Gusatf inside the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in London, England.
1973
Following the death of his grandfather, he became King Carl XVI Gustaf on September 15, 1973. Four days later, his coronation ceremony was held during a cabinet meeting.
1973
A solemn photograph of the new king, who adopted "For Sweden—With the times" as his new motto.
1974
Throughout the years, he's always enjoyed a ski vacation.
1974
The Swedish king rocked a pair of aviator sunglasses.
1976
In 1976, he announced his engagement to Silvia Renate Sommerlath. Silvia was born in Heidelberg, Germany in 1943, and spent many years of her childhood in São Paulo, Brazil.
1976
From 1971 to 1973, Silvia trained Olympic hostesses, and at the 1972 Munich Olympics, she met Carl Gustaf, where she was his host.
1976
A photograph of the newly engaged couple.
1976
Their wedding took place in June, just three months after they announced their engagement. They were married at Stockholm Cathedral on June 19, 1976.
1976
The new Queen Silvia wore a Christian Dior by Marc Bohan gown and the Cameo tiara.
1976
Fittingly for a royal wedding in Sweden in the 70s, ABBA performed at their wedding.
1976
The newlyweds: King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
1977
A year later, they welcomed Princess Victoria on July 14, 1977.
1977
That summer, they brought their daughter Princess Victoria to Solliden Castle for summer holidays.
1977
The proud parents at Victoria's baptism in Stockholm. Carl holds Victoria, and Silvia is sitting next to him. Silvia's mother Alice Sommerlath is sitting behind them.
1978
The Swedish royals celebrate Christmas at the Royal Palace in Stockholm in December 1978.
1979
In 1979, they became parents of two: they welcomed Prince Carl Philip on May 13, 1979. (Pictured is his christening.) Upon his birth, Carl Philip was heir apparent, until a change in the constitution that went into effect on January 1, 1980 which established absolute primogeniture—making Victoria heir apparent and Crown Princess.
1980
In this photo celebrating the King's 34th birthday, he poses with his children and a cake.
1980
To mark Victoria's 3rd birthday, the Swedish royals shared this down-to-earth photo from summer holidays at Solliden Castle.
1982
King Carl Gustaf on his 36th birthday with his family.
1982
The king is an amateur photographer—here he is taking photos at the celebration of his brother-in-law Johann Georg Hansi von Hohenzollern's 50th birthday.
1983
The Swedish royals pose with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during a state visit.
1983
The Swedish royals's annual Christmas photograph at home in Drottningholm Palace.
1994
King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia with Princess Victoria on Victoria's 17th birthday.
1995
The Swedish royal family poses for a formal portrait.
1996
Another portrait: This time to celebrate Carl Gustaf's 50th birthday.
1998
Each year, the Swedish royals attend the Nobel Prize Ceremony at Stockholm Concert Hall. Carl and Silvia are pictured here during the 1998 Nobel Festivities.
1999
The Swedish royals look glam as they attend the wedding of Princess Alexia of Greece.
2000
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden celebrates her 23rd birthday with her father, King Carl Gustaf, at an outdoor concert in Borgholm.
2000
Queen Silvia and King Carl Gustav of Sweden the summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
2001
King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a costume party.
2001
They also hosted a more formal gala dinner for their anniversary.
2003
In 2003, they welcomed Jordan's Queen Rania and King Abdullah II during a royal banquet.
2004
The Swedish royals attended the wedding between Spanish Crown Prince Felipe de Bourbon and former journalist Letizia Ortiz (now King Felipe and Queen Letizia).
2004
King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia with their dog Bingo.
2005
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden takes a photo in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Central Australia.
2005
He posed for photos on his trip to Australia, too; here he is with Silvia in front of Uluru (Ayers Rock).
2006
Decked out in Team Sweden gear, the King attended the Winter Olympic Games in Italy.
2006
To celebrate his 60th Birthday, he waved to well-wishers from the balcony of the Stockholm Royal Palace.
2006
Carl Gustaf attends the Nobel Ceremony almost every year; here he is with his sister, wife, and children.
2007
King Carl Gustaf looks unfazed by the cold during a sleigh ride celebrated King Harald of Norway's 70th birthday in Sollihogda.
2007
King Carl XVI Gustaf, a lifelong Scout, attends the 2007 World Scout Jamboree in Chelmsford, England.
2010
He walked his daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, down the aisle at her wedding to Daniel Westling. Victoria and Daniel dated for eight years before tying the knot.
2013
Three years later, his youngest daughter, Princess Madeleine married Christopher O'Neill. The night before, Queen Silvia and King Carl XVI Gustaf attended a private dinner celebrating the nuptials.
2015
And, two years later, his son, Prince Carl Philip, married Sofia Hellqvist. Here, Carl Gustaf congratulates the newlyweds.
2016
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden gives a speech at the opening of an exhibition at the Royal Palace.
2017
Carl Gustaf speaks on Princess Victoria's 40th birthday, as she stands with Prince Oscar, Princess Estelle, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Prince Daniel.
2018
Back at the Olympics! Carl chats with Sweden's silver medalists in cross-country in Pyeongchang.
2019
King Carl XVI Gustaf poses with flowers and gifts he received at a celebration of his 73rd birthday.
2019
King Carl and Princess Victoria attended Japan's Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony.
2020
In early 2020, Carl Gustaf was accompanied by many family members at a concert.
2020
Despite the pandemic, King Carl XVI Gustaf stuck to his normal duties, and attended the opening of the Swedish Parliament for the fall session at the Riksdag Parliament building.
2023
King Carl XVI Gustaf receives flowers from a child as he celebrates his 77th birthday at Stockholm Palace.
2023
Victoria and Carl represented Sweden at the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey.
2023
The Swedish royals posed for their annual summer photo at Solliden Castle.
2023
And we just had to include this one, too, because it looks like the Swedish king is doing a stand-up routine.
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