King Carl XVI Gustaf Of Sweden’s 70th Birthday On Saturday: European Royals To Celebrate With Him

Crown Princess Mary and Prince Frederik of Denmark along with the prince’s parents Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik will take part in the 70th birthday celebrations of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Almost all the European royals are in the guest list for the 69-year-old king’s birthday. Carl Gustaf will turn 70 on April 30.

From Denmark, Margrethe, who has just celebrated her 76th birthday, will be attending along with her husband, their eldest son Frederik and his Australian wife Mary. Besides, Margrethe’s sister Princess Benedikte will complete the Danish royal family. Carl Gustaf’s milestone birthday will witness five days of festivities.

King Juan Carlos of Spain and his wife Queen Sofia have been confirmed on the guest list, according to Hello’s sister publication Hola. The current reigning couple King Felipe and Queen Letizia may also attend. Besides, the full Norwegian royal family has also been invited. King Harald V and Queen Sonja, their children Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Princess Mette-Marit will attend. They will be joined by Princess Märtha Louise and her husband Ari Behn. The celebrations have begun from Monday.

The Swedish royals will come out in full force to celebrate Carl Gustaf’s 70th birthday. His wife Queen Silvia will support him throughout the celebrations, as well as their daughter Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel. Princess Madeleine and her husband Chris O’Neill are expected to travel from London.

They are expected to bring their kids along – Princess Leonore and Prince Nicolas. Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia who welcomed their baby boy on April 19 will also support the king. Sofia gave birth to the couple's first child Prince Alexander, who is fifth-in-line to the Swedish throne.

The festivities, which began on Monday, will continue till Saturday, the king's actual birthday. There will be a host of activities like lavish banquets, carriage processions, a gun salute and musical concerts. In keeping with tradition, the festivities will start at 8 a.m. Saturday. Forty-three Swedish flags will be hoisted in the outer courtyard of the royal palace in Stockholm while a royal band plays.

King Carl, who has reigned for 42 years, and his family will attend a Te Deum thanksgiving service followed by a luncheon with VIPs and their royal guests in the palace’s State Hall. The monarch will also be joined by his family on the palace balcony where he will wave to the crowds waiting to have a glimpse of him.