Swedish Royals
Crown Princess Victoria celebrates her 49th birthday with family.
© IMAGO / Bildbyran
Sweden has celebrated Crown Princess Victoria’s 49th birthday. The heir took well-wishes on Öland, and in the evening, the traditional Victoria Concert took place at Borgholm Castle ruins, where a summer group photo was taken with her siblings and their partners.
Crown Princess’s Traditional Celebration
Crown Princess Victoria, who turned 49 on July 14, spent her special day as is customary on Öland, where the Swedish royal family traditionally spends their summer vacation at Solliden Palace. The highlight of the day was the evening, where a traditional concert was held, capturing a cherished group photo featuring the princess with her siblings.
The Family Gathering
The photograph, taken during the Victoria Prize award ceremony, showcased Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, as well as Princess Madeleine and Chris O’Neill, all gathered around the birthday girl. For the occasion, Victoria wore a lovely floral dress, while her family donned light suits and pastel colors. It’s noteworthy that King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia also attended the concert but were not present in the group picture.
Cannon Salutes and Serenades at Solliden Castle
The Crown Princess’s birthday is an official holiday in Sweden. At noon, military forces across Stockholm, Gothenburg, Karlskrona, Boden, and Härnösand fired 21 cannon salutes to mark the occasion. In the afternoon, Victoria appeared with her husband, Prince Daniel, and their children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar, at Solliden Castle. Together, they joined the King and a children’s choir from the Borgholm cultural school in serenading the attendees.
A Place of Memory
The location holds special significance for Victoria. Just weeks after her birth in 1977, she was first introduced to the public at Solliden. Following the congratulatory wishes, the family took a horse-drawn carriage ride through Borgholm to the concert venue, which commenced at 5:00 PM.
Victoria Prize Awarded to Frida Karlsson
During the concert, Crown Princess Victoria awarded the Victoria Prize to cross-country skier Frida Karlsson. The 26-year-old Swedish athlete had won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, along with a silver in the relay event. Karlsson described the honor as “incredibly great and honorable.” The first recipient of the award was skiing legend Ingemar Stenmark in 1979, followed by other notable athletes like Sarah Sjöström and Armand Duplantis.
Fundraising for a Noble Cause
Throughout the event, donations were collected for the Crown Princess’s fund, which allows children and youth with disabilities to participate in sports, outings, and summer camps. The Victoria Day, initiated in 1979 by Kay Wiestål, is celebrated almost like a national holiday on Öland on July 14.
With such activities, the Swedish royal family continues to inspire and uplift the spirit of unity, joy, and generosity, making anniversaries like Crown Princess Victoria’s not just personal celebrations but communal events that resonate with the people.
© spot on news
