The King of Sweden’s birthday was attended, among others, by his former adjutant, who traveled by the King’s side for decades.
King Kaarle Kustaa waved to the public on his birthday. PDO
In Stockholm, the country’s king was celebrated on May Day Karle XVI Gustav 80th birthdays. The festivities began with a thanksgiving service in the Church of the Royal Palace. The service was only for invited guests – ordinary people were not allowed there.
One of those invited to the service was a lieutenant general Curt Sjöö89. Sjöö had been invited, because he served for a long time as the king’s adjutant and later also as the king’s chief of staff. He gave a small interview to Iltalehte after going to church. He didn’t want to be photographed.
His career in the service of the king officially began in 1974 – at that time he was appointed as the king’s adjutant. The King of Sweden has 12 adjutants, one for each month of the year. For comparison, for example, the president of the Republic of Finland By Alexander Stubb there are three adjutants.
When Sjöö started his job as adjutant, the king had only been in power for a year.
– Then the army leadership assigned me that task, he recalls.
However, Sjöö’s duties continued for a long time. He became lieutenant general in military rank, which is the second highest military rank in Sweden and Finland. Sjöö became the king’s chief of staff and first adjutant in 1997.
– In that task, you are responsible for everything military around the king and organize various ceremonies, for example.
He held this role until 2003, when he reached retirement age.
Does the adjutant’s job allow him to get to know the king personally?
– Yes, you live very close to it then, he says.
Sjöö describes the king as a kind-hearted, curious and fine person. Sjöö believes that the king will continue in his role as long as he has the stamina.