Swedish royals watch King Carl Gustaf XVI’s birthday parade

The Swedish royal family have gathered in Stockholm to mark the monarch’s 7nd birthday.

King Carl XVI Gustaf’s wife, Queen Silvia, along with his children and grandchildren, appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace on Monday morning to watch the celebratory parade.

While the smartly-dressed septuagenarian took part in the parade alongside his son, Prince Carl Philip, his daughter and heir apparent, Crown Princess Victoria, was spotted waving to passersby as she watched the Swedish Royal Marching Band perform from the palace window.

She was joined by her husband, Prince Daniel, and their children Princess Estelle, six, and Prince Oscar, two.

 

Thumbs up! Princess Estelle, six, gives a royal seal of approval as she joins her grandmother, Queen Silvia, to watch the king’s birthday celebrations in Stockholm on Monday

Clad in military uniform, Prince Carl Philip (right) took centre stage in his father's birthday celebrations held in Stockholm on Monday

Clad in military uniform, Prince Carl Philip (right) took centre stage in his father’s birthday celebrations held in Stockholm on Monday

Drummers performing in the Swedish Royal Marching Band put on a show-stopping performance for the Royals despite the chilly weather on Monday morning

Drummers performing in the Swedish Royal Marching Band put on a show-stopping performance for the Royals despite the chilly weather on Monday morning

The King, a keen environmental campaigner who celebrates his 72nd birthday this week, has been embroiled in a string of controversies over the years including accusations of secret affairs and wild parties

He was joined by Carl Philip

The King, a keen environmental campaigner who celebrates his 72nd birthday this week, has been embroiled in a string of controversies over the years including accusations of secret affairs and wild parties

The adorable six-year-old, matching her mother in a smart white coat and French plaits, looked to be in high spirits as she waved and gave a thumbs-up to the crowds.

Also spotted on the balcony was Prince Carl Philip’s glamorous wife, Princess Sofia.  

Former model Sofia, 33, who gave birth to her second son Gabriel in August last year, looked glamorous in a dark silk blouse with her hair styled in a sleek blow dry.

King Carl Gustaf, who is the second-longest reigning monarch in Swedish history, took to the throne in 1973 and survived the country’s landmark constitution the following year, and has an active role in public duties, albeit mainly ceremonial. 

Family affair: L-R Queen Silvia, Princess Estelle, Prince Oscar and Crown Princess Victoria, appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace to watch the celebratory parade

Family affair: L-R Queen Silvia, Princess Estelle, Prince Oscar and Crown Princess Victoria, appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace to watch the celebratory parade

Estelle's big moment: The adorable six-year-old, matching her mother in a smart white coat (centre) looked to be in high spirits as she waved and gave a thumbs-up to the crowds

Estelle’s big moment: The adorable six-year-old, matching her mother in a smart white coat (centre) looked to be in high spirits as she waved and gave a thumbs-up to the crowds

Queen consort: 74-year-old Silvia, who is Sweden's longest-serving Queen, looked youthful in a vibrant blue coat and matching earrings (far left)

Queen consort: 74-year-old Silvia, who is Sweden’s longest-serving Queen, looked youthful in a vibrant blue coat and matching earrings (far left)

Former model Sofia, 33 (third right), who gave birth to her second son Gabriel in August last year, looked glamorous in a dark silk blouse with her hair styled in a sleek blow dry

Former model Sofia, 33 (third right), who gave birth to her second son Gabriel in August last year, looked glamorous in a dark silk blouse with her hair styled in a sleek blow dry

The King and his wife Silvia, née Sommerlath, 74, a German-Brazilian former flight attendant, have been handing over increasing numbers of engagements to their eldest daughter Victoria in recent years, fuelling speculation that the monarch may abdicate, allowing the Crown Princess to take the throne.

The presenter of the Nobel Peace Prize and a keen environmental campaigner has been embroiled in a string of controversies over the years including accusations of secret affairs and wild parties.

The grandfather-of-six is said to own a fleet of Porsche 911s and was involved in a high-profile car crash in 2005 which made international headlines. 

Man of the moment: The King and his wife Silvia, née Sommerlath, 74, a German-Brazilian former flight attendant, have been handing over increasing numbers of engagements to their eldest daughter Victoria in recent years

Man of the moment: The King and his wife Silvia, née Sommerlath, 74, a German-Brazilian former flight attendant, have been handing over increasing numbers of engagements to their eldest daughter Victoria in recent years

Birthday boy: The King is presented with bouquets of flowers by some adorable youngsters as he surveys his birthday parade in Stockholm

The King seemed to be in high spirits

Birthday boy: The King is presented with bouquets of flowers by some adorable youngsters as he surveys his birthday parade in Stockholm

Dynamic duo: King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and his son Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Varmland head out to meet the crowds before later returning to the Palace

Dynamic duo: King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and his son Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Varmland head out to meet the crowds before later returning to the Palace

Victoria (pictured here with husband Prince Daniel and son, Prince Oscar) studied diplomacy and Swedish foreign policy before becoming a full-time working member of the royal family

Victoria (pictured here with husband Prince Daniel and son, Prince Oscar) studied diplomacy and Swedish foreign policy before becoming a full-time working member of the royal family

Crown Princess Victoria (second right) studied diplomacy and Swedish foreign policy before becoming a full-time working member of the royal family

Crown Princess Victoria (second right) studied diplomacy and Swedish foreign policy before becoming a full-time working member of the royal family

Princess Estelle, Duchess of Ostergotland is flanked by her grandparents as she watches the King's birthday parade from the balcony of the Royal Palace

Princess Estelle, Duchess of Ostergotland is flanked by her grandparents as she watches the King’s birthday parade from the balcony of the Royal Palace

Happy birthday! The King later joined his family on the balcony, which was decked out appropriately in the country's flag colours

Happy birthday! The King later joined his family on the balcony, which was decked out appropriately in the country’s flag colours

Princess Estelle, who could be seen chatting animatedly with her family, appeared to be wearing ribbons in her hair in the Swedish flag colours of blue and yellow

Princess Estelle, who could be seen chatting animatedly with her family, appeared to be wearing ribbons in her hair in the Swedish flag colours of blue and yellow

A kiss for the prince! At one point, Estelle could be seen giving her two-year-old brother an affectionate peck on the cheek

A kiss for the prince! At one point, Estelle could be seen giving her two-year-old brother an affectionate peck on the cheek

Queen in the making! Little Princess Estelle, whose official title is Duchess of Östergötland, is second in line to the throne after her mother Crown Princess Victoria

Queen in the making! Little Princess Estelle, whose official title is Duchess of Östergötland, is second in line to the throne after her mother Crown Princess Victoria

His daughter Crown Princess Victoria, 40, studied diplomacy and Swedish foreign policy before becoming a full-time working member of the royal family.

The glamorous Yale graduate, who speaks four languages, was not expected to take to the throne when she was born in 1977 but a change in the law of succession three years later changed that, allowing her to overtake her brother Carl Philip.

In 2010, she married her former personal trainer Daniel Westling in front of 1,200 guests at Stockholm Cathedral, and have since settled comfortably into public life with their two children, Princess Estelle, five, and Prince Oscar, who turns two in March.  

Members of the Swedish Royal Marching Band perform during a celebration of King Carl Gustav's 72nd birthday anniversary at the Royal Palace

Members of the Swedish Royal Marching Band perform during a celebration of King Carl Gustav’s 72nd birthday anniversary at the Royal Palace

Celebrations fit for a king! The grandfather-of-six (not pictured) is said to own a fleet of Porsche 911s and was involved in a high-profile car crash in 2005 which made international headlines

Celebrations fit for a king! The grandfather-of-six (not pictured) is said to own a fleet of Porsche 911s and was involved in a high-profile car crash in 2005 which made international headlines

Meanwhile Victoria’s brother, Sweden’s real-life Prince Charming, broke the hearts of royal-watchers across the globe when he announced his engagement to Sofia Hellqvist in 2014, four years after news of their relationship first hit headlines.

Daniel, who is dyslexic, dismissed reports that his fiancée was ‘not welcome’ in the House of Bernadotte and condemned the public ‘bullying’ of Sofia.

Regardless of the controversy, thousands lined the streets of Stockholm for their wedding later that year.

The couple welcomed their first son, Prince Alexander, in April 2016 and another little boy, Prince Gabriel, arrived in August the following year. 



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