It’s going to be a big year for King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen
Silvia!

The Swedish Royal Court announced that celebrations are
forthcoming for both King Carl XVI Gustaf’s 80^th
birthday in April and the
royal couple’s 50^th wedding anniversary in June.

Further details will be released closer to each anniversary, but
the royals have already shared that on 30 April, the Swedish king’s
birthday, a Te Deum will be held in his honour at the Royal
Palace’s chapel. Afterwards, a military honour guard will be on
display and the public will have a chance to greet their king; and
in the evening, a gala dinner for invited guests.

On 19 June, King
Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will celebrate 50 years of
marriage. However, because their wedding anniversary—which
is also shared by Crown Princess Victoria and Prince
Daniel—falls on Midsummer, they will instead publicly celebrate
on 13 June.

The royal couple will attend a Te Deum and take a carriage ride
around Stockholm to celebrate, and a host of events are yet to be
announced. The Royal Palace will also play host to an exhibit about
their wedding.

To spark the celebrations, the Swedish Royal Court released
three new portraits of the royal couple. A joint photograph of King
Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia in their regalia is accompanied by
individual portraits.

In King Carl XVI Gustaf’s portrait, he is wearing an Admiral’s
uniform with the Order of the Seraphim sash, badge and kraschan. He
also wears the Orders of the Sword and Vasa, as well as several
medals related to Swedish and Norwegian monarchs. King Gustaf V,
King Gustaf VI Adolf, King Haakon VII, King Olav V, and King Harald
are all represented with medal placements.

Queen Silvia, meanwhile, wears her Order of the Seraphim and her
Royal Family Order featuring her husband’s miniature. As a nod to
her Brazilian roots, she is wearing the Brazilian tiara, otherwise
known as the Braganza tiara.

The Braganza tiara dates back to 1829, made from diamonds that
belonged to Empress Maria Leopoldina of Brazil. Upon her death in
1873, the tiara was inherited by her sister, Queen Josephine of
Sweden and Norway, and has stayed in the Swedish Royal Family ever
since, worn only by queens.

More details about the upcoming Swedish celebrations can be
found here.