Swedish State Visit to Finland: March 3-5, 2015


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LadyFinn

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King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are to pay a State Visit to Finland on 3–5 March 2015 at the invitation of President Sauli Niinistö. Two ministers will represent the Government on the State Visit: Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström and Minister for Education Gustav Fridolin.
State Visit to Finland 3–5 March 2015 - Sveriges Kungahus

From the website of the President of the Republic of Finland
King and Queen of Sweden to make state visit to Finland - The President of the Republic of Finland

The finnish press reported about the visit immediately.
Ruotsin kuningas Kaarle Kustaa ja Silvia saapuvat Suomeen - Viihde - Ilta-Sanomat
Ruotsin kuningaspari Suomeen maaliskuussa - Viihde - MTV.fi
 
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A shame that the Crown Princess and Prince Daniel not will accompanie the Royal Couple
 
As a Finn I say that it is much better that the king and queen make the state visit, and Victoria and Daniel visit Finland on their own visits, like they have done, and hopefully do in the future too.
 
About the program, from the website of the President of the Republic of Finland
Swedish king and queen on state visit to Finland on 3 to 5 March 2015 - The President of the Republic of Finland Press Releases and News

Ministry for Foreign Affairs held a briefing for the king and queen ahead of the state visit to Finland today. And after that the king and queen met finnish media.
Förberedelser inför statsbesöket till Finland - Sveriges Kungahus
Translation

Meeting with the media, photo from court Facebook
https://scontent-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/h...267_871462506245996_3966060314620087345_o.jpg

The king and queen gave an interview to finnish MTV. MTV's reporter asked why it is important to visit Finland now? The king answered that it is always important to visit Finland, not just now. He has had the privilege to visit Finland with five different presidents. The king said that he visited Finland last year and the queen is soon coming to Finland (on Friday), but they are not official visits. It is important to make these kind of official visits, because of the good cooperation of both countries. Queen Silvia says that they have met the president and his wife earlier in Sweden and she thinks that they both are very sympathetic and competent people and she is looking forward to meet them again, especially the First Lady. The queen says that one think in this visit is exciting, the apps. The digital Finland is very good at developing apps, and she finds it exciting.
Video
Ruotsin kuningaspari MTV n haastattelussa Suomeen on aina mukava tulla - Viihde - MTV.fi

The reporter asks how it is to be a grandparent. The king says that it is great fun. The queen says that Estelle is so fantastically active, fun and lively. She has a great contact with Estelle and it is wonderful. It is wonderful to see how she is developing. She doing funny things and gestures.
Video
MTV n haastattelussa Ruotsin kuningaspari Isovanhemmuus on ihanaa! - Viihde - MTV.fi

The reporter of YLE asked about the Copenhagen shootings. The king said that it was a terrible thing and his thoughts are with the Danes and queen Margrethe. And of course with the relatives of the victims and with the police, who did everything they could in a very difficult situation.
Video
Ruotsin kuningas Kaarle XVI Kustaa Tanskan terrorista Uutisvideot Tv Areena yle.fi
 
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March 3
-Welcoming Ceremony at the Presidential Palace at 11am
-Audiences between the King and Queen of Sweden and the President and First Lady of Finland
-Visit to the Ateneum Art Museum, viewing of the Sibelius anniversary exhibition
-Enterprise seminar
-Visit to Parliament
-Wreath laying at the Hietaniemi Cemetery
-State banquet hosted by the President at the Presidential Palace

March 4
-The King and Queen meet with Finnish start-up companies
-Visit to the Enterprise Village for school children in Espoo
-Seminar involving young people's organisations in Hanasaari
-Lunch hosted by the City of Helsinki
-The King and the President will be briefed on Defence Force operations, and defence cooperation between Sweden and Finland in Santahamina
-Introduction to training methods of recruits for the Guard Jaeger Regiment, and to medical evacuation capabilities of the Finnish Helicopter Unit in relation to the EU's crisis response force
-Tour of the Military Museum of Finland exhibition commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Winter War

March 5
-The King and Queen visit the Lappeenranta University of Technology
-Visit to the Saimaa University of Applied Sciences
-Lunch at the Town Hall of Lappeenranta
-Cultural event for young people at the Lappeenranta Theatre arranged by the Swedish Embassy
-Visit to the local Orthodox church
-Visit to the UPM Biorefinery in Kaukas
 
Photos from the press conference with the finnish media
Uutiskuvat Ruotsin kuningaspari suomalaismedian haastateltavana Lehtikuva lehtikuva.fi

About the interview with the finnish media. The media has sent the questions to the court earlier.
Does the king follow the social media?
- New things coming all the time, how does one handle them, says the king.
The queen is more in with the social media.
- It is exciting. I'm following all the time, what the people are doing, says the queen and gives the impression that she is at least interested in what her daughters are doing.

The king said once again that he has no plans to abdicate. The society is changing all the time and there is still a lot to do. Queen Silvia highlights that it is important that crown princess Victoria has time for her family, it is quite stressful to be a parent of a small child, when you are in the centre of everything.
The reporters asked also, what is the secret of their long marriage.
- I usually say jokingly that, thank God, Drottningholm is so big that we have two bathrooms, said the King.
- Four decades sounds like a really long time, but at the same time it feels like it happened yesterday. It does not seem strenuous, but nice and warm, said the Queen.

According to the king, it is important that the royal court remains close in time:
- The idea is to try to follow the trend and what the Swedish people want from a modern monarchy, as well as a modern society and democracy. It is important to be sensitive that change is happening all the time.
He considers it important that the Royal Family will continue to be "objective and outside the politics".
- Also in the future the country and the nation needs a symbol that has continuity and which also serves over the legislative periods.
The King says he is interested in the technical development and engineering skills.
- Societies evolve and change all the time. We visit the countries where we think happens something interesting and new, he says.
Silviakin roikkuu somessa ”Se on jännittävää” - Kuninkaalliset - Ilta-Sanomat
Kaarle Kustaa vitsaili toimittajille Tässäkö kuningasparin pitkän liiton salaisuus - Viihde - Ilta-Sanomat

Interview, YLE TV swedish, video
Kungen Vi behöver dialog och respekt Utrikes svenska.yle.fi
 
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Uhm, was it normal that the king and queen were asked personal questions over again?:ermm:. That's because I recall very weel the question about abdication... I wonder why
 
Uhm, was it normal that the king and queen were asked personal questions over again?:ermm:. That's because I recall very weel the question about abdication... I wonder why

The finnish press tells that the questions had to be sent to the court some time ago. At the interview every reporter got to ask some of the questions they had sent to the court.

Margareta Thorgren was present at the press meeting at the Royal Palace and she points out that it was "a very successful meeting":
- There were many questions and the royal couple really took the time. This state visit coming in March is extremely important and the King and Queen look forward to visiting Finland again.
- The King stressed that he and his family have visited many times in Finland over the years on a private basis. Every summer, they have taken the boat over to Finland with the kids, says Margareta Thorgren.
Kungens knep för att hålla kärleken vid liv Nyheter Expressen
Translation
 
Some details from the program

March 3
- The king and president Sauli Niinistö attend at a business seminar "Digitization of traditional industries"
- The queen and mrs Jenni Haukio visit the contestants of Students in the app contest for business. Team of Swedish and Finnish students in Helsinki, including from the Swedish-speaking School ("Hanken"), are competing to develop an app that will facilitate contacts and cooperation between Finnish and Swedish industry. The competition is organized by young entrepreneurs in Finland.
- The king, queen and the presidential couple visit the Art Museum Ateneum and exhibition Sibelius and the world of art. The exhibition consists of Finnish art from Sibelius time and is created specifically to Sibelius's 150th anniversary. Additionally, a mini concert with pianist Folke Gräsbeck. The queen and mrs Haukio attend at the concert.

March 4
- The king and queen meet about 30 startups. Finland is at the forefront existing communication technologies, mobile and computer game industry. The Finnish 'Start-up' culture is something Sweden can learn from both the applicable entrepreneurship and educational purposes.
- The king and queen visit Me & MyCity- award-winning training model. Me & MyCity in Espoo is a development and training concepts for students in grades six (12-13 year olds). The project teaches sixth graders about entrepreneurship in order to prepare them for working life and as a citizen in society.
- The king and queen attend at a Future leaders meeting at The Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre. The Queen awards prizes to the winner of the app contest.
- The king and queen meet with the press at Hanaholmen in connection with the Youth Forum.
- The queen and mrs Haukio meet young designers at Design Forum.

March 5
- The king, queen and the presidential couple visit at the Saimaa University of Applied Sciences and the Lappeenranta University of Technology. Walking tour of the school, and display of the simulator stations for nursing students and the LEGO Mindstorms for young schoolchildren. Younger students learn programming by playing with Lego.
- Visit to Lappeenranta City Theatre, where young Swedish and Finnish artists come together on stage
- Visit to the Finnish wood-processing group UPM (United Paper Mills) facility. UPM is one of the world's largest producers of pulp and paper. At the biorefinery extracted since January 2015 Biodiesel - UPM BioVerno - a second generation biodiesel from high quality made from crude tall oil.
- The king and queen meet with the press at the UPM Club House in Lappeenranta, and the visit ends.
Statsbesök Finland 3–5 mars - Sveriges Kungahus
Translation
 
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Special web site launched from the Royal Court for the state visit, with information for this visit and previous ones. There are wonderful video clip from previous visits, for example paid by Gustav V and Gustaf VI Adolf.

Statsbesök Finland - Sveriges Kungahus [NS4 version]
 
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A view from the Presidential Palace
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Photos from the welcoming ceremonies
KUVAT Yleisöryntäys! Ruotsin tyylikäs kuningaspari saapui Suomeen - Viihde - MTV.fi
Ruotsin kuningaspari on Suomessa - Silvia luotti turkikseen
https://twitter.com/TPKanslia/status/572696737833492481
Silvia säteilevänä – Ruotsin kuningaspari saapui Suomeen - Viihde - Ilta-Sanomat
Viihdekuvat Ruotsin kuningaspari Suomessa Lehtikuva lehtikuva.fi
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At the balcony
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Short video from the welcoming
Ruotsin kuningaspari vierailee Helsingissä Uutisvideot Tv Areena yle.fi

Video of the queen and mrs Jenni Haukio visiting Microsoft and meeting contestants of Students in the app contest for business. The idea of the contest is to develop an application for smartphones that facilitate contacts between Finnish and Swedish industry.
Kuningatar Silvia ja rouva Jenni Haukio vierailevat Microsoftilla - MTV Katsomo - Ohjelmat - Viihde-live

Photos at the visit to Microsoft
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From the Twitter of the Office of the President
"The Royal couple got as presents Kirsti Taiviola's Aarre -table lamp and literature and music of Sibelius"
https://twitter.com/TPKanslia/status/572705198629621760

The Aarre -table lamp
Kirsti Taiviola

The official discussions
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Bilateral talks #swefin2015. Education, entrepreneurship & innovation by young people central according to Pres Niinistö & HM King.
https://twitter.com/CarolineVicini/status/572712845437227008

At the balcony
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Kungaparet har anlänt till Helsingfors Svensk Damtidning
Translation

The queen and mrs Haukio visiting the Sibelius exhibition at the Ateneum Art Museum
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Official photos at the Presidential Palace
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Photos of the queen's and mrs Haukio's visits to Microsoft and Ateneum Art Museum
Viihdekuvat Ruotsin kuningaspari Suomessa 3.3.2015 - Puolisoiden ohjelma Lehtikuva lehtikuva.fi
Kuningatar Silvia vitsaili ja ideoi sloganin! Iltalehti

At Microsoft
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At Ateneum, the guests visited the Sibelius and the World of Art exhibition with Museum Director Susanna Pettersson and Director General of the Finnish National Gallery Risto Ruohonen.
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Photos from the official website of the President of Finland, will be updated during the visit. There is also a video.
Ruotsin kuningaspari valtiovierailulla Suomessa - Suomen tasavallan presidentti

The king and the president attended at a business seminar "Digitization of traditional industries" at the Mirror Hall of Hotel Kämp.
https://scontent-bru.xx.fbcdn.net/h...=2e0335817e5423c65c8e53e30517d207&oe=557C7C4D

The king and queen visited the Parliament, they were hosted by Speaker Eero Heinäluoma.
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Uutiskuvat Ruotsin kuningaspari eduskunnassa Lehtikuva lehtikuva.fi

The king and queen at the wreath laying at the Hietaniemi Cemetery. The king laid three wreaths: One at the War Hero's Cross, one at the Marshal Mannerheim's grave and one at the memorial for the volunteer Swedes killed in finnish wars.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_LZJgaU8AAOeBj.jpg
 
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Photos from today's events
KUVAT Silvia ja Kaarle Kustaa Suomessa – hymyjä ja hempeitä katseita - Viihde - MTV.fi

MTV writes that the members of the Parliament took photos of the king and queen and put them to their social media.
Kansanedustajat innostuivat Kaarle Kustaan ja Silvian vierailusta – julkaisivat salakuvia - Viihde - MTV.fi

The king and queen attended at a reception for the Swedes in Finland at the Embassy of Sweden.
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At the Parliament with speaker Eero Heinäluoma
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Photos
APA-Picturedesk

The king and the president had lunch with the business delegations
Viihdekuvat Kuningas Kaarle XVI Kustaa ja Suomen presidentti Sauli Niinistö lounalla Lehtikuva lehtikuva.fi

Video of the king and queen at the Parliament
Kuningasparin iltapäivä jatkui Ateneumissa ja eduskunnassa - Kuninkaalliset - Ilta-Sanomat

I'm very impressed of the work ethics of the king and queen. They arrived at 11.15 and have had so many work events today.
And the media interest is huge: 136 photographers and journalists (120 finnish och 16 swedish) are following the visit.
 
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Queen Silvia and mrs Haukio on the cover of Iltalehti
http://static.iltalehti.fi/nakoislehti/kansikuva_350.jpg?d=201503040741

Before the dinner
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At the dinner
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The finnish press tells, that the Sibelius exhibition is mrs Haukio's favourites and she obviously suggested it to the program of the visit. When the queen and mrs Haukio visited the exhibition at the Ateneum Art Museum, pianist Folke Gräsbeck played them Finlandia by Jean Sibelius and told about Sibelius as a person. The queen and mrs Haukio had lunch at Ateneum with conductor, professor Atso Almila as one of the lunch guests.

Professor Almila tells about the lunch:
"The Queen's entourage asked about the Finnish cultural life, Sibelius and our conductor miracle", professor of the Sibelius Academy orchestra and conductor education Almila says. The discussion took place entirely in Swedish.
In addition to the higher education of Finnish music, queen Silvia was interested in creativity.
"We talked a lot about the creative process of making music. Many conductors have been self-composers. The Queen wanted to hear about the composers' idea world".
Almila praises the Queen's taste in music: "She likes of many genres of music. She was interested in film and theater music. It is different to make that kind of music than a symphony. There is a story in them, but not in a symphony. And perhaps the lunch was a small relaxing moment for them. I told funny stories. The discussion was very informal and smooth. And they had very well-informed questions. I must say that I enjoyed".
He gave to the queen as a present of a framed photograph of the Music Centre work of art, which presents the batons of well-known conductors.
"It attracted positive attention."
Atso Almila tapasi kuningatar Silvian ”Tilanne oli rento – kerroin hauskoja tarinoita” - Suomenkuvalehti.fi
Translation

Article in Expressen
The king said: "Finland never ceases to fascinate. The similarities with Sweden are numerous, but also the differences and despite our proximity we continually find new things. This we can learn and benefit from".
Queen Silvia made it clear what she thought about the visit: "Grateful and happy for the hospitality and warmth that we face. It is just amazing to come to Finland every time. I and the King really look forward to these days".
The state visit has been planned throughout the fall and there is a large Swedish business delegation and Minister for Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström and Minister for Education Gustav Fridolin. For Fridolin the visit is a chance to meet Finnish colleagues and above all get an insight into the Finnish education system - ranked as one of the best in Europe. "It's a chance for me to learn more and take part of their education", says Fridolin.
Här hyllar kungaparet de svenska soldaterna Nyheter Expressen
Translation
 
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The king and queen started their second day at a meeting with swedish business delegation at the swedish Embassy.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B_PKpGUW8AAcZ1N.jpg

The king, queen and president Niinistö got acquainted with finnish start up -world.
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Queen Silvia listening to Peter Vesterbacka from Rovio, the company behind Angry Birds.
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Swedish royal couple to visit Me & MyCity Yrityskylä
Me & MyCity ‏@MeMyCity
We are done! Very impressed by the royal couple and they were impressed by our 6th-graders. Stay tuned! #kungaparet #swefin2015
https://twitter.com/MeMyCity/status/573062140409606145

The king and queen at Me & MyCity. Me & MyCity is a learning concept aimed at school children, covering society, working life and entrepreneurship. The Me & MyCity learning environment is a miniature city where students work in a profession and function as consumers and citizens as part of society. The king and queen got bank cards and then they shopped at a K-Market, they bought rye snack. 12-year old Charlotte was the cashier.
Kuninkaalliset tapasivat koululaisia Espoossa Teistä tulee hyviä kesätyöntekijöitä - Kuninkaalliset - Ilta-Sanomat
Kuningaspari osti ruisnappeja Yrityskylässä Helsingin Uutiset
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The king and queen are attending at a Future leaders meeting at The Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre.
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The queen delivered the award to the winner of the app contest.
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I like the red dress and I like the sapphire jewellery, but I don't like the combination.
 
The king and the president arrived to the National Defence University in Santahamina.
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Gallery
APA-Picturedesk

Kuningas ja presidentti seurasivat Santahaminassa NBG15 n NH90-helikopteriosaston toimintaa lentoposti.fi

Meeting press in Santahamina.
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The queen and mrs Haukio visited Design Forum to look the young finnish design and met young designers.
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Photos from the visit to Me & MyCity earlier today.
Kuningatar Silvia loisti Espoossa – katso kuvasarja Länsiväylä
https://www.flickr.com/photos/yrityskyla/sets/72157651168842001/

The king and the president visited at the Military Museum, at the exhibition 75 year from the Winter War. They are watching the rifle our former president Mauno Koivisto used at the Winter War.
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Gallery of the visit to Santahamina and the ladies at the Design Museum
Uutiskuvat Ruotsin kuningas sotanäytöksessä Santahaminassa, kuningatar tapasi nuoria suunnittelijoita. Lehtikuva lehtikuva.fi
 
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