Article at court website:
On Friday, April 27, the Crown Princess couple visited Latvia to pay attention to the 100th anniversary of the restoration of the country's independence.
The day began at Riga Castle where the Crown Princess couple were welcomed by Latvia's President Raimonds Vējonis and his wife Iveta Vējone. Following the welcome ceremony, a meeting was held between the Crown Princess couple and the presidential couple.
After the meeting, the Crown Princess couple and the presidential couple attended the unveiling of a portrait by Erik Dahlbergh. As a graduation project, artist Kristín Ķibermane, who has been educated as art conservator and restaurateur at the Latvia Academy of Fine Arts, painted a copy of one of David Klöcker Ehrenstrahl's portrait by Erik Dahlbergh.
The President then gave a lunch at the President's residence at Riga Castle. In connection with lunch, the Crown Princess gave a thank you speech.
After lunch, the Crown Princess couple visited the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga where they talked with students from the Future Leaders Academy, a leadership program for young aspiring politicians and community leaders, including the importance of the UN's global sustainability goals.
Then the Crown Princess couple visited the National Library, also known as The Castle of Light, where national librarian Andris Vilks showed the Cabinet of Folksongs link to other website, opens in new window , a collection of about 200,000 listed Latvian folk songs, as well as the Rare Books and Manuscripts Collection. The Crown Princess spoke and handed Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna by Erik Dahlbergh to the National Library Collection.
As a conclusion to the visit to the National Library, the Crown Princess couple and the presidential couple were shown the Baltic Art Center's migration project In the Trails of Boat Refugees.
The Crown Princess couple finished the day with a visit to Latvian National Museum of Art, where the Crown Princess opened the Portable Landscapes exhibition - an international art project with exhibitions in Riga, New York, Gotland and Berlin. The exhibition tracks Latvian and Baltic art in exile and emigration from the beginning of the 20th century to today.
Kronprinsessparet i Lettland - Sveriges Kungahus
Translation
Victoria said at her speech at the National Library among other things:
Thank you for inviting Prince Daniel and me. It is an honour to once again be here at your beautiful National Library.
A week ago, I attended the 400th anniversary celebration of the Swedish National Archives, Riksarkivet, in Stockholm. The documents kept there date as far back as the turn of the eleventh century.
One of the speakers talked about the many Baltic and Finnish historians who come to Stockholm to conduct their research. Just like their Swedish colleagues come here, to the National Library, in order to learn more about our shared history.
Yes, Latvia and Sweden are connected by our past. But also by our future. Not least the future of the Baltic Sea.
Throughout history, our countries have depended on the Baltic Sea – for our livelihood and for our survival. Now, the survival of the sea depends on us.
As an advocate for the United Nations Global Goals, I am encouraged to see the countries around the Baltic joining forces. Working together; not only to save the sea that unites us, but to achieve a sustainable development in our part of the world.
Mister President, as a gift from my country to yours, I would like to present you with this copy of “Suecia Antique et Hodierna” [Suecia Antikva ett Hodiärna] - the most renowned architectural and topographical documentation of Sweden during the age of imperial greatness. It was edited by Erik Dahlbergh, governor general of Livonia in the 17th century.
Please accept this gift as a token of friendship in the past, the present and the future.
H.K.H. Kronprinsessans tal vid överlämnande av bokgåva till Lettlands nationalbibliotek, Riga, Lettland, fredagen den 27 april 2018 - Sveriges Kungahus