Official Visit to Sweden from Finland: January 15-16, 2009

[JessRulz]

The President of Finland, Tarja Hallonen, will pay an official visit to Sweden between January 15 and 16, 2009.

On January 15, the King and Queen will host a banquet for President Hallonen and her husband, Dr Pentti Arajärvi, at the Royal Palace.
On January 16, the King and Queen and the President of Finland and Dr Arajärvi will visit the Botkyrka municipality and Södertälje.

President Halonen besöker Sverige - Kungahuset [NS4 version]

[Boris]

This visit by the Finnish President begins an all-year round celebration of the Bicentennial of the separation of Finland from Sweden.
Today at 11:00am CET, the opening ceremony takes place at the Swedish Parliament, attended by The King and Queen and Crown Princess, as well as the Prime Ministers of each country.
Swedish TV broadcasts the ceremony live, and there are also live streams on the web:

Svt:
http://svt.se/svt/road/Classic/shared/mediacenter/index.jsp?&d=12581&a=411289

Riksdagen TV (for real player):
http://www.riksdagen.se/templates/R_ExternalPage____7166.aspx

[giov]

Pics from Belga Picture
The Royal Family welcomes President Tarja Halonen, 15/1/2009.
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Gallery Prisma
http://www.prismanews.com/spip.php?article4617

[giov]

More pics
The Royal Family welcomes President Tarja Halonen, Royal Palace, Stockholm, 15/1/2009.
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[Marengo]

The hat that CPss Victoria is wearing seems a typical Fabienne Delvigne design.

[Boris]

Yes, looks typically Fabienne D. - unfortunately. In this shape and in black, it would be rather appropriate for some eccentric 70-year-old lady at a horse race.
I much prefer Princess Madeleine's cheeky hairpiece and the Queen's classically elegant hat.

[sgl]

Queen Silvia looks fantastic. I wonder if Victoria and Madeleine decided that they would both wear black and white, or if it was a coincidence?

[Boris]

It's certainly no coincidence. In the early eighties, when the Swedish Opening of Parliament ceremony was upgraded in terms of protocol, Queen Silvia re-established the tradition for Bernadotte ladies to wear strictly black, white and dark grey when visiting Parliament.
Before Carl Gustaf succeeded his grandfather, the opening was a very grand affair, in long black & white court dress with tiaras worn, taking place in the Hall of State in Stockholm Palace, not in the parliament building.
During the first years of King Carl Gustaf's reign, the ceremony was moved to the parliament itself and totally downsized - everyone appeared in the most modest daywear, without hats, and the Royals arrived without any special ceremony.
The Opening first was changed to its present form in 1983 I believe, with the Royal Couple arriving by carriage in a cortège and ladies wearing suit and hat.
At this point, Queen Silvia started wearing only black (or very dark grey) and white for the ceremony in order to pay homage to the former tradition to wear court dress, and this is the dress code custom all ladies followed for today's occasion at the Parliament as well.
That this looks nice in photographs with the several black/white/grey variations is a positive side effect.
I agree that Queen Silvia's appearance was impeccably elegant.
The gala dinner at Stockholm Palace tonight should be white tie/tiara, so I hope for more beautiful pics later.

[LadyFinn]

The Speaker of the Parliament of Finland, Mr. Sauli Niinistö with crown princess Victoria at the Bicentennial Ceremony in Stockholm
MTV3 Finland
King Carl Gustaf, president Halonen, speaker Niinistö, crown princess Victoria, minister Carl Bildt and prime minister Matti Vanhanen
MTV3 Finland
Queen Silvia, doctor Pentti Arajärvi (the husband of president Halonen) and princess Madeleine
MTV3 Finland

[giov]

More pics from Ibl
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[RachelD]

I think that Queen and Princess's look beautiful at this event.

[Her_Majesty]

First Gala pics
http://i41.tinypic.com/2isxn3c.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/2mnn6o8.jpg
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[LadyFinn]

I´m always dissappointed about the way our president dresses
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Queen Silvia today at the parliament:
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[royalist]

Belga Picture

Queen Silvia looks very regal at the Gala!!!

[LadyFinn]

Queen Silvia and the speaker of Parliament, Sauli Niinistö
ANP Beeldbank

Stockholm News/Swedish-Finnish joint history remembered
YLE/Leaders to Sweden for Bicentennial Ceremony

[sgl]

The gala photos are very nice. I think that Queen Silvia looked the most beautiful. White is clearly one of her best colors.

Thank you, Boris for the history. I don't know very much about the tradition behind this event, so I am very grateful for the information that you provided.

[LadyFinn]

Crown princess Victoria
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Princess Madeleine
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[pamk]

I don't understand why Prince Carl Philip is not there - what does he do besides race motor cars?
I would think that the royal family would want to get him more involved in things. Even though he will not inherit the throne, I would think that in the years to come he could become invaluable to the throne. After all, Victoria can't do everything!

[Marengo]

I suppose he is still studying, I believe he started some courses in agriculture recently. As neither he or princess Madelaine receive a dotation by the state it is nice enough that they do attend so frequently (compare it to the younger sons of Queen Beatrix for example).

--
The idea of Princess Victoria's dress is nice but it would have worked better if it was a whole dress instead of two seperates. Now the white accent is cut of halfway, which leaves a curious effect.

HM's decolette is big enough to host the more elaborate necklace of the sapphire parure, so a pity she only used a riviere this time.

[giov]

Pics of the Gala dinner
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Gallery Prisma
http://www.prismanews.com/spip.php?article4621