Opening of the Swedish Parliament 2009

Today the Royal Family of Sweden attended the annual opening of the House of the Parliament in Stockholm. It was opened shorty after two o’clock in the afternoon. The men attended the opening in dark suits and ties, the women in dark dresses and hats. The Royal woman are always dressed in dark colours, in an intentional homage to the old court dress, which was worn until 1974 and was made of black velvet with white detailing.

The day started with a church service in the Stockholm Cathedral. At 1 o’clock the Army Music Corps played and the Grenadiers from the Life Guards paraded at the Parliament grounds. A folk dance danced inside the Parliament and folk musicians and music classes sung.

Around 2 o’clock King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, CP Victoria, Prince Carl Phillip and Princess Madeleine arrived with a royal cortège. They were greeted by the Speaker of the Parliament. The King held a short speech and declared the Parliament open.

You can find information and pictures of the event in this thread.

Filed under Sweden
Tagged Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Parliament, Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Queen Silvia of Sweden.