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Royal Stockholm

Among Stockholm's wealth of visitor attractions are many with a royal connection. The Swedish royal family has a long history and is the world's third oldest unbroken monarchy.

The family - King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine - have their permanent residence at Drottningholm Palace outside Stockholm. The palace, with its rich cultural traditions, was recently placed on Unesco's "World Heritage" list.

The Royal Palace
With its 608 rooms, Stockholm's Royal Palace is the largest palace in the world which is still used for its original purpose. The King and Queen have their offices at the palace and also hold receptions and gala banquets in the palace's banqueting suite. On State visits the official visitors stay in the Guest Apartments.

In the 13th century Birger Jarl built a fortress on the site where Stockholm's Royal Palace is located today. Over the centuries the fortress was converted into a palace and was restored by the Swedish monarchy. The original building was ravaged by fire several times, and after the last fire in 1697 Nicodemus Tessin the Younger was given the task of constructing the building which is now Stockholm's Royal Palace. However, King Karl XII's warfaring in Europe depleted the state coffers and it took almost 60 years before the palace was ready. The work was completed in 1754 by Tessin's son, Carl Gustaf Tessin, and Carl Hårleman. Because the building work took such a long time, fashions changed and the palace became something of a pattern for different styles of architecture, from lavish baroque and the playful rococo to the measured and elegant Gustavian style and the neo-antique which borders on the imperial style. The décor was provided by both Swedish and international craftsmen and artists, and the most lavish rooms are the reception rooms, the Palace Church and the State room, where the official opening of the Swedish Parliament took place until a few years ago.

Stockholm's Royal Palace is unusual compared with many of the world's other palaces because it is accessible to the public. Visitors can see the Bernadotte, State and Guest apartments, as well as the Royal Treasury with the royal regalia, the Royal Armoury with costumes and weapons, the Palace Church with its rococo décor and the State room with Queen Kristina's silver throne.

Photo: Stockholm Information Service

Changing of the guard
The guard parade which marches or rides to the palace for the changing of the guard is a tradition dating back to 1523, when King Gustav Vasa was crowned in Stockholm. The most spectacular parade is when the Dragoon Lifeguards ride through the city in their magnificent uniforms and polished spiked helmets.

The changing of the guard takes place in the palace's outer courtyard. From june to August the ceremony takes place every weekday at 12.15, and for the rest of the year on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. On Sundays the guard is changed at 13.15 throughout the year.

Kungsträdgården
Kungsträdgården ("the King's Garden"), an oasis right in the city centre, is today a popular park where people meet and lots of things are happening all the time. In the Middle Ages Kungsträdgården was a royal qkitchen garden and in the 16th century it was transformed into a pleasure garden. Right up to the end of the 18th century it could be visited only by royalty.

Photo: Hans Hammarskiöld.

Warship Vasa
Dating back to 1628 is the royal ship Vasa, Gustav II Adolf's warship which sank in the middle of Stockholm's harbour on its maiden voyage. After extensive underwater exploration, the Vasa was finally located and was salvaged in 1961 after having been in the water for 333 years. The restored Vasa can now be seen in the Vasa Museum on Djurgården.