Charles XVI Gustav: biography of the King of Sweden

Sweden is one of those countries where the institution of the monarchy has survived. For over 40 years, King Karl XVI Gustav has been sitting on the throne. His life is worthy of detailed research, it is an example of how debt defeated personal inclinations and interests. But even today the king is constantly harassed by the paparazzi, and he periodically gives occasions for discontent of his subjects. Carl XVI Gustav, Queen Silvia and their children - this is a favorite topic for discussion in the people and the media.

Dynasty

April 30, 1946 was born the heir to the royal family of Sweden - Carl XVI Gustav. The dynasty of Bernadotte has been on the throne of Sweden for almost 200 years. The founder of the royal family was Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte. He was of no aristocratic origin, Jean-Baptiste was born in the family of a Gascon lawyer. But due to the difficult material situation, he entered the military service and made a dizzying career in the army of Napoleon. Marshal Bernadotte showed himself as a very humane person when dealing with captive Swedes, which made him a very popular man in this country. And when in 1810 in the country there was a monarchical crisis, Charles XIII and the state council offered him to become heir to the throne, but with the only condition - acceptance of Lutheranism. In 1810 he became regent, and in 1818 he ascended the throne under the name of Charles XIV Juhan. In 1844, the son of Marshal Oscar I ascended the throne. Today, the seventh representative of the Bernadot dynasty, Carl XVI Gustaf, ruled Sweden.

Childhood

Carl XVI Gustav was born the third and became the only son and youngest child in the family of Prince Gustavus Adolf, who wears the title of Duke of Vesterbotten. At birth, he received the name of Carl Gustav Volke Hubertus, but he is usually called only the first two names. The father of Karl Gustav died when the boy was only 9 months old. It was a plane crash. There was an atypical situation when the throne passed from grandfather to grandson, bypassing the whole level of heirs. When the boy was three years old, his great-grandfather, the King of Sweden , died , and Karl Gustav officially became the crown prince. Grandfather from an early age began to prepare a grandson for ascension to the throne, he understood that the child needed special education and special skills and qualities. Therefore, it is difficult to call the childhood of Karl Gustav happy. He was constantly reminded of the mission entrusted to him. Fortunately, his childhood passed in the midst of loving women: Mom and four older sisters were engaged in his upbringing and, of course, spoiled the boy. But my grandfather always tried to keep him strictly.

Education

By tradition, the future monarch received primary education at home. He was taught palace etiquette, languages, the history of Sweden. Then he was sent to a boarding school in a suburb of Stockholm. There, Carl Gustav was experiencing certain difficulties, as he suffered from dyslexia and did not perceive the printed text. Later he was sent to another private boarding house. Since childhood, the prince was a shy and not very sociable child. To overcome these qualities, he joined the ranks of scouts. And all his life he recalls that movement warmly and is the patron of Scouts in Sweden. To receive higher education, the prince enters the university in Uppsala, where he studies sociology, political science, history, economics and tax law. Later, he completed his education at the University of Stockholm, where he learned the basics of the national economy.

Preparation for reign

Grandfather Gustav personally developed a program for his preparation for ascension to the throne. In order for the monarch to have a full idea of how the state functions, the grandfather sent him to practice and internship in all the ministries and departments of the country. He visited schools, factories, rural enterprises, deeply immersed in the study of the work of courts, social welfare services, government activities. In this regard, there was not only education, but also compulsory sports. Karl Gustav studied riding, yachting, water sports. He retained these passions for life. Since the monarch in Sweden is more representative, even at the stage of preparation for the accession to the throne, Karl Gustav was trained in the international missions of Sweden in different countries. Also, the future monarch had to serve two and a half years in the armed forces of Sweden. He served in all arms, but he especially liked the activities of the fleet - he always loved the sea. Thus, the future king spent many years preparing for the adoption of the highest power in the country and was generally prepared for the duties that awaited him.

Coronation

In August 1973, Karl Gustav was summoned to his grandfather, who was very ill. For several weeks the grandson did not leave the patient's bed. The current monarch, a 92-year-old man, tried to convey his entire experience to a future king, a 27-year-old young man. September 15, 1973 Carl XVI Gustav informed the people from the balcony of the royal palace of the death of the monarch. On September 19, the coronation of the youngest ruler in the history of Sweden took place. In his speech, he voiced, according to tradition, his motto: "For Sweden - in step with the times!"

Life of the King

In modern Sweden, the king must stay out of politics, he is even forbidden from publicly expressing any political predilections. Carl XVI Gustav, whose biography is forever associated with the life of the country, focused his efforts on presenting Sweden on the world stage. He also regularly visits all regions of the country, inspects the work of state services and departments. The list of duties of the king is long enough. He annually opens a new season of work of the parliament, he has to receive and present credentials to ambassadors of foreign states. Carl XVI Gustav is the chairman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holds the highest post in the armed forces and, in this regard, takes parades, carries out an inspection of the army. In addition, he participates in the work of various forums, congresses, symposiums, opens exhibitions and various mass events. The king has an honorable duty to award the Nobel Prize. He travels a lot around the world, representing Sweden at events of the highest level, for example, at the Olympics, international meetings in honor of memorable dates. Within the framework of official visits, the royal couple visited Russia three times.

Social activity

The King's days are scheduled by minute, his calendar is planned for a year ahead. But he still has time for social activity. Carl XVI Gustav is the honorary chairman of the World Organization of Scouts, which he respects since his childhood. From an early age, the king was concerned with environmental problems, and he heads the Swedish branch of the World Wildlife Fund. Karl Gustav is in many different committees and unions, he oversees the activities of several sports organizations in Sweden.

Private life

Carl XVI Gustav, whose photo appears regularly in the media, tries to lead a way of life that corresponds to the status of the symbol of the nation. He does a lot of sports: yachting, diving, downhill skiing, horse riding. The monarch repeatedly took part in a 90-kilometer cross-country marathon. King all his life struggling with dyslexia and achieved great success in this.

Wife and kids

While still a prince, Karl Gustav met at the Olympic Games in Munich with interpreter Silvia Sommerlat. Between the young people from the first meeting a spark ran. For a while, they met secretly, so that the royal family would not know anything. But the feelings were strengthened, and in 1976 the couple got married. They were married in the Lutheran church, and the ceremony was watched all over Sweden. The couple had children: two daughters and a son. The crowned family, consisting of King Charles XVI Gustav, Queen Sylvia and their three children, is a symbol of stability and unity for Sweden. Despite the various rumors and attempts to compromise the monarchy, they honor their duties to the people with dignity and deserve respect.

Queen Sylvia is actively engaged in public and charitable activities, she heads several large funds of great social significance. In 1979, the Parliament of the country decided that the inheritance of the monarch's throne will be held according to seniority, regardless of the sex of the heir. Thus, Princess Victoria became the successor of the first stage. The family lives in the castle Drottningholm in Stockholm. At the initiative of the royal couple, the residence was opened to the general public. In 2010, Princess Victoria married and settled with her family in a suburb of the capital. In 2012, a couple was born a girl - Princess Estelle. In 2010, the son of the monarch also married, his son was born in 2016. In 2013, the youngest daughter of King Madeleine also married. In this marriage, the grandson and granddaughter of the king were born.

Awards

Royal activity was rewarded many times. Karl Gustav is a Chevalier of the Order of the Seraphim, the Sovereign of the Orders of the Polar Star, Sword, Vasa, Charles 13, and also the owner of countless awards from foreign countries.

Subjects and King

Carl XVI Gustav, whose family is constantly under the scrutiny of the public, provokes ambiguous feelings among the people of Sweden. Members of the royal family have their own fans and detractors. There is a whole stratum of people who believe that the 10-15 million euros that monarchs cost to the treasury is an absolutely unreasonable expense of taxpayers' money. But there is also a large army of Swedes who believe that the king is a symbol of stability and traditions, and the institution of the monarchy should be preserved.

Scandals in the royal family

Royal private life is the subject of constant monitoring of the media and the public. The monarch says that nothing human is alien to him. And journalists have repeatedly recorded how Karl Gustav surrenders to the joys of life. Even from his youth, he paid special attention to the ladies, and to get rid of this habit for a long time could not. In 2010, the book "Carl XVI Gustav, the monarch willy-nilly" was published, around which a scandal broke out. This work was an unauthorized biography of the monarch. Karl Gustav did not deny anything, simply stated that all this is "the affairs of the past."

No less scandals caused and the life of Princess Madeleine, who before marriage loved to spend time in clubs and constantly fell into the bindings.

Interesting Facts

Carl XVI Gustav in his childhood dreamed of being a driver of a locomotive. In three years he learned to play on the harmonica and did not forget about this hobby until now.

At the wedding of the King with Sylvia, the group "ABVA" sang, which dedicated the song "The Dancing Queen" to the bride.

The daughter of King Victoria inherited his illness - dyslexia, she experiences serious difficulties with reading and writing. The King was able to overcome his illness by means of incredible efforts.