King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia honoured the town of Nybro in Kalmar County on National Day. The royal couple makes an annual visit to the province on June 6.
National Day is one of the busiest days for the Swedish royal family. This year, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia are opening the doors of the Royal Palace in Stockholm to the public with their little girl Ines, and then the king’s son is attending a special changing of the guard in the courtyard. Crown Princess Victoria will greet the public in the park surrounding her residence. Meanwhile, the King and Queen of Sweden will visit a provincial town. In the evening, the royal family will gather for a reception with the authorities, following a procession in a carriage through the streets of the capital.
This year, King Carl XVI Gustaf, 79, and Queen Silvia, 81, have decided to spend their national holiday in Nybro, Kalmar County. Kalmar is a county in the south-east of the country with a population of around 245,000. The municipality of Nybro has a population of just under 20,000. Upon arrival in Nybro, the King and Queen were greeted by Kalmar County Governor Allan Widman and his wife Helen Widman.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia visited the Pukeberg glassworks, one of the oldest and best-preserved glassworks in Sweden. The National Glass School is located next to the glassworks. Teachers and students talked about the education provided there.
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia took part in a festive programme in the open air. An official ceremony was held to celebrate the national holiday with the monarchs. King Carl Gustaf presented flags and banners to the county associations. The Nybro brass band and choirs performed at the ceremony.
The head of state also gave a speech to the residents of Nybro: “Today we have gathered to celebrate Sweden! And we are doing so here in Nybro, in the Kingdom of Glass, where history, craftsmanship and faith in the future come together,” the king said. “Today, Sweden celebrates its independence, freedom and unity, and we help each other achieve our everyday goals and our dreams for the future. In Nybro, you know what that means. Here, you know that strong communities are built from the bottom up, thanks to dedicated people who help each other: entrepreneurs, teachers, healthcare workers and passionate people who make a difference every day.”
