03 Nov Kungliga Slottet
Stockholm’s Royal Place as approached via the Norrbro, the North Bridge, from a WWII era postcard
Stockholm’s Royal Palace (in Swedish, Kungliga slottet) is located on the island of Staden ( today known as Gamla Stan or Old Town.) It was built on the site of an earlier structure by Nicodemus Tessin, a Swedish architect, in the Italian Renaissance style. The work began in 1697 but because of the interruption of war was not completed until more than sixty years later by a team that included the original architect’s son.
From the official website of the Swedish Royal Court: “The Royal Palace of Stockholm is His Majesty The King’s official residence and is also the setting for most of the monarchy’s official receptions. The palace is a daily place of work for The King and Queen as well as for the various departments that make up the Royal Court.”
In 1944 visitors, with an admission fee of 1 kr (in 1944, that was equivalent to $4.20 U.S.) could view certain suites. On Sundays and holidays, the fee was half price. Today the entrance fee for adults is SEK 100 (100 kr or about $15.00.)
The Royal Palace lit up at night. From a WWII era postcard, worn by 67 years in an old scrapbook.
At the Swedish Royal Court site, you can also read about the additional nine royal palaces in Sweden, dating back as far as four centuries. They are all located around Stockholm.
Today the reigning King of Sweden is King Carl XVI Gustaf, born in 1946. It was his great-grandfather, King Gustaf V who was King of Sweden during both World Wars I and II. He reigned from 1907 until his death in 1950 when he was 92 years old. He holds the record for being the oldest monarch of Sweden.
Gustaf V married Princess Victoria of Germany in 1881. This tie must have made it a natural occurrence when he socialized with Nazi leaders before World War II.
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