Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf celebrates 80th birthday

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf turns 80 on Wednesday, with celebrations including a church service, military honours, and a gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, reports public broadcaster SVT.

The day begins at 10:00 local time with a service in the Royal Chapel, followed by a military tribute, choral performances, and public well-wishes. In the evening, a state banquet will be held in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace, concluding with a ceremonial tattoo in the Inner Courtyard.

National broadcaster SVT will provide live coverage throughout the day, starting at 09:30, including the morning’s events and the evening gala. The king will also share a personal memory in a radio segment, recalling an anonymous encounter during his officer training in Sydney.

April 30 marks both the king’s birthday and Walpurgis Eve (Valborgsmässoafton), a traditional Swedish holiday.