"I have done a colossal amount in 50 years"
Of:
Jenny Alexandersson
Published: Less than 2 hours ago
Updated: Very recently
56 years ago, Uppsala received a young royal student.
Today, the king is celebrating his throne jubilee in the city where he made many friends and great experiences.
- It is always just as lovely to be here, says the king.
The king's grandfather Gustaf VI Adolf studied in Uppsala when he was young. It was considered that the education was successful and it seemed natural that the king would follow in his footsteps. Likewise Crown Princess Victoria many years later.
- I myself have lived here as a student, just a few stone's throw away on Luthagsesplanaden. And it's not just me in the family who has lived and studied in Uppsala. On Bävern's alley is the so-called Prinshuset. During the second half of the 19th century, no fewer than eight princes lived there during their time as students, the king says.
He studied a specially designed educational program with courses in history, sociology, political science, financial law and economics. These were subjects that were considered most suitable for a future king.
In his speech to the Uppsala residents, the king told about his student days. For two semesters, the king studied at Uppsala University. Photo: Pontus Lundahl / TT
The king had a student apartment on Luthagsesplanaden. Photo: SAXON & LINDSTRÖM
"Always hot debates"
- It was a pleasant and exciting time here for two semesters. It's something that I remember, we all went to school somewhere and studied and you take something with you. I have many friends, stories and experiences from that time. It is always just as lovely to come back and be here, says the king.
What he remembers most are the people he met.
- There was a lot that happened at that time, but it was probably the socializing and making new friends and so on that was the best. I belonged to the Stockholm nation and there were always activities there. Lectures were held at the various foreign policy associations and it was fun to go and listen to them. It was 1967 and always hot debates. It was exciting.
The visit to Uppsala is part of the royal couple's travels through Sweden. During the year, they will visit all 21 counties in Sweden to pay attention to the king's 50 years on the throne.
The king and queen meet Uppsala residents and visitors at St Erik's square. Photo: Pontus Lundahl / TT
"I've been through a colossal lot"
But summarizing the five decades is not possible. The king laughs a little at the question.
- Haha, no, you have to understand that it's not possible to pick something from 50 years ago. It is the overall picture and that you have been involved in a lot, says the king.
He appreciates the photo exhibitions about the king's life that each county puts together.
- I've seen that I've managed a colossal amount of things in these 50 years, that's for sure. The whole society has changed and developed and I have always been interested in technology and development as such and a colossal lot has happened in that area, states the king.
The king plants a memorial tree (an ox) at Uppsala Castle. Photo: Pontus Lundahl / TT
A girl shouts from the audience
Uppsala shows itself from all sides on this day. The hail pours down when the king is about to plant a memorial tree outside Uppsala Castle. Soon after, the sun shines over the windy slope.
A wheelbarrow has been symbolically filled with soil. The king uses a 3D-printed shovel to scoop soil over the tree's roots.
It takes its time.
After a while, a little girl in the audience called out:
- But overturn the whole wheelbarrow, the king!
Warm laughter runs across the rows of people gathered to meet Sweden's royal couple.
Suddenly a formation of JAS 39 Gripen flies across the sky.
A spontaneous quadruple cheer echoes up towards the castle when the king and queen get into their car for the journey back to Stockholm.
The court's horses and carriages were ferried to Uppsala the day before the royal couple came to visit.
The royal couple together with Governor Stefan Attefall. Photo: Pontus Lundahl / TT
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