Victoria to her father: "You make me feel safe!"

Royally

Crown Princess

Victoria about her father: You make me feel safe 

Jenny Alexandersson  

Published 21:58 

The king was showered with praise at the evening's gala dinner.  

Crown Princess Victoria's speech to her father brought tears to the Queen's eyes. 

- Your majesty, dear father, with you one walks safely in all weathers. Often in sunshine, but also in rain and wind and snow. Regardless of the weather, you have the direction clear for you, said the Crown Princess. 

The Crown Princess' speech was met with resounding applause.  

She used the mountain and nature as a metaphor when she talked about her father. A natural simile because it is in nature that the king recovers and gains new strength. 

- When I stand here tonight, half a century later, and think about how to describe your deed, my thoughts go to a completely different place. I think of the mountain, of our hikes and ski trips there when my siblings and I were little, said the crown princess, describing how good it felt to have her father's back on the ski track and on the hiking trail.

Crown Princess Victoria gave a speech to her father, Carl XVI Gustaf. Photo: TT  

Big smiles at the tables 

- I remember how safe it felt to me as a child. I feel the same security today as an adult when I follow you in your work as King of Sweden. To walk with you through the castle's corridors and halls on your way to a council or foreign affairs committee. Or to accompany you when you perform your duties around Sweden.  

The 400 guests at the round tables in the Rikssalen raised their glasses in a toast. Big smiles everywhere.

The queen discreetly wiped away a tear. The female guests' jewels glittered brightly in the light. 

Queen Silvia wore the grandest tiara from the royal jewelery box – the Brazilian tiara – at tonight's gala dinner. 

- This is an evening that will go down in the history books, says court expert Sara Ericsson. 

The king had Queen Sonja on his left and Queen Margrethe on his right at the table. Photo: TT  

Yellow and blue on the ladies  

Sofia, who wore a yellow dress at the morning's program, chose another yellow dress for tonight's dinner. Her private tiara has interchangeable gems and tonight it was topped with yellow-pink stones.

Even Queen Silvia had chosen a yellow silk gala dress. 

Crown Princess Victoria wore an ice blue dress that shimmered in a darker shade at the bottom and her favorite tiara: the radiant tiara.  

Yellow and blue like the Swedish flag. Tonight, attention is also paid to the fact that Sweden as a nation-state turns 500 years old.

400 guests were invited to the sumptuous gala dinner in the Rikssalen for the king's jubilee. Photo: TT  

Looked at her with pride  

Princess Madeleine arrived in a silver gray dress with a sequin bodice and wore her private tiara, which she received as a gift from the royal couple when she turned 18.  

The king had his cousin Queen Margrethe as lady of the table and they conversed happily with each other. 

But when his daughter gave a speech, it was a serious king who looked with much love and pride at the crown princess. 

- To be a link in a long chain is a great benefit. With love and confidence, I regard Crown Princess Victoria's dedication and focus in the task of representing Sweden, said the king in his welcome speech. The king gave a speech of welcome in the Rikssalen at the big gala dinner.  

The king gave a speech of welcome in the Rikssalen at the big gala dinner. Photo: TT 

Crown Princess Victoria in an ice blue dress and the ray diadem in her hair. Photo: TT  

Queen Silvia in yellow silk and with the arm of Norwegian King Harald. Photo: TT  

Princess Madeleine in a silver dress with sequins Photo: TT 

The king with his cousin Queen Margrethe of Denmark. Photo: TT 

Beautifully set tables at dinner in the Rikssalen at the Royal Palace. Photo: TT 

FACTS 

Crown Princess Victoria's speech 

Your majesty, dear father. For 50 years you have been Sweden's king. For almost as long, you have been my father and always my role model.  

You are a constant, a security for me but also for many others. And I am so happy to celebrate this historic anniversary together with you and all of Sweden.  

In this very place in the Rikssalen at Stockholm Palace, you ascended the throne in September 1973, aged just 27.  

When I stand here tonight, half a century later, and think about how to describe your deed, my thoughts go to a completely different place. I think of the mountain, of our hikes and ski trips there when my siblings and I were little.

Nowhere do you move as easily as there in the magnificent Swedish nature with its expanses and its silence. Dad, I remember so well what it was like to have your back on the ski trail and on the hiking trail. I remember how safe it felt to me as a child. I feel the same security today as an adult when I follow you in your work as King of Sweden.  

 

To walk with you through the castle's corridors and halls on your way to a council or foreign affairs committee. Or to accompany you when you perform your duties around Sweden. 

 

It's not entirely unlike a trip in the mountains. You get to listen and learn, lean back and engage. Sometimes it goes fast.  

 

Then you can increase the pace. Regardless of the weather, mood or day: you always push forward. You and mom together.The pace is high, tuning out is out of the question. 

Var kommer den pliktkänslan ifrån? Det är klart att det handlar om din personlighet och din karaktär men jag tror också att det handlar om en djupare insikt om att vara en del av något som är större än en själv. Att vara just en länk i en lång kedja. 

The strong sense of duty that drives you, it is certainly a bit old-fashioned, but also completely necessary to cope with the task that you were given to shoulder at such a young age. 

  

Where does that sense of duty come from? Obviously it's about your personality and your character, but I think it's also about a deeper understanding of being part of something bigger than yourself. To be just one link in a long chain.  

 

Out on the mountain, you taught us to follow the main rule of common law: Do not disturb, do not destroy. 

 

Nature is a gift. A gift that we have a responsibility to cherish for future generations.  

 

Here at the castle, you show every day how you care about the cultural heritage that you are put in charge of. And then we talk down to the level of detail, not a paint flake or a scratch mark escapes your gaze, and everyone who works with you can probably attest to that.  

 

Dear Dad you have a strong inner compass to guide you. You know that the landscape changes, that old maps don't always apply. Then you have to choose another path. The important thing is to keep a steady course.  

 

During the half century that you have been king, our country has developed. Our society has undergone great changes. You have been careful to follow along, while at the same time protecting the tradition. For Sweden in time.  

 

Your majesty, dear father, with you one walks safely in all weathers. Often in sunshine, but also in rain and wind and snow. Regardless of the weather, you have the direction ready for you.  

 

You are guided by a respect for the context of which you are a part and which you know is bigger than yourself. Your gaze is always directed forward. On the mountain – and in office. 

 

I am proud and grateful to follow in your footsteps.  

 

Tonight I want to say thank you for everything you have done and for everything you do for your country, for your family and for me. Bowl  

 

FACTS  

 

Menu  

 

Tartlet with baby broccoli, broad beans, dill, buttermilk and horseradish.  

Gos from Mälaren, lobster from Bohuslän with dill, fennel and tomato.  

Deer saddle from Södermanland with juniper berries, autumn mushrooms, celeriac and fir shoot oil. Field berries from Norrbotten with vanilla, roasted almonds and browned butter.