THE ROYAL COURT ANNUAL REPORT

Transcription

1 THE ROYAL COURT ANNUAL REPORT 2010

2 CONTENTS THE YEAR IN BRIEF... 4 CARL XVI GUSTAF SWEDEN S HEAD OF STATE...5 REPORT FROM THE MARSHAL OF THE REALM...6 ROYAL COURT The Royal Court The organisation of the Head of State... 7 Financial reporting...7 Use of funds within the Court Administration...8 Staff...8 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION Office of the Marshal of the Realm Office of the Marshal of the Court with the Office of Ceremonies H.M. The Queen s Household H.R.H. The Crown Princess s Household H.R.H. The Duchess of Halland s Household The Royal Mews...24 THE PALACE ADMINISTRATION The Royal Collections with the Bernadotte Library...26 The Office of the Governor of the Royal Palaces Stockholm Palace Administration Drottningholm Palace Administration with the Crown Lands Gripsholm Castle Administration...35 ROYAL DJURGÅRDEN ADMINISTRATION Operations ROYAL PALACE ADMINISTRATION ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2010 Notes to the financial statements Financial statements Auditor s report ROYAL DJURGÅRDEN ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2010 Management report...44 Financial statements Auditor s report...47 Diagram overview...48 theme: the crown princess couple s wedding theme: the bernadotte jubilee, theme: world child & youth forum theme: haga palace theme: state visit Medal presentations Diary Excerpts from the Royal Family s official programme...60 Royal Glossary...69 Organisation

3 THE YEAR IN BRIEF A host of state ceremonial events and official engagements Outgoing state visit to Brazil The King opened the Parliamentary Session and held cabinet meetings and meetings of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs The King gave a speech as part of the National Day celebrations Twenty seven ambassadors were received during formal audiences Official dinners, the Riksdag supper, ministerial lunches and the traditional dinner for the Nobel Laureates Focus on successors to the throne during 2010 The Crown Princess Couple s wedding A family celebration, an affair of state and a public occasion attracting international media attention Celebrations in Sweden and France to mark the bicentenary of the election of a successor to the Swedish throne The Crown Princess Couple travelled in Jean Baptiste Bernadotte s footsteps The Crown Princess Couple moved into Haga Palace Commitment to issues concerning quality of life for children, the elderly and people with dementia Royal initiative for World Child & Youth Forum with the Royal Palace of Stockholm as an international meeting place for children s rights The Queen took part in several events on child welfare through the World Childhood Foundation Dementia care is a global issue. Silviahemmet s care philosophy is spread internationally Renovations, environmental work and the introduction of energy-smart solutions Trial installation of solar cells at the Royal Palace of Stockholm Rebuilding and renovation of the Hall of State and the Halls of the Orders of Chivalry. New ventilation system for the Vita Havet assembly rooms Reduced energy consumption from introduction of LED/low-energy bulbs Streamlined computer systems and expansion of mobile communication solutions Electric and low-emission cars in the Royal Mews fleet Tours and exhibitions attract visitors to the royal palaces Approximately 900,000 visitors explore the royal palaces. Several exhibitions on the theme of succession held at the royal palaces Immense interest in the royal cultural heritage. Numerous objects from the royal collections are loaned out to Swedish and international exhibitions Music at the Palace celebrates 40th year 4

4 The King opening the Parliamentary Session. King Carl XVI Gustaf Sweden s Head of State SWEDEN S HEAD OF STATE. The Swedish Constitution Act rules that the holder of Sweden s throne is the nation s Head of State. Sweden is thus a constitutional monarchy. Sweden s King, Carl XVI Gustaf, came to the throne in 1973, and is the 74th monarch. The organisation that surrounds the Head of State is called the Royal Court. Sweden is one of the oldest monarchies in the world. A castle has stood on the site of the Royal Palace for over a thousand years. There has been a reigning monarch at the castle for several centuries, right up to the present day. The Swedish monarchy has performed its duties in various different forms throughout history. As with our Nordic neighbours, Denmark and Norway, Sweden is now a constitutional monarchy, which means that the monarchy s authority is regulated by the constitution. The official duties of the Swedish monarchy are chiefly symbolic, as a collective representative and symbol of the country. The Swedish Constitution Act also states that The King shall chair information and change of government cabinet meetings, and meetings of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs. The King shall also open the Parliamentary Session. In all other respects, it is the monarch s duty to represent Sweden at incoming and outgoing state visits, and to receive foreign ambassadors for accreditation. If The King is prevented from carrying out his duties as Head of State, for example due to foreign visits to distant or inaccessible regions, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip or Princess Madeleine (in order of succession) step in as temporary representatives. 5

5 Report from the Marshal of the Realm The past year has been all about successors to the throne and activities at the Royal Court were dictated mainly by three events related to this: The Crown Princess Couple s wedding, the Bernadotte Jubilee, and the renovation of Haga Palace prior to The Crown Princess Couple taking up residence. The Crown Princess Couple s wedding was much more than a happy major family celebration. The marriage of the heir to the Swedish throne was also an affair of state, as well as a public celebration. The congratulations and the warm wishes that the bridal couple received from hundreds of thousands of people demonstrates strong public support for the Royal Family. It is difficult to estimate the positive attention value for Sweden that resulted from The Crown Princess Couple s wedding, in the form of record media interest and the fact that the wedding was broadcast live on Swedish television and abroad. Two hundred years ago French marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte was elected successor to the Swedish throne. The Royal Family attended celebrations in Örebro to mark the election of a successor to the throne on 21 August. There were also celebrations to mark Jean Baptiste Bernadotte s arrival in his new country via Helsingborg. During the autumn The Crown Princess Couple visited a number of places in France with a connection to the Bernadotte family. An exhibition was organised at the Royal Palace of Stockholm entitled Life at the palace: At home with the first Bernadottes, and the National Museum s exhibition Staging Power, for which the Royal Collections loaned a large number of objects, tied in well with the anniversary celebrations. Haga Palace has been renovated in cooperation with the National Property Board. The Office of the Governor of the Royal Palaces and the Royal Collections have expended considerable resources on making Haga Palace and the surrounding parkland a functional official residence for The Crown Princess Couple. As part of this work consideration has been paid to cultural aspects as well as issues relating to security and integrity. In addition to these special events, the entire Royal Family has attended a large number of ceremonial and official events. During the year, The King or the Royal Family received more than 1,500 requests to participate in events. The King and Queen participated in 425 engagements, both separately and together. Crown Princess Victoria took part in 133 different events. Customary state ceremonial and official duties include the opening Marshal of the Realm Svante Lindqvist of the Parliamentary Session, state visits, formal audiences, cabinet meetings, diplomatic receptions, ministerial lunches, audiences, the National Day celebrations, the Nobel Prize ceremony, and a large number of visits around Sweden and to other countries to promote Sweden. The King and Queen would like to see the Royal Palace of Stockholm become a meeting place and have invited guests to seminars and talks on important social issues. Of special note was The King and Queen s initiative for the first World Child & Youth Forum (WCYF) with participants from Sweden and abroad. The WCYF aims to inspire and support, ensuring adherence to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Seminars were also arranged by H.M. The King s Young Leadership Foundation. The royal academies gathered for four seminars on various scientific fronts entitled Crown of Knowledge, which were broadcast on television. The state allocation for the 2010 financial year amounted to SEK 125 million. Of this, SEK 5 million was allocated for The Crown Princess Couple s wedding, and SEK 2 million for measures to improve security. In accordance with government instructions, 51 percent of the allocation was apportioned to the Court Administration, and 49 percent to the Palace Administration. The funds granted to the Court Administration (SEK 63.7 million) are used to finance all official representation and programme activities, ceremonial and other transportation, communication and overall management of all activities at the Royal Court. The majority of the expenditure, approximately 74 percent, consists of salaries, including social security contributions. The state allocation to the Court Administration equates to a cost that is equivalent to around SEK 6 per inhabitant in Sweden. The immense interest in The Crown Princess Couple s wedding, an interest that is still tangible, has also resulted in increased costs for information activities. A number of investments have been made in new IT systems and changes to work processes have also been implemented; the main aim is to ensure that the activities of the Royal Court are efficient and a good return on tax revenue. Stockholm, January 2011 Svante Lindqvist Marshal of the Realm 6

6 THE ROYAL COURT The King receives tributes on his birthday in the Outer Courtyard at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. The Royal Court The organisation of the Head of State THE ROYAL COURT S chief duty is to assist the Head of State and other members of the Royal Family in their official obligations. This duty also includes preserving and protecting the royal cultural heritage, and exhibiting this cultural heritage to the wider public. The King s motto, For Sweden With the Times, serves as a guide for everything we do at the Royal Court. The Royal Court s duties are divided up as follows: Programme of activities and representation Preservation and maintenance of cultural heritage Visitor activities Management of several overall functions For the purposes of state funding and reporting, the Royal Court is divided up into three separate units, which differ in relation to financing and the manner of reporting: 1. The Court Administration is financed by an allocation from the state, called the Appanage. In organisational terms, the Court Administration comprises the Office of the Marshal of the Realm, the Office of the Marshal of the Court, H.M. The Queen s Household, H.R.H. The Crown Princess s Household, H.R.H. The Duchess of Halland s Household and the Royal Mews. According to an agreement with the government, the Court Administration must provide clear reporting on how this allocation is used (see page 8). 2. The Palace Administration is financed partly by the state allocation, and partly by rental and leasing income, as well as income from guided tours of the royal palaces and sales from the royal gift shops. In organisational terms, the Palace Administration comprises the Royal Collections with the Bernadotte Library and the Office of the Governor of the Royal Palaces with the palace administrations. Income and expenditure for the Palace Administration s activities are reported on pages The Royal Djurgården Administration (RDA) comes under the Office of the Governor. Operations are self-financing through rental and leasing income. Revenue and expenses should balance in the long term, and any possible surplus is used solely for the long-term and sustainable development of Royal Djurgården (see pages 44 46). 7

7 THE ROYAL COURT State allocation from the Swedish Riksdag During the year, the Royal Court received a total of SEK 125 million (117.1) from the state, an increase of 6.8 percent compared with the previous year. There was a temporary increase of SEK 5 million for the year to cover the cost of that part of the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria considered an affair of state. According to an agreement with the government, 51 percent of the state allocation, or SEK 63.7 million (60), is apportioned to the Court Administration, and 49 percent, or SEK 61.2 million (57.1) to the Palace Administration. Revenue from visitor and retailing activities amounted to SEK 61.5 (59.6) million. The financial result for RDA amounted to SEK -0.5 million (-10.5). State allocation over the past five years, excluding non-recurring items Amounts in SEK millions The Court Administration The Palace Administration Change compared with previous year (%) Use of funds by the Court Administration s offices The Appanage, i.e. the part of the state allocation that finances the Court Administration, has been distributed among the various organisational units. The majority of the departments expenditure, 74 percent, comprises salaries, including social security contributions. Funds for the departments within the Court Administration are distributed as follows: 34 (30) percent for such overall management as comes under the organisation of the Office of the Marshal of the Realm. The personnel and functions that are included in the Office serve all the various activities of the Court and Palace Administrations, as well as RDA. Increased activity on the part of The Crown Princess s Household means increased expenses for the Office of the Marshal of the Realm. 23 (21) percent for such activities as come under the organisation of the Office of the Marshal of the Court with the Office of Ceremonies, consisting chiefly of costs relating to representation and travel. 19 (20) percent for such activities as come under the organisation of H.M. The Queen s Household, chiefly costs relating to staff within the royal household who work in the kitchens and serve at official dinners at the Royal Palace of Stockholm and Drottningholm Palace. 6 (8) percent for such activities as come under the organisation of H.R.H. The Crown Princess s Household. 18 (21) percent for such activities as come under the organisation of the Royal Mews, of which around half of expenditure is attributable to ceremonial transportation. Further training, leadership and working environment The Royal Court had a total of 230 (216) permanent employees during the year, equivalent to 216 (203) full-time posts. In addition to these employees, a considerable number of people are taken on each year on temporary assignments, for example in connection with official and gala dinners, and during the summer season in the parks and for visitor activities. These temporary assignments correspond to around 70 (61) full-time posts on an annual basis, and provided employment for around 700 individuals during Seminars and lectures are organised as part of the Royal Court s skills development programme, mainly on subjects of a historical and cultural nature. As the majority of routines and information management processes are carried out using computer systems, the focus has been on improving all employees IT skills. Training courses have been conducted on subjects relating to organisation, leadership and working environment. Systematic working environment management includes the preparation each year of a set of working environment accounts, which are compared with the action plans devised by each department. Preventive efforts ensure healthy employees The Royal Court is proactive in its efforts to minimise the risk of ill health. All staff are covered by an agreement that the Royal Court has entered into with a healthcare company. The company has been engaged mainly in work to prevent illness and has, among other things, carried out an ergonomic review of workplaces, conducted risk assessments, and introduced individual health promotion measures. A contribution is offered every year to support employees own fitness activities. Every year, the Personnel Department arranges a health day including outdoor activities. Absence due to sickness was approxi- The second volume on Drottningholm Palace in the series The Royal Palaces and the book The Royal National City Park were published in

8 THE ROYAL COURT The Hall of State furnished and decorated ahead of The Crown Princess Couple s wedding on 19 June mately 2 (2.4) percent, which is below the national average. One explanation for the extremely low sickness figures may be that the Royal Court s employees have a strong commitment to and interest in their work, as well as a stimulating working environment, with a valuable royal cultural heritage to protect. Another is the preventive efforts of the Royal Court. Cultural heritage demands integrity, precision and quality The Royal Court s task of representing, preserving and exhibiting a living cultural heritage places high demands on our employees in terms of integrity, precision and an appreciation of high quality. This is the workplace of a large number of highly qualified specialists representing numerous professions and crafts. With their specialist knowledge and desire to provide a high level of service, all employees make a professional contribution towards ensuring that The King and the Royal Family are able to carry out their representative duties successfully and with a high level of quality, both in Sweden and abroad. Focus on recruitment issues A review of the Royal Court s future staff supply has revealed that approximately 30 percent of employees will reach retirement age between the years 2009 and 2013, during which period The Crown Princess Couple will be establishing a household at Haga Palace. This situation calls for special recruitment efforts and increased resources. Many of the administrative tasks have been rationalised and streamlined, but the majority of the restoration work involves unique craftsmanship and work that must be done by hand and cannot be replaced by modern technology. The transfer of skills over time requires continuity, careful planning and a long-term approach. In many cases, skills are passed on over a long period of practical training. Much of the specific knowledge about how a royal family performs its official duties and is presented, managed and developed is therefore passed down from older employees to younger ones. In order to ensure that these skills are passed on, these periods of overlap need to extend over long periods of time. This generational change means increased salary costs for the Royal Court for the next few years. Staff Number of permanent employees Proportion of female employees, % Proportion of male employees, % Average age Absence due to sickness as a percentage of working hours 9

9 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Realm Royal task with roots in the 1600s THE OFFICE OF THE MARSHAL OF THE REALM is the Marshal of the Realm s staff office, which is responsible for leading and coordinating activities within the Royal Court on behalf of the Head of State. The Marshal of the Realm is head of the Royal Court and is responsible for contact with the Riksdag and the government. The Marshal of the Realm chairs a management council, which comprises the directors of the various offices and staff functions. The Office of the Marshal of the Realm includes the Secretariat, and the Personnel, Finance and Information departments. The office also has responsibility for ceremonial music. Furthermore, the office has a number of functions at The King s disposal. These include the Mistress of the Robes, who has an advisory function and takes part in state visits within Sweden, as well as in other ceremonies as requested by The King; the Principal Secretary, who deals with issues of a general administrative and legal nature; and the Solicitors to The King, who act as legal advisers. There is also the Medical Household, with the physician to The King and the court dentist. The office also includes the Ecclesiastical Household, which comprises a chaplain to The King, the Pastor of the Court Parish, a court organist and court priests from the various dioceses. The Royal Court Parish is a diocese in itself, and is a non-territorial parish within the Church of Sweden. The King opening the Bothnia Line. The King with Minister for Enterprise and Energy Maud Olofsson, Local Government Commissioner Lennart Holmlund, and Chairman of the Municipal Council Marie-Louise Rönnmark, in front of the new travel centre in Umeå. In the background are The King s aides, among other figures. 10

10 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Realm The Secretariat at the Office of the Marshal of the Realm deals with issues of a legal and administrative nature. These include requests for permission to use pictures of the Royal Family and the royal symbols. The secretariat also handles inquiries from researchers requesting access to material in the Bernadotte archives. The secretariat is responsible for developing the Court Directory each year, and for preparing and participating in medal presentations, which are reported on pages Record Swedish and international media attention for wedding The Information Department has dealt with a large number of matters and inquiries from both the mass media and the general public. Approximately 650 (560) requests for interviews were received, mainly addressed to The King and Queen, of which 24 were carried out. Before each outgoing state visit, press briefings are arranged with the media which ensure press coverage in the host country and promote Sweden. The department also receives a lot of inquiries from the general public by telephone, letter and . The Information Department is also responsible for the development and maintenance of the Court s website, Financial management and reporting The Finance Department is responsible for finances and financial reporting at the Royal Court, as well as for the Royal Family s private finances. The Office of the Treasurer of the Court also deals with issues relating to Solliden and Stenhammar, as well as several foundations that have come into being over the years through fundraising in connection with special royal occasions. The foundations distribute their proceeds to various good causes, and they produce their own financial reports. Streamlined time and salary reporting via intranet The Personnel Department is responsible for staff and recruitment issues, salary administration and skills development at the Royal Court. The department is also responsible for internal communication, which is, to a great extent, disseminated via the Royal Court s intranet, Hovnet. The intranet is an important instrument for spreading knowledge and making information available quickly, which contributes to an increased sense of community. Time and salary reporting are now performed digitally via the intranet. Musical events in royal setting As well as ceremonial music, the Office of the Marshal of the Realm also organises a number of musical events at the Royal Palace of Stockholm and Riddarholm Church. This year a series of well-attended summer concerts was held at Riddarholm Church. Musical church services and organ Music at the Palace celebrated its 40th anniversary with a concert in the Hall of State. concerts under the directorship of the court organist are held in the Royal Chapel. The Bernadotte Library houses an extensive musical archive that is made available to the public in various ways. During the year, four popular piano concerts were given in the library, with music from the collections of various kings and queens. The Royal Palace of Stockholm also provides the venue for the annual Music at the Palace event. Military Staff of The King and the aides The Military Staff of The King is attached to the Swedish Armed Forces and is subject to The King s orders. The Military Staff is led by the Chief of Staff and its duty is to support The King and the Royal Court in defence-related activity. Aides serve in the Military Staff. The word aide has its roots in the Latin word adiuto, which means to help or support. An aide at the Swedish Court is thus an officer who assists a royal personage in service. There are currently 12 aides (from Majors to Colonels) in service to The King. They serve for a month at a time. Crown Princess Victoria has ten aides and Prince Carl Philip two aides. The aides to The Crown Princess form a pool from which an aide serves on a weekly basis. The aides have an important function as the first point of contact for organisers and various court officials when programme items are to be carried out. They are constantly on hand, ensuring that the royal personages are well-informed about the various programmes and events. The aides also make sure that transport and security requirements are taken care of. At times the job involves a degree of communication with the media, in cooperation with the Information Department. 11

11 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Court 2010 Focus on successors to the throne THE OFFICE OF THE MARSHAL OF THE COURT with the Office of Ceremonies is responsible for the planning, preparation and fulfilment of the Royal Family s public engagements and official representation in the form of state ceremonies, audiences, visits abroad, dinners, lunches, receptions, official gifts, letters of thanks, letters of congratulations, condolences, etc. The Office of the Marshal of the Realm works according to The King s role of collective symbol and representative of Sweden, in his capacity as Head of State. A key task of the Office is supporting the Head of State in carrying out those duties that are incumbent upon The King in accordance with Sweden s constitution. The Office of Ceremonies is responsible for ceremonies during state visits, official dinners, formal audiences, diplomatic receptions and other official representation, as well as during royal christenings, birthdays, weddings and funerals. The Office of Ceremonies is served by the Grand Master of Ceremonies, the Master of Ceremonies, the Deputy Master of Ceremonies, Lords in Waiting, Chamberlains and Secretaries. The King and the Royal Family received a total of 1,520 (1,624) inquiries regarding their participation in various events during the year. The large number of inquiries should be seen as evidence that the Swedish people genuinely appreciate the work carried out by The King and the Royal Family on behalf of the country. Taking into account programme items included in state visits, The King took part in 213 (203) engagements on his own, and 129 (182) together with The Queen. In addition to these engagements, The King also participated in several The King opening the City Tunnel in Malmö. After the construction of the Öresund Bridge, the City Tunnel is one of the biggest and most complex construction projects to be carried out in the region in recent years. 12

12 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Court The Royal Family visited Örebro on Saturday, 21 August On this date 200 years ago Jean Baptiste Bernadotte was elected successor to the Swedish throne. audiences and meetings at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Annually recurring official programme items for The King include the opening of the Parliamentary Session, the receiving of foreign ambassadors at formal audiences and participation in Sweden s National Day and Nobel Prize celebrations, together with other members of the Royal Family. Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling The royal wedding was coordinated within the Royal Court by the Chief of Military Staff of H.M. The King. The Office of the Marshal of the Court with the Office of Ceremonies was responsible for much of the administration, planning, invitations, correspondence and reception of guests at the royal wedding. Receptions, among other events, were organised prior to the wedding. A special IT system and a database were developed to register, document with descriptions and digital photographs, and follow up on, in the form of thankyou cards, the vast number of gifts sent by the Swedish public and official representatives. Additional staff were required to carry out this special work. Bernadotte Jubilee the bicentenary of the election of a successor to the throne On 21 August 1810 French marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte was named successor to the Swedish throne at a Parliamentary Session held at St. Nikolai s Church in Örebro. H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf is the seventh King in the Bernadotte dynasty on the Swedish throne. The Royal Family have participated in many ways in celebrations to mark this bicentenary in both Sweden and France. Read more about the Bernadotte Jubilee on the theme pages State visit to Brazil State visits are carried out at the request of the Swedish government and are planned in close consultation with the Government Offices. Clear objectives are formulated for each state visit, which then serve as a guide when planning the 13

13 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Court programme. The Office of the Marshal of the Realm and the Government Offices have worked together to produce a set of guidelines for this planning work. The active participation of ministers emphasises the importance of state visits in relation to maintaining Sweden s international links. Each state visit requires a considerable amount of preparation, involving close cooperation with embassies, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the government of the host country, as well as with commercial organisations and cultural institutions. This work involves detailed planning, checking the programme and preliminary visits. During the year The King and Queen made an outgoing state visit to Brazil. There were no incoming state visits because of the royal wedding and because of the general election held during the year. You can find out more about the programme for this state visit on the theme pages Sweden and China 60 years of diplomatic relations The King and Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson visited China accompanied by a Swedish delegation to celebrate 60 years of diplomatic relations between China and Sweden. The King met China s President Hu Jintao and Vice-Premier Li Keqiang. The King also opened the Sweden-China Innovation Forum, which focused on Swedish society and trade and industry s innovative capacity. During his visit to China, The King also visited the Swedish Pavilion containing Sweden s contribution to World Expo 2010 in Shanghai. Swedish-Norwegian solidarity Voksenåsen 50 years on The King and Queen and the King and Queen of Norway participated in an event to mark Voksenåsen s 50th anniversary. Voksenåsen was Norway s gift to Sweden as thanks for Sweden s humanitarian assistance during and after World War II. Svenskehuset was a concept familiar to the postwar generation in Norway, as was the White Buses operation and the training given to Norwegian police troops at Mälsåker Castle in Sörmland, among other places. Formal audiences, meetings of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs and cabinet meetings The King s duties include receiving and accrediting foreign ambassadors from countries with which Sweden has diplomatic links during formal audiences at the Royal Palace. During 2010 The King received 27 ambassadors and granted 18 farewell audiences. The King led meetings of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs, as well as change of government cabinet meetings and cabinet briefings. On National Day, the Royal Family arrived at Skansen, where The King made a speech, in horse-drawn state coaches, as is traditional. The King opened the Parliamentary Session with the customary forms and ceremonies. Royal official dinners and banquets In addition to the extensive events surrounding the royal wedding (see pages 50 51), an official dinner was held at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Invitations to the dinner were sent out to representatives from the Riksdag and government, authorities, municipalities, county councils, business, culture and sport, as well as representatives from the national, regional and local media. Representatives from the diplomatic corps accredited in Stockholm were also invited. The holding of a general election also meant that The King and Queen hosted the traditional Riksdag supper, which began with a concert in the Hall of State. During state visits and other official visits, The King and Queen invite guests to gala dinners and official lunches. Furthermore, The King and Queen hold cabinet lunches, ministerial lunches and a dinner for the Nobel Laureates. During the year, approximately 3,100 (3,150) guests have been invited to the Royal Palace of Stockholm and events in connection with the state visit to Brazil. Österåker destination for this year s municipal visit The King and Queen paid a visit to Österåker Municipality during the year, as part of their goal of visiting all the municipalities in Stockholm county. A comprehensive programme provided information on the opportunities and challenges facing the municipality, and included visits to local businesses, schools and homes for the elderly. Royal Technology Mission forum for international contact The Royal Technology Mission is a delegation trip for highlevel Swedish business leaders and representatives from authorities and universities, arranged for the first time in 1984 by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences on the initiative of The King. The aim is to make contacts that can lead in the long term to a greater exchange of ideas and business. The King s active participation creates unique opportunities for visiting companies and institutions. This year s trip to China involved visits to, among others, Volvo s new owners Geely Holding Group, Alibaba Group, and Zhenjiang University. During the trip The King also met with China s Vice President Xi Jinping in Beijing. H.M. The King observes Sweden s armed forces The King visited HMS Carlskrona, where he received information on Sweden s naval force ME02, which is taking part in Operation Atalanta, the EU s first naval operation in the waters off Somalia. The King observed the Nordic Battle Group s exercise Joint Action in Skövde and visited Med- Coy, a field hospital. The King also observed the Amphibious Regiment s exercise in the Stockholm Archipelago. 14

14 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Court H.M. The King is Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation and took part in a large international Scout camp, or jamboree, in Al Naseem Park outside Oman s capital, Muscat. Crown of Knowledge Gathering of the 10 royal academies At the beginning of the millennium The King initiated a series of seminars entitled Crown of Knowledge, at which members of the royal academies could gather to discuss important issues. Four seminars were held on 24 and 25 November in the Bernadotte Library under the heading Den goda vetenskapen (Good science), and were recorded for Sveriges Television. Medals, scholarships and awards for meritorious services A large number of royal foundations distribute funds for research, charitable work and cultural purposes. Through the Young Leadership Foundation, which aims to promote leadership training for young people based on the values of the Scout movement, The King awarded scholarships in three categories: trade and industry, the public sector and voluntary organisations. The scholarships were awarded in conjunction with a seminar on value-based leadership at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, attended by 200 top representatives from trade and industry, the public sector and the voluntary sector. In his role as Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation, The King participated in a major international Scout camp in Oman. In keeping with tradition, The King also took part in the Scouts annual spring clean at Royal Djurgården. The King also presented the Settler of the Year award at a ceremony held in the Bernadotte Library. H.M. The King s Medal was awarded on two occasions to Swedes who have provided meritorious services to the country (see pages 58 59). Audiences in connection with patronage and similar engagements The King has held many audiences at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in his capacity as patron of around 250 organisations and institutions, and has participated in several events during the year relating to these organisations. More about the Royal Family s programme For a more detailed report of the year s programme activities, see Excerpts from the Royal Family s official programme, pages

15 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Court PRINCE CARL PHILIP S official programme Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland, opening Vänern Wind Park, the world s largest wind farm on a lake. Prince Carl Philip has continued his studies at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Alnarp. This has taken up the bulk of his time and has limited the scope for carrying out official duties. In a state ceremonial and official capacity, Prince Carl Philip participated in, among other events, the National Day celebrations at Skansen, celebrations to mark the bicentenary of the election of a successor to the Swedish throne in Örebro and the landing of Jean Baptiste Bernadotte at Helsingborg, as well as the Nobel festivities. The Prince also attended the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. In his capacity as patron of the charity Lilla Barnets Fond, Prince Carl Philip has awarded grants for research to help newborn babies. Lilla Barnets Fond is a nonprofit association that aims to create greater awareness of the need for research into and further development of neonatal care in Sweden. The association s principal objective is to raise money for research into illnesses affecting newborn babies. Lilla Barnets Fond also aims to increase knowledge about various mechanisms and factors that affect babies during pregnancy, birth and the period immediately after birth. One in every ten children born starts out life in a neonatal unit. In Sweden, this means approximately 10,000 babies each year are cared for in neonatal units. The period immediately after birth is the most risky of a person s life, and even in Sweden, with its low infant mortality, there is a tremendous need for continued research into this form of care. Prince Carl Philip is also patron of the Swedish Cancer Society s campaign, Mustaschkampen. This is an annual campaign to create awareness of prostate cancer and to raise money for research and information, as prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in Sweden. The Swedish Cancer Society has organised the Mustaschkampen campaign in Sweden since 2007, working with private individuals, associations and companies. Approximately 9,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. Prince Carl Philip, who is Duke of Värmland, opened the extension to Norma Precision s munitions works in Åmotfors, which manufactures hunting bullets. The Prince also opened Vänern Wind Park, which is the world s largest wind farm on a lake. This project is an example of cooperation between different sectors and demonstrates the considerable level of environmental commitment in Värmland between municipallyowned companies, private companies, the church, financial associations and individuals. Prince Carl Philip is also patron of Rally Sweden, formerly Svenska Rallyt. The Prince officially opened the event in Karlstad in February. 16

16 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Court PRINCESS MADELEINE S official programme Princess Madeleine has spent a large part of the year working for the World Childhood Foundation in New York. Princess Madeleine has taken part in events including celebrations to mark the bicentenary of the election of a successor to the Swedish throne in Örebro, The King and Queen s Riksdag supper, the World Child & Youth Forum, and formal gatherings of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and the Swedish Academy. Princess Madeleine is patron of the My Big Day foundation and attended the event My Big Dinner to celebrate the foundation s 10th anniversary at Skansen. Each year hundreds of children in Sweden fall seriously ill with life-threatening diseases. The My Big Day foundation works to lift the spirits of seriously ill children and give them a much-needed break from their stay in hospital. In the ten years since the foundation was launched, hundreds of children have seen their wishes come true. The foundation also organises various group activities, events and camps, and even sets up cafés in hospitals. When planning a Big Day it is the wishes of the child that determine the foundation s work. Doctors alone are responsible for picking children whose wishes will become a reality. The foundation is run with the aid of contributions from other foundations, companies and individuals and currently has over 240 volunteers around the country. The foundation cooperates with all the hospitals in Sweden and with children s and young people s clinics. In her work at the World Childhood Foundation, Princess Madeleine has taken part in board meetings, events, seminars and project visits linked to Childhood projects in the US, China, the United Kingdom and South Africa. The Princess is a project administrator and her area of responsibility is China. The Princess visited China in September as a Childhood representative. During her stay in New York, Princess Madeleine attended the UN s annual meeting on Millennium Development Goals. The summit adopted a global action plan to achieve eight anti-poverty goals by a target date of 2015 and also announced new commitments on women s and children s health, pledging more than USD 40 billion over the next five years. The Princess also visited Chances for Children in New York, an organisation that has been using outreach work to help poverty-stricken inner-city children and their families since Princess Madeleine with Ena at a concert at the Solliden stage, Skansen, to mark the 10th anniversary of the founding of My Big Day. Ena s wish was to spend a day with The Princess and to be photographed with her. 17

17 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION H.M. The Queen s Household Great commitment to issues concerning quality of life H.M. THE QUEEN S HOUSEHOLD is tasked with preparing, carrying out and following up on The Queen s many commitments. The Household s duties also include dealing with correspondence in the form of letters of thanks, congratulations and condolences. The Queen s Household also includes the Royal Household. During the year, The Queen participated in 83 (108) programme items on her own, and 129 (182) together with The King. During the state visit to Brazil The Queen conducted her own programme items including study visits and seminars on topics such as children s rights, human trafficking and sexual exploitation (see also the theme pages 56 57). In addition to her state ceremonial commitments, The Queen is also involved in board meetings, inaugurations, scholarship awards and study visits. A significant amount of the work of the Court Administration has been devoted to The Queen s strong commitment to social issues. For a more detailed report of the programme activities, see Excerpts from the Royal Family s official programme, pages World Child & Youth Forum 2010 a historic event In 2009, a seminar at the Royal Palace of Stockholm was one of a number of events organised to mark the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. As a result of the seminar, The King and Queen took action to create a leading international meeting place for the Convention called the World Child & Youth Forum, which convened for the first time at the Royal Palace of Stockholm on 19 November. The The Queen presented The World s Children s Prize for the Rights of the Child to former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela and his wife Graça Machel. Nelson Mandela was unable to attend the ceremony in Stockholm in person. Royal Family participated during the year in regular meetings to decide on a programme for the Forum, etc. The first forum focused mainly on Article 12 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 12 states that children and young people have a right to express their views on all matters concerning them. The purpose of the forum is to broaden knowledge about the Convention and children s rights through meetings for inspiration and dialogue between children and adults. Among the 400-plus guests invited to attend were school children, representatives from the government and the Riksdag, foreign ambassadors, and representatives from trade and industry, the authorities and other organisations. Participants included Maria Larsson, Minister for Children and the Elderly, representatives from Save the Children Sweden, Unicef, the Junior Academy Music School, and Maskrosbarn, which is a charity helping children with a parent with an addiction or mental illness. Yanghee Lee from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and Bill Gates, who spoke about Gates Foundation initiatives aimed at children, joined in the discussions via telelink. Videoconferences and panel discussions with school children in several parts of Sweden were also included in the programme, as were workshops on topical subjects relating to children s rights. Conferences, inaugurations and award ceremonies During World Trade Day on 24 August, The Queen spoke about the importance of preventing the exploitation of children. The Queen awarded The World s Children s Prize for the Rights of the Child to former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela and his wife Graça Machel, who accepted the award at an event to celebrate its 10th anniversary at Stockholm City Hall. At the invitation of Queen Paola of Belgium, The Queen attended a conference on child refugees called Vulnerable Children on the Run. The Queen also opened a school for blind children aged 6-14 in Thailand, as well as Lilla Erstagården, Sweden s first children s hospice. The Queen opened the Bernadotte care home, a home for the elderly built on the site of the former Folke Bernadottehemmet and one of four new care homes in Uppsala. The 18

18 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION H.M. The Queen s Household The Queen gave an engaging speech in connection with the first World Child & Youth Forum organised by The King and Queen at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Queen made a speech at a conference in Östersund on human trafficking. In her speech to open the first national palliative care conference in Stockholm, The Queen spoke about her dream for training in palliative care, i.e. the care of patients in the final stages of life, to be a natural aspect of all healthcare training in Sweden. Childhood improving the lives of children The World Childhood Foundation (WCF), founded in 1999 by The Queen to protect the right of children to a safe childhood, works around the world to improve living conditions for children in vulnerable situations. The main aim of the Foundation is to help street children and young mothers, as well as tackling sexual exploitation, including the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. Fourteen companies, foundations and individuals have joined as co-founders. WCF has also organised the work of sponsors and partners through its major partner agreements. As Honorary Chair, The Queen has participated in all board meetings, as well as in various fundraising events and seminars in Sweden and abroad. One event attended by The Queen and Princess Madeleine was the launch of Childhood s radio campaign in association with Sirius XM Radio in New York. In Germany, The Queen presented the Prix Courage award to the Heroes organisation, which receives support from Childhood in Germany. Heroes can be compared with the Swedish Fryshuset project Sharafs hjältar (Honour s Heroes), with which Childhood is also involved. The Queen also attended a fundraising gala in Munich in connection with a project visit to Refugio, a humanitarian project that helps traumatised immigrant children and young mothers dealing with social difficulties. Mentor and the importance of good role models The Mentor Foundation was set up in 1994 on the initiative of The Queen, who is an Honorary Member of Men- 19

19 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION H.M. The Queen s Household dementia is also increasing. Dementia care is becoming an increasing concern and is an issue of the times for many countries. Thanks to The Queen, the Silvia Sisters and employees of Silviahemmet spreading the message about their care philosophy, Silviahemmet has become a well-known knowledge institution and the training provided by Silviahemmet attracts international interest. As a result of the Japanese state visit to Sweden, a partnership was set up in 2006 with care givers in Japan. There has also been close cooperation with the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Hospital in Cologne, Germany since The Order of Malta is an international organisation and cooperation may eventually extend to more countries. South Korea has also expressed great interest in the methods used by Silviahemmet. The Queen traditionally buys the year s first Mayflower pin; this year it was sold by Bahar Garmiani and Linnea Hultqvist. tor Sweden and Honorary Chair of Mentor International. The foundation works on preventing drug use and violence among young people, with a particular focus on highlighting good examples of drug prevention work. Mentor is currently represented in the Baltic countries, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Germany, South America and the US. Mentor s working models are carefully adapted according to the culture of each country. Mentor Sweden uses a successful model, where employees at companies act as mentors for a period of one year to school pupils who are in need of adult support. There is also a popular programme for parents. Since its launch the Mentor Foundation has reached out to over 2.5 million children and young people and runs projects in 70 countries through various field organisations. The Queen has participated in Mentor s board meetings and fundraising galas in Sweden and abroad, including an event in Washington attended by a large number of members of Congress and active opponents of drug liberalisation ( drug czars ). Quality dementia care a global issue of the times The Silviahemmet Foundation, which is chaired by The Queen, promotes scientific research and provides training courses and care within the field of dementia. A new batch of Silvia Sisters qualified during the year, having completed a two-year 60-credit online training course. Sophiahemmet University College is responsible for providing the training, offering expert knowledge and marketing. In addition, there is a one-year 30-credit Silvia Nurse training course (also internet-based) with work experience at Silviahemmet. Silviahemmet trains nursing staff from all over the country and, together with the Stockholm Gerontology Research Center, is responsible for the Swedish Dementia Centre, a national centre of excellence on dementia issues established by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs. As the global population ages, the number of people with Commitments in connection with patronage and similar engagements The Queen has held several audiences at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in her capacity as patron of around 90 organisations and institutions, and has taken part in various events. Busy year for the Royal Household H.M. The Queen s Household includes the Royal Household, which assists in the preparations for and the implementation of The King and Queen s official representation with regard to receptions, lunches, dinners and banquets. The employees of the Royal Household uphold many traditions at the Swedish Royal Court. During 2010, the Royal Household, in addition to its customary work, carried out assignments in connection with the royal wedding, the World Child & Youth Forum, and The King and Queen s Riksdag supper for 500 guests. The Queen is awarded the St. Erik Medal for her strong commitment and work with vulnerable children and the elderly. The Medal was presented by Bo Bladholm, Chairman of Stockholm City Council, at a ceremony at Stockholm City Hall in front of 1,200 guests. 20

20 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION H.R.H. The Crown Princess s Household Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel visiting Camp Northern Lights in Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan, where they were informed about the current situation and the troops duties in the area. Wedding and official representative duties H.R.H. THE CROWN PRINCESS S HOUSEHOLD is responsible for the planning and execution of matters relating to Crown Princess Victoria s official engagements, and for providing support in her daily duties. This office also deals with the joint programme activities of The Crown Princess Couple and those of Prince Daniel. The Household also includes the Household at Haga Palace. H.R.H. The Crown Princess s Household has dealt with 346 (315) separate inquiries during the year regarding Crown Princess Victoria s and The Crown Princess Couple s participation in various events around Sweden and abroad. Many of these requests are from the Government Offices and involve participation in activities aimed at promoting Swedish interests around the world. These are prioritised and then planned and carried out in close cooperation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Crown Princess took part in a total of 133 (137) different official engagements. During the second half of the year, The Crown Princess Couple have had a number of shared programme items of a state ceremonial or other representative nature. Many duties and programme items are shared with The King and Queen. Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel were present at the opening of the Parliamentary Session, and The Crown Princess has taken part in cabinet briefings and meetings with the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs, as well as several official, ministerial and cabinet lunches. The Crown Princess Couple participated in the National Day celebrations at Skansen together with the Royal Family and in celebrations to mark the bicentenary of the election of a successor to the Swedish throne in Örebro and Jean Baptiste Bernadotte s arrival in Helsingborg. In addition to state ceremonial programme items, Crown Princess Victoria s programme activities include a large number of audiences and meetings at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. She has also made several trips both within Sweden and abroad in connection with study visits, inaugurations, award ceremonies and other events. The royal wedding family celebration, affair of state and public occasion Planning, executing and following up on the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling were key features of work during the first half of the year, which aimed to ensure that the royal wedding was a historic and memorable event, as well as a family celebration, an affair of state and a public celebration (see also the theme pages 50 51). In connection with the wedding, The Crown Princess Couple s Wedding Foundation was established at the bridal couple s request, with the purpose of promoting good health and combating exclusion among children and young people in Sweden. 21