THE ROYAL COURT ANNUAL REPORT

Transcription

1 THE ROYAL COURT ANNUAL REPORT 2009

2 CONTENTS THE YEAR IN BRIEF...4 CARL XVI GUSTAF SWEDEN S HEAD OF STATE...5 REPORT FROM THE MARSHAL OF THE REALM... 6 THE ROYAL COURT The Royal Court in the service of The King... 7 Financial reporting... 7 Use of funds within the Court Administration... 8 Staff... 9 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION Office of the Marshal of the Realm Office of the Marshal of the Court with 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...21 The Royal Mews THE PALACE ADMINISTRATION The Royal Collections with the Bernadotte Library The Office of the Governor of the Royal Palaces Stockholm Palace Administration Drottningholm Palace Administration with the Crown Lands Gripsholm Castle Administration ROYAL DJURGÅRDEN ADMINISTRATION Operations ROYAL PALACE ADMINISTRATION ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2009 Notes to the financial statements Financial statements Auditor s report ROYAL DJURGÅRDEN ANNUAL ACCOUNTS 2009 Notes to the financial statements Financial statements Auditor s report Diagram overview theme: state visits theme: the bicentenary theme: the eu presidency theme: cabinet meetings Medal presentations calendar Excerpts from the Royal Family s official programme Royal glossary Organisation

3 THE YEAR IN BRIEF The Bicentenary and the EU Presidency were key features of the programme of activities Two outgoing state visits. The King opened the Parliamentary Session, and held cabinet meetings and meetings of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs. Twenty five ambassadors were received during formal audiences Official dinners, ministerial lunches and the traditional dinner for the Nobel Laureates Official exchange of visits during the Bicentenary between Sweden and Finland Several audiences in connection with the Swedish EU Presidency Two royal engagements announced Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling engaged Princess Madeleine and Jonas Bergström LL.M. engaged Haga Palace prepared for use as a royal residence once again Extensive efforts on behalf of children, the elderly and people with dementia The Queen arranged a seminar in connection with the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 10th anniversary of the World Childhood Foundation many events held in Sweden and abroad Silviahemmet s teaching model is also launched in Germany Queen Silvia s Prayer Book benefits the Church of Sweden s charitable work Record number of visitors to the royal palaces 880,680 visitors to the royal palaces, of which around 616,300 visited the Royal Palace of Stockholm A focus on garden tourism at Drottningholm Palace Many popular musical events held at the Royal Palace of Stockholm The Open Palace event on Sweden s National Day drew a record number of visitors Royal cultural heritage initiatives Restoration of the Bernadotte Gallery and Princess Sibylla s official guest apartments completed Restoration work and environmental improvements in the Hall of State and the Halls of the Orders of Chivalry New digital image databank makes documenting and researching the royal cultural heritage easier Continued focus on energy-related and environmental work Positive experiences from electric car trial at the Royal Mews Energy-saving initiatives reduce energy consumption by around 90,000 kwh Pilot studies started in relation to the installation of solar cells at the Royal Palace of Stockholm 4

4 The King declares the Parliamentary Session open. 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 Former Marshal of the Realm Ingemar Eliasson. The announcement on 24 February of Crown Princess Victoria s engagement to Mr Daniel Westling and the announcement of Princess Madeleine s engagement to Jonas Bergström LL.M. has had a significant impact on the financial year. All the Royal Court s offices and departments were involved in planning the weddings. The fact that the heir to the Swedish throne is getting married is an affair of state. The Royal Court has therefore been temporarily provided with an increased state allocation as part-financing for the event. The entire Royal Family participates in The King s function in accordance with the Swedish Constitution Act of representing Sweden. Over the course of the year, the Royal Family as a whole has received 1,624 inquiries regarding participation. The King and Queen participated in 493 different events, both separately and together. In addition, there is an ever growing demand for interviews and other forms of media involvement, as well as public demand for information about the work of the Royal Family and the Royal Court. During the year, 560 requests for involvement in various forms of media were received. Public information is provided primarily via the internet and . A considerable number of visiting Heads of State and government have been granted audiences, as have representatives from international organisations. The presidents of Brazil, Russia, Palestine and South Korea and the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the European Commission have thus been invited to audiences, receptions and dinners. State visits have been carried out to Italy and the Netherlands. These state visits were planned and implemented in accordance with guidelines drawn up jointly by the Office of the Marshal of the Realm and the Government Offices. In order to fulfil his duties, the Head of State must be wellinformed. For this purpose, three cabinet briefings have been held. In addition, individual ministers have briefed the Head Marshal of the Realm Svante Lindqvist assumed offi ce on 1 January of State on current issues on a number of occasions. Decisions on which events to take part in are made based on the need for a broad knowledge of social conditions. The Royal Court is also responsible for preserving and displaying the cultural heritage that is associated with the history of the monarchy. Last year, 880,680 visits were registered at the royal palaces, of which more than 616,300 were to the Royal Palace of Stockholm. Visitor activities are financed via entrance fees. The increase in the allocation from the 2008 financial year onwards is due to factors such as the need for heightened security measures and covering The Crown Princess s additional official commitments. This has been taken into account when allocating the allocation within the internal budget. Risk analyses have therefore been carried out for all the royal palaces, and the surveillance centre staffing increases have been made permanent. During the year, the restoration of the guest apartments was completed, and the work to restore the Halls of the Orders of Chivalry and the Hall of State began. In all these cases, the issue of ensuring protection for irreplaceable cultural values has been central, together with the safety of staff, guests and visitors in these rooms. The proportion of the allocation increase required in order to finance the additional activities of The Crown Princess is being used to gradually build up the service required by The Crown Princess and her siblings. During the year, work began on behalf of The Crown Princess Couple to prepare Haga Palace for official functions and as their residence. This work is being carried out by the National Property Board in consultation with the Royal Court and the Swedish Security Service. According to government instructions, 51 percent of the government allocation is apportioned to the Court Administration, and 49 percent to the Palace Administration. The majority of the expenditure, 61 percent, consists of salaries and social security contributions. The funds granted to the Court Administration are used to finance all official representation and programme activities, ceremonial and other transportation, communication and overall management of all operations at the Royal Court. This is carried out at a cost equivalent to around SEK 6 per inhabitant in Sweden. The cost of running and maintaining the cultural heritage consisting of the royal palaces and their effects amounts to the same. This should be seen as evidence of efficient administration and a good return on tax revenue. Stockholm, January 2010 Ingemar Eliasson Former Marshal of the Realm 6

6 THE ROYAL COURT The King is congratulated on his birthday in the Outer Courtyard at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. The Royal Court in the service of The King 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 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 their 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 42 43). 7

7 THE ROYAL COURT State allocation from the Swedish Riksdag Last year, the Royal Court received a total of SEK million (109.5) from the state, an increase of 6.9 percent compared with the previous year. According to an agreement with the government, 51 percent of the state allocation, or SEK 60.0 million (55.9), is apportioned to the Court Administration, and 49 percent, or SEK 57.1 million (53.7) to the Palace Administration. Revenue from visitor and retailing activities amounted to SEK 59.6 (47.8) million. The financial result for RDA amounted to SEK 10.5 (12.1) million. State allocation over the past five years, excluding non-recurring items Amounts in SEK millions The Court Administration Palace Administration Change compared with previous year (%) Use of funds within the Court Administration 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, 72 percent, comprises salaries, including social security contributions. Total expenditure for the departments within the Court Administration is distributed as follows: 30 (29) 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. 21 (23) percent for such activities as come under the organisation of the Office of the Marshal of the Court with Office of Ceremonies, consisting chiefly of costs relating to official representation and travel. 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 61 (62) full-time posts on an annual basis, and provide employment for around 550 individuals every year. Regular seminars and lectures are organised as part of the Royal Court s skills development programme, mainly on subjects of a historical and cultural nature. Several training courses have been conducted on subjects relating to organisation, leadership and working environment. As more and more routines and information management processes are carried out using computer systems, there has been a particular focus on improving all employees IT skills. For example, the new employee reporting system means that the registration and reporting of salaries, holidays and any overtime is carried out using computerised routines. The system also brings environmental benefits in the form of reduced use of paper and lower postage costs. Stimulating working environment and low levels of absence due to sickness 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 with the aim of preventing illness by carrying out an ergonomic review of workplaces and conducting risk assessments, as well as 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 2.4 (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. 20 (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. 8 (8) percent for such activities as come under the organisation of H.R.H. The Crown Princess s Household. 21 (20) percent for such activities as come under the organisation of the Royal Mews, of which around half of expenditure is attributable to ceremonial transportation. History, culture and IT The Royal Court had a total of 216 (212) permanent employees during the year, equivalent to 203 (199) full-time posts. In The Queen was involved in producing the prayer book and choosing the prayers. The King took all the photographs in the prayer book. The God in Disguise concert, recorded in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, and The Music of the Bernadottes are available on CD. 8

8 THE ROYAL COURT The Steward of the Royal Household makes the final preparations for The King and Queen s reciprocal dinner during the state visit to Italy. Employees with integrity and unique professions The Royal Court s task of representing, preserving and exhibiting a living cultural heritage places high demands on our employees in terms of integrity, accuracy and a feeling for high quality. This is the workplace of a large number of highly qualified specialists representing unique professions and craftsmanship. With their specialist knowledge, all employees make a professional contribution towards ensuring that the Head of State 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. Retirement and the need to recruit A review of the Royal Court s future staff supply has revealed that almost 30 percent of employees will reach retirement age over the course of the next five years. This will place considerable demands on the organisation, and will require special recruitment efforts and increased resources. Many of the administrative tasks have been rationalised and streamlined, but the majority of the work is still 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 that exists in relation to 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 will need to be extended over varying periods of time. This generational change means that significant levels of resources will be needed in order to cover the Royal Court s additional salary costs during 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 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Realm The King and Queen are interviewed by the Swedish media during the state visit to Italy. Royal task of leading and coordinating 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. During the year, the secretariat has dealt with matters 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 Two royal engagements announced On 24 February, the engagement of Crown Princess Victoria to Mr Daniel Westling was announced at a cabinet briefing. In accordance with 5 of the Order of Succession, The King previously had to obtain the government s permission for Crown Princess Victoria to marry Mr Daniel Westling. On 11 August 2009, it was announced at Solliden that Princess 10

10 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Realm Madeleine was engaged to Jonas Bergström LL.M. In accordance with the Order of Succession, The King again had to obtain the government s permission before this engagement could take place. A great deal of media and public interest The Information Department has dealt with a large number of matters and inquiries from both the mass media and the general public. Around 560 (360) requests for interviews were received during the year, mainly for interviews with The King and Queen. The King and Queen gave 43 interviews. A special press briefing was arranged at Drottningholm Palace on 1 July for 60 Brussels correspondents ahead of Sweden assuming presidency of the EU. Before each outgoing state visit, press briefings are arranged with the media in the country to be visited. The department also receives a vast number of inquiries from the general public, by telephone, letter and . Much of the last two years has been devoted to a documentary about the Bernadotte dynasty, produced by Gregor Nowinski. The documentary will be broadcast on TV4 in the spring of A considerable amount of time was spent in autumn 2009 dealing with negotiations and decisions relating to TV and radio broadcast rights for the Crown Princess Couple s wedding. The Information Department is also responsible for the development and maintenance of the Court s website, Royal foundations for research, culture and good causes 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. Hovnet a fast and effective internal information channel The Personnel Department is responsible for staff and salary administration, as well as skills development and recruitment issues at the Royal Court. The department is also responsible for internal communication, which is increasingly disseminated via the Royal Court s intranet. The intranet ensures that everyone receives the same information at the same time, and boosts the sense of community among the staff. It is also an important tool in terms of sharing knowledge, since information that used to be difficult to access can now be searched for easily via the intranet. Popular Bernadotte concerts As well as ceremonial music, the Office of the Marshal of the Realm also organises a large number of musical events at the Royal Palace of Stockholm and Riddarholm Church. During the summer, a series of popular concerts was held at Riddarholm Church featuring some of the most prominent performers of Gregorian and baroque music. Musical church services and organ concerts under the directorship of the court organist are held in the Royal Chapel. The Bernadotte Library houses a priceless 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 is also the venue of the well-attended annual Music at the Palace event. Military Staff of The King and the aides The Military Staff of The King is part of 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 also 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, and they serve for a month at a time. Crown Princess Victoria has five aides and Prince Carl Philip has two aides, who 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. During foreign trips, the aides have a greater role in assisting the royal personages in relation to both scheduled and unscheduled activities. Crown Princess Victoria and Mr Daniel Westling at their engagement reception at the Royal Palace, where they met representatives of offi cial Sweden. 11

11 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Court In connection with the Bicentenary, The King opened a cultural historical exhibition at the Royal Armoury in Stockholm. Here, The King, The Queen and The Crown Princess are shown around by exhibition curator Per Sandin. The Bicentenary and the Swedish Presidency of the EU were key features of 2009 THE OFFICE OF THE MARSHAL OF THE COURT and the Office of Ceremonies are 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. The Office has the key task of supporting the Head of State in carrying out those duties that are incumbent upon The King in accordance with Sweden s constitution in relation to state visits, audiences, the opening of the Parliamentary Session, cabinet meetings and the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs. The Office of Ceremonies comes under the Office of the Marshal of the Court, and is responsible for ceremonies during state visits, official dinners, formal audiences, diplomatic receptions and other official representation, as well as during royal christenings, 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 and Chamberlains. The Office of the Marshal of the Court also includes the Linen Chamber, which manages laundry and linen. The King and the Royal Family received a total of 1,624 (1,488) 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 203 (111) engagements on his own, and 182 (122) together with The Queen. In addi- 12

12 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Court tion to these engagements, The King also participated in several 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 ceremonial audiences and participation in Sweden s National Day celebrations, together with other members of the Royal Family. As a result of the extensive programme and the large number of high-level visits in connection with the Swedish Presidency of the EU and the Bicentenary, no incoming state visits took place during the year. Crown Princess Victoria s engagement to Mr Daniel Westling A reception was held in the spring in connection with the royal engagement, at which Mr Daniel Westling was introduced to official Sweden and the guests were given the opportunity to congratulate the couple on their engagement. Guests at the reception included representatives from the Swedish parliament, government and local authorities, county governors, representatives from the business community and various organisations. Bicentenary year of Swedish-Finnish events The Bicentenary 1809 was a government project highlighting the 200th anniversary of the separation of Finland from Sweden after more than 600 years. The aim of the project was to reinforce the solidarity between the two countries. The year began with an event at the Swedish Riksdag attended by Swedish and Finnish members of parliament, in the presence of The King and Queen and the Finnish President, Tarja Halonen. The programme for President Halonen s official visit also included visits to Botkyrka and Södertälje, where integration issues were studied. In June, The King opened the 1809 exhibition, which was arranged by the Royal Armoury in association with the National Museum of Finland in Helsinki. In August, The King, The Queen and Crown Princess Victoria travelled along the coast of Norrland, including visits to Sävar and Ratan where the last pitched battles were fought in the war with Russia. The King and the Russian Ambassador Alexander Kadakin laid wreaths at the memorial in Pitsund, which was erected to commemorate fighting in The journey made by The King, The Queen and The Crown Princess also took them to Haparanda and Tornio, where the På Gränsen shopping centre is an example of the opportunities for Swedish- Finnish cooperation, both today and in the future. During an official reciprocal visit to Finland later that month, The King and Queen s visits included the cities of Turku and Tampere. During another visit to Finland in October, The King and President Halonen unveiled two works of art at Hanasaari to mark the Bicentenary. The EU Presidency and audiences for international leaders In connection with Sweden assuming presidency of the EU on 1 July from the Czech Republic, the Head of State has had a significant representative role. The King gave an audience for President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, the EU commissioners and the Swedish government. That same evening, The King and Queen attended the inauguration ceremony for Sweden s presidency of the EU at Skansen. In connection with the EU s meetings with Brazil and Russia, The King received President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and President Dmitry Medvedev. These presidential meetings also gave Sweden the opportunity to discuss bilateral issues with Brazil and Russia. The King and The King and Queen also received the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak and his wife, and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. The Bicentenary year was launched in the presence of The King and Queen and the Finnish President Tarja Halonen at the Swedish Riksdag. State visits to Italy and the Netherlands During the year, The King and Queen carried out outgoing state visits to Italy and the Netherlands. 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 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 impor- 13

13 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Court tance 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. The King and Queen attended Lithuania s thousandth anniversary celebrations in July, together with Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and King Harald V of Norway. You can find out more about the programmes for these state visits on the theme pages 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. In 2009, The King received 25 ambassadors. He also held meetings of the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs and Cabinet meetings with the government. You can find out more about the Head of State s constitutional duties on pages The Royal table official dinners and banquets Two official dinners were held at the Royal Palace of Stockholm during the year. Guests at these events include central, regional and local representatives from the Riksdag and the government, authorities, municipalities, county councils and the business community, culture and sport, and the media. Representatives from the diplomatic corps accredited in Stockholm are also invited. 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. The King also traditionally performs his official duties for invited Swedish and foreign guests in the form of hunts followed by lunches or dinners. In all, The King and Queen invited around 3,150 (3,100) guests to the Royal Palace of Stockholm and during state visits abroad. Municipal visits to Salem and Eskilstuna The King and Queen paid a visit to Salem Municipality during the year, as part of their goal of visiting all the municipalities in Stockholm county. The programme included visits to local businesses, schools and homes for the elderly. On Sweden s National Day, The King and Queen visited Eskilstuna, which was celebrating its 350th anniversary, and that evening the entire Royal Family arrived at Skansen in horse-drawn state coaches, as is traditional. Commitments to the climate, integration and young leadership The climate issue has been a guiding theme for many of The King s commitments. The Royal Colloquium was initiated by The King in 1992, and seminars have since maintained The King and Crown Princess Victoria receive Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in connection with the Swedish Presidency of the EU. 14

14 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION The Office of the Marshal of the Court The King awards the newly established Birgit Nilsson Prize to tenor Plácido Domingo at a ceremony at the Royal Swedish Opera House. a consistent focus on climate and the environment. At this year s Royal Colloquium, The King brought together more than twenty scientists from all over the world in Bönhamn. The themes for this year s seminar were future energy systems and guaranteed access to water and food. The King also launched the Vattenfall Climate Week and opened the Swedish company ClimateWell s factory in Soria in Spain. Through the Young Leadership foundation, The King awarded scholarships (in three categories: trade and industry, the public sector and voluntary organisations) at a leadership seminar at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. In his capacity as Honorary Chairman of the World Scout Foundation, The King visited Thailand and met Scouts from all over the world near Kristianstad. In keeping with tradition, The King took part in the Scouts outdoor spring cleaning day at Royal Djurgården. The King also presented the Settler of the Year award at a ceremony 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 page 52 53). Royal CD of Swedish music Over the course of the year, The King and The King and Queen took part in many multi-cultural events. The King presented the newly established one million dollar Birgit Nilsson Prize to tenor Plácido Domingo at a ceremony at the Royal Swedish Opera House. Lars-Erik Larsson s Förklädd Gud ( God in Disguise ) CD was released in connection with The King s birthday on 30 April. The CD was produced at The King s initiative, and is illustrated using photographs taken by The King himself. It is intended that this will be given as a gift in connection with state visits and in other official contexts. As in previous years, The King has taken an active role in the work of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Royal Academies. The King and Queen also took part in events including the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences 90th anniversary. Audiences in connection with patronage 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 H.M. The Queen s Household In connection with the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, a seminar was arranged at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. The Queen invited royal guests from European royal families who are particularly committed to children s rights in each of their countries. Standing, from left: Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway and Princess Madeleine. Seated, from left: Mme Barroso, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Silvia, Queen Sofía of Spain and Queen Paola of Belgium. Working actively for children s rights H.M. THE QUEEN S HOUSEHOLD is tasked with preparing, carrying out and following up The Queen s many commitments. The Household s duties also include dealing with correspondence in the form of letters of thanks, congratulations and condolences. Prince Carl Philip s and Princess Madeleine s programmes of activities are linked to H.M. The Queen s Household, as is the Royal Household. During the year, The Queen participated in 108 (48) programme items on her own, and 182 (122) together with The King. The Queen has taken part in all state visits, during which The Queen has also conducted her own programme items including study visits and seminars on topics such as disability, children, the elderly and drug issues. In addition to the state ceremonial programme items, 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 years of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child During the year, The Queen initiated a long-term project to raise awareness of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, with the involvement of the Children s Ombudsman, Save the Children, Plan Sweden, UNICEF, ECPAT, BRIS, the World Childhood Foundation and SOS Children s Villages. Many different activities have been carried out to mark the 20th anniversary of the Convention. For example, information materials from the Children s Ombudsman were distributed to the country s 5,600 schools, inspiration days were held at four locations, and a picture book entitled Alla barns rätt ( Every child s right ) was produced. In November, The Queen organised a seminar at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. BRIS and the Children s Ombudsman spoke about their work, and the children s rights organisations involved in the project explained how they disseminate information about the Convention. The Queen invited royal guests from the European royal families who are particularly committed to children s rights to the seminar. The Queen and the royal guests also visited Barncentrum in Stockholm. That evening, the government invited the guests to a concert at the Berwaldhallen Concert Hall. The following day, the government organised a high-level conference on children s rights in connection with the anniversary, within the context of the Swedish presidency of the EU. WCF works to make childhood safer The World Childhood Foundation (WCF), which was found- 16

16 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION H.M. The Queen s Household ed in 1999 by The Queen to protect children s right to a safe childhood, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2009 with various events in Gothenburg, in Stockholm and internationally. The Foundation 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 abuse and exploitation, including the trafficking of children for sexual purposes. Some 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. The Queen gave a speech at the UN Headquarters in connection with the Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children 10 Years in the Field conference, which was organised by WCF in association with the UN in New York. Preventive work to tackle drug abuse The Mentor Foundation was set up in 1994 on the initiative of The Queen, who is an Honorary Member of Mentor Sweden and Honorary Chair of Mentor International. The Foundation focuses on preventing drug abuse among young people. Mentor works in Sweden, Lithuania, the UK, Germany, Colombia and the US. There is also Mentor Arabia, which consists of 22 Arab countries. 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. The Queen has participated in all Mentor board meetings, both in Sweden and abroad. The Queen also attended fundraising galas in aid of Mentor Sweden and its international organisations. International launch for Silviahemmet s teaching model The Silviahemmet Foundation, which is chaired by The Queen, promotes scientific research and provides training courses and care within the field of dementia. The 210th Silvia Sister 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. A one-year 30-credit Silvia Nurse training course (which is also internetbased) was launched a year ago, 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. The Queen participated in all of Silviahemmet s board meetings and seminars during the year. In the autumn, The Queen opened a dementia ward at the Sovereign Military Order of During her visit to the US, The Queen was received by Michelle Obama at the White House in Washington. Malta Hospital in Cologne, at which all the employees had been trained by Silviahemmet. Silviahemmet has also provided training in Japan since Queen Silvia s Prayer Book for private devotion Queen Silvia s Prayer Book was launched at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in November. The book contains prayers for various occasions, and includes both well-known prayers and new prayers that have been written specially. The book is intended for private devotion, and is illustrated using photographs taken by The King. SEK 10 from the sale of each copy will help to support vulnerable children as part of the Church of Sweden s Hela Världen international work. Commitments in connection with patronage 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. The Royal Household H.M. The Queen s Household includes the Royal Household. The Royal Household s function is to prepare and carry out The King and Queen s official representation in relation to receptions, lunches, dinners and banquets. During her visit to the US, The Queen met Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington. 17

17 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION H.M. The Queen s Household PRINCE CARL PHILIP S official programme In a state ceremonial capacity, Prince Carl Philip took part in the opening of the Parliamentary Session. He also participated in the National Day celebrations at Skansen, official dinners and the Nobel festivities. On 13 May, Prince Carl Philip was congratulated on his 30th birthday at a ceremony in the Inner Courtyard at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. During the year, Prince Carl Philip studied at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp. During the spring he studied forestry, biology, technology and plant cultivation, while in the autumn his courses focused on animal production. Prince Carl Philip has designed a new range of cutlery, which was launched by Svenskt Tenn. The photographic exhibition Two Princes Behind the Camera was opened at Waldemarsudde in the presence of The Prince, and displayed photographs taken by Prince Carl Philip and Prince Eugen. In his capacity as patron of the Volvo Ocean Race, The Prince took part in various events in Stockholm and St Petersburg. During the year, Prince Carl Philip presented awards at the Sports Gala, the Stockholm Water Prize and, at the Football Gala, Fotbollskanalen s special prize to the former UEFA Chairman Lennart Johansson, for his contribution to Swedish football. The royal motoring tradition has been continued during the year through Prince Carl Philip s participation in the Porsche Carrera Cup, which consists of eight competitions. During the year, Prince Carl Philip s range of silver cutlery was launched by Svenskt Tenn. Princess Madeleine plants a tree at the opening of Sweden s fourth Ronald McDonald House, at the University Hospital in Linköping. PRINCESS MADELEINE S official programme In a state ceremonial capacity, Princess Madeleine took part in the opening of the Parliamentary Session and a number of programme items in connection with the Bicentenary. She also participated in Open Palace, the National Day celebrations at Skansen, official dinners and the Nobel festivities. In the spring, alongside her official commitments, Princess Madeleine also studied at Stockholm University (she took her Bachelor s degree in 2006). On 11 August, the engagement of Princess Madeleine and Jonas Bergström LL.M. was announced. Princess Madeleine has demonstrated her deep commitment to children through her work as a project administrator for the World Childhood Foundation. She has taken part in board meetings, events and seminars. Among other events, Childhood 2nd Generation a fundraising dinner at Junibacken for the World Childhood Foundation was organised. The Princess attended a project meeting in Moscow, and during the autumn she was involved in the planning and implementation of a seminar at the UN and a fundraising dinner for the World Childhood Foundation in the US. Together with The Queen, Princess Madeleine attended events including the Children and Online Sexual Violence conference at Nalen in Stockholm and an exhibition about trafficking at the Museum of Ethnography. The Princess also took part in the celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the Royal Palace of Stockholm and the Berwaldhallen Concert Hall. Princess Madeleine carried out a study visit to the Hassela Collective in Hälsingland. Together with Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Madeleine visited a number of huts, a Hälsingland farm and a shieling museum in the duchy. Princess Madeleine is patron of the foundation My Big Day, which aims to realise the wishes of seriously ill children. In this capacity, The Princess took part in a charity auction. As a result of her patronage, The Princess also attended Europa Nostra s annual meeting and opened Fashion Week by Berns. 18

18 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION H.R.H. The Crown Princess s Household The Crown Princess opens the Carl Malmsten Centre for Wood Technology & Design on Lidingö, near Stockholm. To the left is Vice-Chancellor Mille Millnert. Broad programme of activities in Sweden and abroad 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. H.R.H. The Crown Princess s Household has dealt with 314 (226) separate inquiries during the year regarding Crown Princess Victoria s participation in various events in Sweden and abroad. The Crown Princess took part in a total of 137 (129) different events. In addition to this, there are many duties and programme items that are shared with The King and Queen. Many of these requests are from the Government Offices, including The Crown Princess s participation in activities aimed at promoting Swedish interests around the world. These are prioritised, and are planned and carried out in close cooperation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Each request is handled individually following the customary discussions at planning meetings with The King and Queen. Alongside her official commitments, Crown Princess Victoria has also obtained her B.A. from Uppsala University, 19

19 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION H.R.H. The Crown Princess s Household majoring in Peace and Conflict Studies combined with subjects such as Political Science. Engagement announcement On 24 February, the engagement of Crown Princess Victoria to Mr Daniel Westling was announced at a cabinet briefing. (See also page 10.) Many ceremonial and official duties Crown Princess Victoria s state ceremonial duties included attending the opening of the Parliamentary Session. She has also taken part in cabinet briefings and meetings with the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs, as well as several official, ministerial and cabinet lunches. On Sweden s National Day, The Crown Princess conducted her own programme in Skänninge, Mjölby Municipality, and participated in the evening celebrations at Skansen together with the rest of the Royal Family. As was the case for The King and The Queen, the Bicentenary and the Swedish Presidency of the EU were key features of The Crown Princess s programme activities, which included attending ministerial summits in Jönköping and Gothenburg. In her capacity as Duchess of Västergötland, The Crown Princess attended Töreboda s centenary celebrations. In addition to the 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. In August, The Crown Princess s activities included attending the General Assembly of the Swedish Sami in Kiruna, The King s lunch in connection with the session of the Nordic Council and the Pax Nordica peace conference in Umeå. Nature, environment and climate The Crown Princess took part in a number of environmental conferences during the year, including at the EU in Brussels, environmental technology seminars in London and Paris, and an environmental conference in Kenya arranged by the Swedish embassy and the UN s environmental body, UNEP. In December, The Crown Princess spent four days in Copenhagen in connection with the UNFCCC COP 15 environmental conference. The Crown Princess took part in the opening of the green technology exhibition Bright Green Expo and a number of other environmental events. Together with Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Prince Frederik, The Crown Princess visited Greenland and studied climate change in the Arctic. One of the outcomes of their involvement has been the book Tre tronföljare i Arktis ( Three Heirs in the Arctic ). The Crown Princess visited Nordens Ark in Bohuslän and opened the new breeding centre for the lesser white-fronted goose together with Dame Jane Goodall. In connection with this, a seminar was held entitled Back to Nature a Nordens Ark Conservation Initiative, which discussed how knowledge of the importance of biological diversity can be disseminated. Promoting Swedish industry and culture Crown Princess Victoria opened an exhibition which attract- Crown Princess Victoria opened the Swedish Trade Council s Nairobi branch and met Maasai from Maasailand. 20

20 THE COURT ADMINISTRATION H.R.H. The Crown Princess s Household ed a great deal of attention, Swedish Fashion Exploring a New Identity, at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. The exhibition, which had previously been staged in Moscow, aims to highlight and promote Swedish fashion internationally. The Crown Princess attended the seminar Sustainable Cities Green Dream or Reality? at the Swedish Embassy in London in connection with Sweden assuming presidency of the EU. Together with the City of London Festival, the Embassy had arranged a concert by trombonist, conductor and composer Christian Lindberg. The Crown Princess opened the Design S exhibition in Athens, with the theme for the year being design for sustainable development. The exhibition was part of Sweden s activities in Greece during the Swedish EU Presidency. Crown Princess Victoria also visited Paris to promote Sweden, focusing on Swedish culture. Commitment to disability issues Crown Princess Victoria opened the 17th ISAPA symposium (International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity) in Gävle. This was attended by representatives from more than 50 different nations, and was arranged by the Swedish Development Centre for Disability Sport. The Crown Princess also reopened Dalheimers Hus in Gothenburg. In terms of its breadth, the centre is unique in Europe, and attracts around 1,000 visitors a day. Nowhere else can so many activities and opportunities for people with various disabilities be found in one place. The centre was opened in 1976 by The King and Queen, and has been refurbished and extended in recent years. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Princess Victoria and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark visited Greenland in May to study climate changes there. Patronage The Crown Princess has held many audiences at the Royal Palace of Stockholm in her capacity as patron of around 50 organisations and institutions, and has participated in several events during the year relating to these organisations. For a more detailed report of the year s programme activities, see Excerpts from the Royal Family s official programme, pages THE COURT ADMINISTRATION H.R.H. The Duchess of Halland s Household THE DUCHESS OF HALLAND S HOUSEHOLD is responsible for managing Princess Lilian s programme, as well as her correspondence. The head of H.R.H. The Duchess of Halland s Household is a Marshal of the Court, who is responsible for Princess Lilian s official and private programmes. The Princess has not participated in the official programme during the year due to her age. Princess Lilian. 21