The Swedish royal family treated German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender to a state banquet at the Royal Palace in Stockholm last night as part of a three-day visit.
Crown Princess Victoria dazzled in a scarlet satin gown and glittering Connaught Diamond tiara as well as a brooch and choker necklace, while her husband Prince Daniel looked dashing in his formal attire.
The couple were joined by Prince Carl Philip as well as King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia as they hosted the German presidential couple – the first time the Swedish royals have hosted a state visit in two years due to the pandemic.
Earlier in the day President Steinmeier and his wife were greeted at Arlanda airport outside Stockholm by future queen Victoria and Prince Daniel, where they received an official welcome ceremony.
The Swedish royal family treated German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender (pictured right) to a state banquet at the Royal Palace in Stockholm last night as part of a three-day visit. Left: Sweden’s Queen Silvia and King Carl Gustaf
Crown Princess Victoria dazzled in a scarlet satin gown and glittering Connaught Diamond tiara as well as a brooch and choker necklace, while her husband Prince Daniel looked dashing in his formal attire
Queen Silvia opted for an emerald green gown with a lace top and satin skirt. She wore a coordinating set of jewels, completing the look with the ornate nine-prong Queen Sophie’s Diamond Tiara
For the state dinner, Victoria wore her brunette locks in a sleek updo to compliment the regal tiara, looped diamond style dates back to Princess Margaret of Connaught – a granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the wife of the future King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden – who received it as a wedding present in 1904
Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel were joined by Prince Carl Philip (right) as well as King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia as they hosted the German presidential couple – the first time the Swedish royals have hosted a state visit in two years due to the pandemic
Brothers-in-law Prince Daniel and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden arrive for a State Banquet at the Royal Palace in Stockholm
Mother-of-two Victoria, 44, donned a camel dress with a long cream blazer and wore her hair up with a floral decorative headpiece.
She completed her outfit with nude heels, a tan leather clutch bag, a diamond horseshoe necklace and pearl drop earrings with a matching brooch on her lapel.
Elke Buedenbender, 59, who works as a jurist, opted for an elegant red coat dress with a matching boater hat and flat cream pumps.
The German First Couple then posed for a socially distanced official portrait with the Swedish royals in an opulent room at Stockholm Palace, having travelled there by carriage.
Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender and Queen Silvia arrive for a State Banquet at the Royal Palace in Stockholm
Crown Princess Victoria (pictured back centre) at the table during a State Banquet at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden last night
Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf at the table with the German president’s wife Elke Büdenbender at State Banquet at the Royal Palace in Stockholm
Mother-of-two Victoria, 44, donned a camel dress with a long cream blazer and wore her hair up with a floral decorative headpiece to greet the German presidential couple
Elke Buedenbender (left), wife of the German President, and Sweden’s Queen Silvia arrive at the Stockholm Palace for a welcoming ceremony
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (left) and Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf arrive at the Royal Palace for a welcoming ceremony
Elke Buedenbender, 59, left, who works as a jurist, opted for an elegant red coat dress with a matching boater hat and flat cream pumps. Pictured with Queen Silvia
The German First Couple then posed for a socially distanced official portrait with the Swedish royals in an opulent room at Stockholm Palace, having travelled there by carriage. Pictured left to right: Sweden’s Princess Sofia, Prince Carl Philip, wife of German President Elke Buedenbender, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel
Queen Silvia (centre right) looked elegant in a monochrome ensemble featuring a white blazer with black piping and a contrasting skirt, completed by a string of pearls and a white headpiece
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (left) and Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf inspect the guard of honor during a welcoming ceremony at the Royal Palace
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (second right) departs the cortege beside Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf (left) as the pair arrive at the Royal Palace for a welcoming ceremony
German First Lady Elke Bedenbender appeared to get on very well with Queen Silvia of Sweden, pictured chatting during a visit to the German Curch in the Old Town of Stockholm
Elke Budenbender (centre), wife of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier looked to be enjoying the trip to Sweden, pictured laughing in the Old Town of Stockholm yesterday
Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender look on during a visit at the German Curch in the Old Town of Stockholm
Princess Sofia, who gave birth to her and Prince Carl’s third child earlier this year, was present for the photo, and looked radiant in a navy and white polka dot dress with long sleeves and a coordinating headband.
Queen Silvia looked elegant in a monochrome ensemble featuring a white blazer with black piping and a contrasting skirt, completed by a string of pearls and a white headpiece.
Afterwards the German president paid a visit to the German Church in the Old Town of Stockholm. He also spoke with Prime Minister Stefan Loefven and gave a speech in the Swedish Parliament, noting the increasingly fierce political and economic competition in the world.
‘Only if Europe sees innovation and transformation as a strength and not as a burdensome chore, only then will we stay ahead in global competition,’ he said.
Steinmeier also voiced his support for Swedish activist Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future youth movement and its drive towards tougher climate protection.
The German president (pictured with King Carl) spoke with Prime Minister Stefan Loefven and gave a speech in the Swedish Parliament, noting the increasingly fierce political and economic competition in the world
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right) is received by Sweden’s Speaker of the Parliament Andreas Norlen at the Parliament building in Stockholm
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (left) and Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven meet in the Adlercrantz Palace in Stockholm, Sweden
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right) poses beside Sweden’s Speaker of the Parliament Andreas Norlen at the Parliament building in Stockholm, on September 7
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, left and Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf held a joint press conference at the Royal Palace in Stockholm
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (center left) arrives with Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf to give a speech at the Parliament in Stockholm. During it he voiced his support for Swedish activist Greta Thunberg’s Fridays for Future youth movement and its drive towards tougher climate protection
President Steinmeier (left) and King Carl Gustaf used the visit as an opportunity to emphasise their countries’ close ties. Pictured with Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven
‘Thousands of young people in Sweden and Germany are demanding more ambition and more commitment to climate protection on our streets and in our squares – and at least in essence, they are right,’ he proclaimed.
For the state dinner, Victoria wore her brunette locks in a sleek updo to compliment the regal tiara, looped diamond style dates back to Princess Margaret of Connaught – a granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the wife of the future King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden – who received it as a wedding present in 1904.
Princess Victoria last wore the Connaught Tiara to the Nobel Peace Banquet in 2018.
Queen Silvia opted for an emerald green gown with a lace top and satin skirt. She wore a coordinating set of jewels, completing the look with the ornate nine-prong Queen Sophie’s Diamond Tiara.
Meanwhile Elke chose a vibrant royal blue dress which she teamed with white gloves and a sash, while her husband wore a classic black tuxedo and white bowtie.
President Steinmeier and King Carl Gustaf used the visit as an opportunity to emphasise their countries’ close ties.
‘Germany and Sweden look back on a rich, diverse history with ups and downs. Today we are perhaps more closely connected than ever before,’ Steinmeier said.
Later this week, Steinmeier will make a scheduled visit to Sweden’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer Scania where he’ll be presented with a research project on how heavy trucks can be made electric.
There he will also discuss the sustainable production of battery cells and environmentally friendly steel production using hydrogen.
To conclude their visit, Steinmeier and his wife will fly to Kiruna, Sweden’s northern-most city, on Thursday, where they plan to visit the European Space and Sounding Rocket Range, a spaceport for research rockets and balloons.
The last item on the agenda will be a visit to the world’s largest underground iron ore mine near Kiruna.