Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden : Ask Biography

King Carl XVI Gustaf at the National Day Celebration, Stockholm, Sweden 6 June 2009

Issue

Name

Carl XVI Gustaf

King of Sweden

Reign

15 September 1973 � present
( )

Coronation

19 September 1973

Predecessor

Gustaf VI Adolf

Successor

Crown Princess Victoria

Spouse

Queen Silvia, née Sommerlath

Crown Princess Victoria
Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland
Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland

Full name

Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus

House

House of Bernadotte

Father

Prince Gustav Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten

Mother

Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Religion

Lutheran (Church of Sweden)

Home | Royalty | Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

Carl XVI Gustaf (full name: Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus, born 30 April 1946) is the reigning King of Sweden since 15 September 1973, succeeding his grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf because his father had predeceased him. He is the only son of the late Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, and Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Unlike many other European monarchs who have extensive styles, King Carl Gustaf's formal and complete style is simply His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden. The King's heir apparent, upon passage on 1 January 1980 of a new law establishing equal primogeniture (the first such law passed in European history), is Crown Princess Victoria, the eldest child of the King and his wife, Queen Silvia. He is also 203rd in the line of succession to the British and other Commonwealth thrones.