Sweden‘s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Sonja have led European royals paying tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh on the day of his funeral.
Carl XVI Gustaf, a distant cousin of the Queen through his great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, described Prince Philip as a ‘good friend’ in a tribute shared following his death last week.
Today a post on the official Swedish Royal Family Instagram account paid tribute to Prince Philip and the Queen, and revealed wreaths had been sent to Her Majesty.
It included a number of photographs from state visits to Sweden in 1956 and 1983.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Sonja, the current King and Queen, in 1983
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise, who was the Duke of Edinburgh’s aunt through the Mountbattens, on their state visit to Sweden in 1956. Gustaf VI Adolf was the grandfather of the current king, Carl XVI Gustaf
The Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen share a light-hearted moment with Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise on the 1956 state visit
The caption also revealed the bell at Stockholm’s Riddarholmen Church will ring out in tribute.
The post, translated from Swedish, reads: ‘Today the Duke of Edinburgh is taken to his final resting place.
‘The duke visited Sweden several times. Together with Queen Elisabeth, he paid state visits to both King Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise – who was the Duke’s aunt – as well as to the current King and Queen.
‘As a final tribute, the Royal Family has sent flower wreaths to today’s funeral service in Windsor, which [has been reduced in size] due to the pandemic.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with members of the Swedish royal family on the 1983 state visit
The Duke of Edinburgh with his aunt, Louise Mountbatten, during the 1956 state visit. Queen Louise, born Louise Mountbatten, was the sister of Prince Philip’s mother Alice of Battenberg
‘In Stockholm, Riddarholmskyrkan’s big bell will ring between kl. 12:00 and 13:00 to honor the Duke of Edinburgh, who was a Knight of the King. Order of Seraphim.
‘A number of photographs from the British state visits in 1956 and 1983 are published here.’
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, is descended from Queen Victoria twice as his parents were second cousins because they were both her great-grandchildren.
The first time Prince Philip and the Queen visited, in 1956, King Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise were on the throne.
Queen Louise, born Louise Mountbatten, was the sister of Prince Philip’s mother Alice of Battenberg.
On King Gustaf VI Adolf’s death in 1973, his grandson King Carl XVI Gustaf ascended the throne and hosted the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on their visit in 1983.
In a statement released last week, he called the Duke of Edinburgh ‘a good friend of our family [and] a friendship we have placed great value on.’
In a statement, he said: ‘The Queen and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
‘Prince Philip has been a great friend of our family for many years, a relation which we have deeply valued. His service to his country will remain an inspiration to us all.
‘We offer our sincere condolences to Her Majesty The Queen, The Royal Family and the people of the United Kingdom.’
The King and Queen of Sweden, as well as the heads of other European monarchies, would have been extended an invite had the funeral been held under more normal circumstances.
Today just 30 mourners, including the Queen, her four children, eight grandchildren, and their respective spouses, will gather at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, to remember the Duke of Edinburgh, who died last Friday aged 99.
In a statement (above), he said: ‘The Queen and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh’