Gift from the Riksdag and the Government to mark the King's 50 years on the throne

On 13 September, the Speaker Andreas Norlén and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson congratulated His Majesty The King on 50 years on the throne from 1973–2023. At a reception at the Royal Palace, they presented a gift from the Riksdag and the Government – a tapestry measuring eight square metres, based on a watercolour by the artist Lars Lerin.

“We chose this gift to highlight and support Swedish art and handicrafts, which are important aspects of our country’s cultural heritage and cultural life. We are building on the longstanding tradition and style of gifts to the Swedish Royal Court. Our hope is that the tapestry will leave an indelible imprint of our times inside the Palace”, said the Speaker Andreas Norlén when the gift was presented.

“50 years is a long time, both for a person and for a whole country. During his time as Sweden’s Head of State, the King has witnessed enough fundamental social changes to fill bookshelf upon bookshelf. Let this artwork be a symbol of the entire Government’s gratitude for the King’s 50 years of hard work: for Sweden – with the times,” said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

The gift

The Riksdag's and the Government's gift to His Majesty The King is a tapestry measuring eight square metres that will hang in one of the staircases at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. It is based on a watercolour by the artist Lars Lerin entitled “Stone in water”. Frida Lindberg was the creative director and it was woven by Ebba Bergström and Tova Vibrandt of Alice Lund Textilier.

Lars Lerin describes the inspiration for the gift as follows:

“You feel the weight of time in that staircase. I thought of the years that have passed, the people and ages that have come and gone, while the stone remains in the water and simply is.  I wanted the stone to reflect the colour of the wall, but also add something light and airy – the sky touching the eternal horizon.

For further information

Pernilla Eldblom, Press Secretary to the Speaker, telephone +46(0)72 209 59 14, email pernilla.eldblom@riksdagen.se
Hanna Strömberg, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, telephone +46(0)72 128 61 69, email hanna.stromberg@regeringskansliet.se