Christmas with the Royals: This is how it is celebrated in the Swedish palace

A special feature in Sweden is the Lucia tradition. It is firmly anchored in the culture of the country – including in the royal family. Every year on December 13th there are atmospheric Advent concerts to mark the 250-year-old tradition, which begin with a special ceremony. The heart of the Lucia tradition is the singing “Luciatåg” (Lucia Procession): a procession with small singers in white robes, led by a chosen Lucia, who wears a crown of lights with candles on her head. Everyone else has candles in their hands and brings light wherever they go: in churches, kindergartens, schools and nursing homes across the country.

Traditionally, the audience waits in the darkness for the procession. The first sign that Lucia and her entourage are approaching is the bell-like song heard in the distance, followed by flickering candlelight. The tradition is also upheld in the royal family. There are many pictures of the little princesses Victoria and Madeleine or now of the heir to the throne daughter Estelle in a white robe with a crown of lights, leading a Lucia procession.

Christmas is also a special celebration for Queen Silvia personally because her birthday is on December 23rd. One more reason for you and your family to prepare this time of year particularly intensively and lovingly. As a young royal couple in the 1970s, she and her husband Carl Gustaf introduced several innovations at the Stockholm court. They were one of the first monarchies in Europe to invite television into their homes so that the Swedes could take part in the royal holiday preparations, such as family Christmas baking with the then small children Victoria, Carl Philip and Madeleine, or decorating trees together.

Today these three royal children have long since grown up and have children of their own. This year, when Princess Madeleine and her family are back from the USA after years abroad, there will be a purely private Christmas party at Drottningholm Palace, the royal couple’s residence on the outskirts of Stockholm, according to the court.

Together with the offspring of heir to the throne Victoria and her husband Daniel as well as Prince Carl Philip and wife Sofia, eight children and five dogs will romp through the salons. It is also a tradition for the Swedish royals that the king hosts a surprise dinner for his family, which he organizes every year in great secrecy in a different room in the palace. Since he has 192 rooms to choose from, it remains exciting, even for the queen, who never knows in advance which one she has chosen this time.

However, she has known for a long time what the decorations look like, because her contribution to the festival consists of several Christmas trees, which she decorated with her grandchildren during Advent and which are distributed around the castle. In addition, at the beginning of Christmas Eve she always gathers her loved ones in the hall of the castle and reads from the Christmas Gospel by candlelight. Then it’s time to give presents: the king likes to buy books for his family as gifts. Otherwise, this royal family also uses Christmas gifts rather sparingly. The most important thing, as everywhere, is that the family comes together.

At the surprise dinner, the finest seafood is served on historical porcelain. Queen Silvia is said to particularly love the lobster and oyster platters, a noble version of the classic Swedish “Julbord”. A traditional Christmas buffet with pickled herring, meatballs and a stew of anchovies, potatoes and onions gratinated with cheese, called “Jansson’s Temptation”. Of course, dishes suitable for grandchildren, such as simple ham rolls and pasta, are also served for the royal offspring, who here, unlike in England, are allowed to sit at the adult table. Vegetarian alternatives for Princess Sofia should not be missing either. And at the Swedish court, it wouldn’t be a real Christmas without the Queen from Heidelberg’s Christmas stollen – the mighty German “fruit bread” with raisins, candied fruits and almonds that reminds her of her own childhood.

In Sweden, too, some people have to work at Christmas, in hospitals, in restaurants or in public transport. Last year, Crown Princess Victoria, her husband Prince Daniel and children Estelle and Oscar visited staff at a customs station in Stockholm on the afternoon of December 24th to wish them a Merry Christmas. The future ruling couple introduced this tradition a few years ago to personally thank those who work for others and cannot celebrate with their families. In 2023, the Crown Princess also read the Christmas Gospel during the family’s church service on Christmas Eve in the Stockholm Palace Church, which was broadcast on television. This could also become a nice tradition. The second royal TV event of the holidays is King Carl Gustaf’s Christmas speech. It is always broadcast on Christmas Day – just like in the UK.