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30.04.

1946: Birth of the Swedish King Charles XVI Gustaf

1946: Birth of the Swedish King Charles XVI Gustaf
Photo Credit To Wikipedia Commons / The 15-year old Crown Prince of Sweden looks at the recently recovered 17th century warship Vasa in 1961

Story Highlights

  • Historical event
  • 30 April 1946
  • If there hadn`t been a counting error, Charles XVI Gustaf would have been named Charles X Gustaf. Namely, it was assumed (in the 17th century) that there had been six more Swedish kings named Charles. However, this was a false assumption.

Charles XVI Gustaf, present King of Sweden, was born on this day in 1946.



At the age of 27 he inherited the throne from his grandfather Gustaf VI Adolf (the father of Charles XVI Gustaf died in a plane crash, so he didn`t inherit the throne).

He was only nine months old when his father died. Apparently, he was informed about his father’s death when he was seven years old.

After the death of his grandfather, Charles XVI Gustaf became the King of Sweden, and it is interesting that he was actually the 10th king named Charles.

If there hadn`t been a counting error, Charles XVI Gustaf would have been named Charles X Gustaf.




Namely, it was assumed (in the 17th century) that there had been six more Swedish kings named Charles. However, this was a false assumption. Thus Charles XVI Gustaf actually was Charles X Gustaf, but the error wasnt` t corrected in the meantime.

The Swedish king is particularly famous because each Nobel laureate receives the prize from his hands during the ceremony.

Actually, he is one of the world’s monarchs with the lowest residual power.

Nominally, he is the head of state, but this is only ceremonial role. He doesn`t appoint prime ministers and Swedish laws don`t require his signatures.

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