Editing Du gamla, du fria (section)

== Status ==
Similarly to the national anthems of [[Maamme|Finland]] and the [[God Save the King|United Kingdom]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kungahusets symboler |url=https://www.kungahuset.se/sveriges-monarki/kungahusets-symboler |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.kungahuset.se |language=sv |archive-date=2023-03-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329220508/https://www.kungahuset.se/sveriges-monarki/kungahusets-symboler |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Du gamla, du fria'' is not defined in Sweden's constitutional [[Basic Laws of Sweden|Basic Laws]], nor has it been formally recognised by other legislation, unlike Sweden's [[Flag of Sweden|flag]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Act (1982:269) on the Flag of Sweden |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-1982269-om-sveriges-flagga_sfs-1982-269/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv |archive-date=2025-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118152824/https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-1982269-om-sveriges-flagga_sfs-1982-269/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Coat of arms of Sweden|coat of arms]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Act (1970:498) on the protection of the coat of arms and certain other official designations |url=https://rkrattsbaser.gov.se/sfst?bet=1970:498 |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=rkrattsbaser.gov.se |archive-date=2024-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241207215615/http://rkrattsbaser.gov.se/sfst?bet=1970%3A498 |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite this, the song enjoys universal recognition, and is used at official events such as [[State visit|state visits]] and the [[Opening of the Riksdag]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=HM The King opens the Parliamentary Session |url=https://www.kungahuset.se/english/archive/news/2022-09-27-hm-the-king-opens-the-parliamentary-session |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.kungahuset.se |language=en |archive-date=2025-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118042132/https://www.kungahuset.se/english/archive/news/2022-09-27-hm-the-king-opens-the-parliamentary-session |url-status=live }}</ref> at sporting events, and at the [[Nobel Prize]] Award Ceremony.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Nobel Prize Ceremony 2023 |url=https://www.konserthuset.se/en/programme/calendar/concert/2023/nobel-prize-ceremony-2023/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240412215501/https://www.konserthuset.se/en/programme/calendar/concert/2023/nobel-prize-ceremony-2023/ |archive-date=2024-04-12 |access-date=2025-03-30 |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>

The song gained status as the national anthem from the late 19th century, becoming predominant in 1893 after [[Oscar II|King Oscar II]] stood up in acknowledgement of the song at a dinner at [[Lund University]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> In 1938, [[Sveriges Radio]], the national public radio broadcasting service, began playing it at the conclusion of its daily programming, gaining it further recognition.<ref name=":0" /> By the end of the 1930s, the song's status had effectively been established.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sweden: Du gamla, Du fria |url=http://nationalanthems.me/sweden-du-gamla-du-fria |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326125652/http://www.nationalanthems.me/sweden-du-gamla-du-fria/ |archive-date=2012-03-26 |access-date=2011-08-08 |publisher=NationalAnthems.me}}</ref>

The song's status has been the subject of multiple motions in the [[Riksdag]]. In 1986, a motion proposed granting the song legal recognition, but it was not passed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Den svenska nationalsången (Motion 1986/87:K803 Alexander Chrisopoulos (vpk)) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/den-svenska-nationalsangen_ga02k803/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv}}</ref> Further motions from [[Member of Parliament (Sweden)|MPs]] of various [[List of political parties in Sweden|political parties]] in 2000,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nationaldagen och nationalsången (Motion 2000/01:K245 av Magnus Jacobsson (kd)) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/nationaldagen-och-nationalsangen_go02k245/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv}}</ref> 2007,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nationalsången (Motion 2007/08:K327 av Betty Malmberg (m)) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/nationalsangen_gv02k327/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv}}</ref> 2019<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nationalsången (Motion 2019/20:781 av Carina Ståhl Herrstedt (SD)) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/nationalsangen_h702781/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv}}</ref> and 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=En officiell nationalsång (Motion 2024/25:304 av Erik Hellsborn (SD)) |url=https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/en-officiell-nationalsang_hc02304/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=www.riksdagen.se |language=sv |archive-date=2024-10-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241010004006/https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/motion/en-officiell-nationalsang_hc02304/ |url-status=live }}</ref> have also sought official status for the anthem. However, none of these proposals have never been accepted by the Riksdag.<ref name=":2" />

In 2000, a Riksdag committee concluded that, as ''Du gamla, du fria'' had already become de facto the national anthem, formal recognition was unnecessary. The committee argued that no official confirmation was required, as the anthem's status was already entrenched in Swedish society.<ref name=":2" />