Editing Carl XVI Gustaf (section)

== Reign ==
[[File:Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden & Stig Stefanson 1975.jpg|thumb|King Carl Gustaf and Swedish Senator R. S. Stefanson at [[Stockholm City Hall]] in 1975]]
On 15 September 1973, Carl Gustaf became King of Sweden upon the death of his grandfather, Gustaf VI Adolf. On 19 September, he took the required regal assurance ({{Langx|sv|Konungaförsäkran}}) during an extraordinary meeting of the cabinet. Afterwards, he appeared before the parliament, diplomatic corps, court, etc. in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace where he was enthroned on [[Silver Throne|the Silver Throne]] and gave a speech. Both the cabinet meeting and ceremony at the Hall were broadcast live on television. Following the ceremonies, he appeared on the balcony to acknowledge gathered crowds. At the cabinet meeting, the King declared that his regnal name would be Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden. He adopted "For Sweden – With the times" as his personal motto<ref name="mottoenglish">{{cite web |url=http://www.royalcourt.se/royalcourt/theroyalfamily/hmkingcarlxvigustaf.4.396160511584257f218000644.html |publisher=Royal Court of Sweden |title=The Royal Family: H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf |access-date=16 August 2012 |archive-date=21 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021022235/http://www.royalcourt.se/royalcourt/theroyalfamily/hmkingcarlxvigustaf.4.396160511584257f218000644.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> (''För Sverige – i tiden'').<ref name="mottoswedish">{{cite web |url=http://www.royalcourt.se/kungafamiljen/hmkonungcarlxvigustaf.4.7c4768101a4e8883780003.html |publisher=Royal Court of Sweden |title=Kungafamiljen: H.M. Konung Carl XVI Gustaf |trans-title=Kungafamiljen: H.M. Konung Carl XVI Gustaf |language=sv |access-date=19 August 2012 |archive-date=7 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607221509/http://www.royalcourt.se/kungafamiljen/hmkonungcarlxvigustaf.4.7c4768101a4e8883780003.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/20/archives/new-king-begins-reign-in-sweden-final-election-tally-shows-deadlock.html |title=New King Begins Reign in Sweden |first=Lawrence K. |last=Altman |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=20 September 1973 |access-date=29 May 2018 |archive-date=24 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035601/https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/20/archives/new-king-begins-reign-in-sweden-final-election-tally-shows-deadlock.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Kungafamiljen & prinsessan Estelle den 30 april 2012..JPG|thumb|The Royal Family at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on the king's 66th birthday on 30 April 2012.]]

He is the foremost representative of Sweden and pays [[List of state visits made by Carl XVI Gustaf|state visits abroad]] and [[List of state visits received by Carl XVI Gustaf|receives]] those to Sweden, he [[Opening of the Riksdag|opens the annual session]] of the [[Riksdag]], chairs the [[Council of State (Sweden)|Special Council held during a change of Government]] ({{langx|sv|skifteskonselj}}), holds regular Information Councils with the Prime Minister and the Cabinet ({{langx|sv|informationskonselj}}), chairs the meetings of the [[Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs]] ({{langx|sv|Utrikesnämnden}}), and receives [[Letters of Credence]] of foreign ambassadors to Sweden and signs those of Sweden to foreign nations. As a figurehead, he also voluntarily abstains from voting in Swedish elections.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.royalcourt.se/monarkinhovstaterna/densvenskamonarkin/monarkinisverige/monarkensuppgifter.4.7c4768101a4e888378000291.html |publisher=Royal Court of Sweden |title=Monarkens uppgifter |trans-title=Duties of the monarch |language=sv |access-date=19 August 2012 |archive-date=13 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060513070731/http://www.royalcourt.se/monarkinhovstaterna/densvenskamonarkin/monarkinisverige/monarkensuppgifter.4.7c4768101a4e888378000291.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

King Carl Gustaf holds the highest ranks in the three branches of the [[Swedish Armed Forces]]; this is due to the fact that he was, as stipulated by §&nbsp;14 of the [[1809 Instrument of Government]] in effect at the time of his accession to the throne in 1973, the [[Commander-in-chief#Sweden|Commander-in-Chief]] ({{langx|sv|Högste Befälhavare}}; not to be confused with the military professional holding the position of [[Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces|Supreme Commander]]) and therefore he was promoted ''[[ex officio]]'' from his earlier ranks of captain (Army & Air Force) and lieutenant (Navy), to [[General (Sweden)|general]] and [[Admiral (Sweden)|admiral]]. Under the provisions of the [[Constitution of Sweden|Instrument of Government of 1974]], which became effective on 1 January 1975, the King no longer holds this constitutionally-mandated position, but he kept his ranks ''[[à la suite]]'' since he no longer has any military command authority, except over [[His Majesty's Military Staff]].

Worldwide, Carl XVI Gustaf is probably best known as the presenter of the [[Nobel Prize]]s each year; the first [[Nobel laureate]] who received the prize from his hands was [[Leo Esaki]].<ref>江崎玲於奈『限界への挑戦―私の履歴書』（日本経済新聞出版社）2007年</ref> He also hands over the [[Polar Music Prize]]. The King holds [[honorary degree|honorary]] doctoral degrees from the [[Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences]], [[KTH Royal Institute of Technology]], the [[Stockholm School of Economics]] and from the [[Åbo Akademi University]] in Finland.

Carl Gustaf has made a number of controversial statements considered political. In his critique of Norwegian prime minister [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]] and her [[seal hunting]] policy, he questioned whether someone who could not take care of the seal problem really could take care of the Norwegian people.<ref>[http://www.svtplay.se/klipp/91868/uttalande-om-norsk-saljakt-uppror ”Uttalande om norsk säljakt upprör”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222429/http://www.svtplay.se/klipp/91868/uttalande-om-norsk-saljakt-uppror |date=4 October 2013 }} SVT:s öppna arkiv</ref> In 2004, after a state visit to [[Brunei]], he praised Sultan [[Hassanal Bolkiah]] and described Brunei as an "open country", despite its controversial human rights history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/365873 |title=Kungen får skarp kritik för uttalanden om Brunei |publisher=[[Sveriges Radio]] |date=9 February 2004 }}</ref> In 2023 Carl Gustaf said that while he understands that Brunei has a non-democratic form of government it is still an open country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/kungen-star-fast-vid-bruneiuttalande-det-blev-ett-totalt-missforstand |title=Kungen står fast vid Bruneiuttalande: "Blev ett totalt missförstånd" |work=SVT Nyheter |date=3 January 2023 |last1=Wikén |first1=Erik }}</ref> Both statements made public support for the monarchy reach the lowest numbers in many years. Public trust increased, however, after the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami]], in which many Swedes died. Then-prime minister [[Göran Persson]] then failed to carry out his constitutional obligation to inform the king on matters of state which resulted in criticism of the government. During a memorial ceremony held at [[Stockholm City Hall]] on 10 January 2005 the king gave a highly praised speech which restored support of the monarchy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6053137 |title=Kungen minns sorgen efter tsunamin |publisher=[[Sveriges Radio]] |date=22 December 2014 |last1=Tanaka/Tt |first1=Sofia }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/536214 |title=Kungen för sent informerad om katastrofen |publisher=[[Sveriges Radio]] |date=10 January 2005 }}</ref>

Carl Gustaf has claimed to have played an important part in solving a diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia in 2015. This crisis began when foreign minister [[Margot Wallström]] criticized Saudi Arabia's form of government and human rights situation. Saudi Arabia responded by recalling its ambassador to Sweden and ending a military co-operation agreement between the two nations. The [[Löfven I cabinet|Swedish government]] then reportedly asked for the king's help in solving the crisis. He then wrote a letter to the [[Salman of Saudi Arabia|Saudi Arabian king]] and shortly thereafter diplomatic relations went back to normal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 April 2016 |title=Sveriges kung hjälper regeringen i svåra situationer |url=https://yle.fi/a/7-1067236 |access-date=5 September 2024 |publisher=[[Yle]] |language=sv}}</ref> Carl Gustaf's role in solving the crisis, and his statement regarding said role during which he claimed to have "good relations" with the Saudi king have both received criticism.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bengtsson |first=Ninna |date=28 April 2016 |title=Kungen kritiseras: "Märkligt uttalande om Saudi" |trans-title=The King is criticized: "Strange statement about Saudi" |url=https://www.svd.se/a/ng135/kungen-kritiseras-markligt-uttalande-om-saudi |access-date=5 September 2024 |newspaper=[[Svenska Dagbladet]] |language=sv |issn=1101-2412}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=20 October 2016 |title=Wallströms kritik mot Saudiarabien |url=https://sverigesradio.se/artikel/6544463 |access-date=5 September 2024 |publisher=[[Sveriges Radio]] |language=sv}}</ref>

On 26 April 2018, Carl Gustaf became the longest-reigning Swedish monarch when he surpassed [[Magnus Eriksson]]'s reign of 44 years and 222 days.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 April 2018 |title=King Carl XVI Gustaf now Sweden's longest-reigning monarch |url=https://www.thelocal.se/20180426/king-carl-xvi-gustaf-now-swedens-longest-reigning-monarch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623170023/https://www.thelocal.se/20180426/king-carl-xvi-gustaf-now-swedens-longest-reigning-monarch |archive-date=23 June 2018 |access-date=29 May 2018 |newspaper=The Local Sweden}}</ref>

In March 2022, the King condemned the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] during a visit to the Life Regiment Hussars to present a new standard to the regiment. He stated that Europe was in an extremely difficult situation and accused Russia of violating international law and creating a humanitarian catastrophe.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kungahuset.se/arkiv/nyheter/2022-03-07-kungen-uttalade-sig-angaende-den-ryska-federationens-invasion-av-ukraina|title=Kungen uttalade sig angående den Ryska federationens invasion av Ukraina |trans-title=The King made a statement regarding the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine |publisher=[[Royal Court of Sweden]] |date=7 March 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/wOLzA4/kungen-laget-i-europa-mycket-allvarligt|title=Kungen: Läget i Europa mycket allvarligt |trans-title=The King: The situation in Europe is very serious |newspaper=[[Aftonbladet]]|date=7 March 2022}}</ref>

The [[Golden Jubilee of Carl XVI Gustaf|King's Golden Jubilee]] was celebrated in 2023. The celebrations included tours of all of Sweden's 21 counties, a jubilee banquet at the Royal Palace and a carriage procession through the streets of Stockholm. Leading up to that year and including it, beginning already in 2018, some of the most serious criticism ever published took place about Carl Gustaf and the way his monarchy has developed.<ref>[https://www.svtplay.se/video/ebmEDGY/uppdrag-granskning/kungens-bostader ''Uppdrag granskning - kungens bostäder''] [[Sveriges Television|SVT]] 16 May 2023</ref><ref>Thomas Lyrevik in ''Den kungliga kleptokratin makt, manipulation, berikning'' 670 p. {{ISBN|9789188383419}}</ref><ref>Ulf Bergström, Staffan Nyberg & Tony Karlsson in ''Monarkins verkliga kostnader 2020'' 80 p. [[LIBRIS]] #fsqjvf15c1qs0flz</ref><ref>[http://libris.kb.se/bib/wdkf054nttmr3ccj Book] ''Chefen'' by [[Thomas Sjöberg (journalist)|Thomas Sjöberg]] 2023</ref> Support for the monarchy overall remained strong in the Swedish public, however, in large part due to the popularity of [[Crown Princess Victoria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tv4.se/artikel/2XXu9ofMRmMBm3rHQyf9J4/nya-siffror-kungen-sitter-saekert-hoegsta-stoedet-pa-oever-20-ar |title=Nya siffror: Högsta stödet för kungahuset – på över 20 år |date=21 January 2024 }}</ref>

Following the [[Abdication of Margrethe II|abdication]] of his cousin, [[Margrethe II]] of Denmark, Carl Gustaf became the longest-serving incumbent head of state in Europe and the longest-reigning [[sovereign]] in the world.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-01-14 |title=Queen Margrethe: Will abdication cause a ripple effect? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67944716 |access-date=2025-02-19 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> His reign saw Sweden end over 200 years of neutrality by joining [[NATO]] on 18 March 2024. During a ceremony held outside the [[Riksdag building]], Carl Gustaf described the move to join the alliance as a new era in Swedish security policy and reaffirmed Sweden's wish for peace.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 March 2024 |title=Kungen om Natointrädet: Nu skrivs ett nytt stycke svensk historia |trans-title=The King on NATO entry: A new chapter in Swedish history is now being written |url=https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/kungen-om-natointradet-nu-skrivs-ett-nytt-stycke-svensk-historia |publisher=[[Sveriges Television]] |work=SVT Nyheter}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=18 March 2024 |title=Kungen om Nato: Sverige hotar ingen |trans-title=The King on NATO: Sweden threatens no one |url=https://www.gp.se/nyheter/sverige/kungen-om-nato-sverige-hotar-ingen.13920cca-3d8d-5052-89c5-758d80ca2dd5 |newspaper=Göteborgs-Posten}}</ref>

At the 2025 [[Society and Defence|Society and Defence National Conference]] in Sälen the King addressed Sweden's security situation. He said that whilst Sweden was not at war it could no longer consider itself at peace, echoing a sentiment voiced by prime minister [[Ulf Kristersson]]. The King also highlighted the need societal preparedness and stated that he believed the public's willingness to defend the realm had grown in recent years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/OoqvGq/kungen-vi-ska-vara-observanta|title=Kungen: Vi ska vara observanta |trans-title=The King: We should be observant |newspaper=[[Aftonbladet]]|date=13 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.svd.se/a/eMX9Gy/kungen-forsvarsviljan-har-okat|title=Kungen: Försvarsviljan har ökat |trans-title=The King: The will to defend has increased |newspaper=[[Svenska Dagbladet]]|date=13 January 2025}}</ref>