Opening of the Riksdag
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The Opening of the Riksdag Session (Swedish: Riksmötets Öppnande) is an annual ceremony in the Kingdom of Sweden to mark the start of a new parliamentary year for the Swedish Riksdag.[1] The current ceremony was first held in 1975, replacing an older ceremony known as the Solemn Opening of the Riksdag (Swedish: Riksdagens högtidliga öppnande) that had been held since the 17th century. It is held every year in September. During the ceremony the monarch declares the new session open and the Prime Minister makes a speech outlining the government’s priorities for the upcoming year.[2]
Before the ceremony starts, the members of the Riksdag attend a roll call and walk to Storkyrkan where a special church service is held. This church service is also attended by the royal family seated in a special box close to the altar. It is common for family members of members of the Riksdag also participate during this event. The service is usually led by the Archbishop of Uppsala, but may also be led by the Bishop of Stockholm.[3]
After the church service the members of the Riksdag walk back to Parliament House and enter through its main entrance, making their way up the grand staircase.
Ceremony
The royal family make their way to the Parliament building in coaches together with a mounted escort provided by the Life Guards. The King and Queen traditionally make this journey in the State Coach from 1897. Outside the Riksdag Grenadiers of the Life Regiment stand guard. When the royal family arrives at Riksplan trumpet fanfares announce their arrival and the King and Queen are greeted by the Speaker of the Riksdag. They then make their way inside the building.[3][4]
Once the King enters the Riksdag Chamber the royal anthem is sung. While it is sung the members of the royal family and the prime minister are seated at the front of the chamber where the lecterns used for debates are usually located while the King stands facing the chamber below the Speakers Presidium. When the anthem finishes the Speaker asks to king to declare the new Riksdag session open, following which the King takes his place behind the rostrum and delivers a speech. This speech may include topics the King thinks are extra important for the upcoming parliamentary year and words of encouragement to the members of the Riksdag. After he is done he declares the new Riksdag session open and is seated with the rest of his family.[3]
The Prime Minister then, on request of the Speaker, delivers their Declaration of Government. This speech outlines the governments priorities over the upcoming parliamentary year. It can be compared with the speech from the throne, held in nations like the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Norway. To finish of the ceremony the national anthem Du gamla, du fria is sung and the royal family depart the chamber to the tunes of Grand Marche travelling back to the palace in the same manner they arrived.
Following the end of the ceremony the Speaker calls a debate about the contents of the declaration of government.
It is customary that attending royals wear black and white. This traditions stems from the old ceremony during which black and white court dress was worn by the royal family.
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