King of Sweden

Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a representative democracy based on a parliamentary system. The Head of State is the highest public office in Sweden. According to the Act of Succession of 1810 that office is inherited within the House of Bernadotte.

Table of contents

1 The line of succession
2 History
3 Head of state
4 Related topics
5 External links

The line of succession

Present monarch: His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf (since September 19, 1973), born 1946

HRH Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Westrogothia, daughter of the King, born 1977
HRH Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Wermelandia, son of the King, born 1979
HRH Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Helsingia and Gestricia, daughter of the King, born 1982

History

Sweden has been a kingdom for more than a 1000 years, hereditary since 1541. The present Bernadotte dynasty was established during the Napoleonic Wars through the Constitution of 1809 and the Act of Succession of 1810, in a bloodless Revolution after present day Finland, then the eastern half of the Realm, having been lost to Russia. The Constitution divided the Powers of Government between the Riksdag and the Monarch. However, since the break-through of Parliamentarism in 1917 the king has in practice given up political power.

Head of state

In 1974 a new Instrument of Government became part of the Constitution which abolished the Privy Council and stripped the Monarch of virtually all formal powers, less of being a ceremonial Head of State. Many or the head of state functions were instead awarded to the Speaker of the Riksdag.

A more recent constitutional reform changed the rules for sucession to full cognatic primogeniture. This allowed for female succession to the throne and created Princess Victoria heir apparent over her younger brother.

External links

The Royal Court of Sweden - Official site

The Act of Succession - At the Riksdag