Sorry if my previous post was misinterpretating or confusing. I did not suggest that the date of the Riksdag opening ceremony was deliberately chosen to honour the late King, but that it was set at a date after the summer holiday which, coincidentally, happens to be the anniversary date (or very close to the date) of the death of the late King (15 September 1973).
The choice to systematically wear black (or black and white) outfits for the Riksdag opening, at the exclusion of any coloured outfits, must mean something: either a sign of private mourning for King Gustav VI Adolf, or a reminder of the former Court dresses. But I respectfully disagree with your interpretation that attending concerts or church services requires black or dark outfits: we can certainly find a lot of examples of various royals attending such events in white or coloured outfits. The only formal traditional requirement that I know of (beyond being decently clothed, of course) is that ladies attending a church service should wear a hat (though it is not very much respected nowadays).
But anyway, the Swedish royal ladies are always very elegant, and that is the most important! Note that the new addition to the Royal Family, Sofia Hellqvist, made a perfect debut for a royal ceremony as well.
--Previous Message-- : Arthur, you wrote "As the date of the : opening ceremony usually takes place on the : anniversary date of the death of King Gustav : VI Adolf, it is customary for the royal : ladies to wear black, or black and white, : outfits for the ceremony - possibly also a : discreet reminder of the former black court : dresses of the Swedish Queens and : Princesses. This year, the ceremony was : delayed, probably because of the recent : general elections... : : However, the reason why the Swedish : Parliament (and many other : European/Scandinavian Parliaments as : well)are officially declared open around : this time of year (mid to late September) : has nothing to do with the death of the Old : King. : At the time of his death legislation for the : reforms were indeed withheld out of respect : for his longtime service and everybody : acknowledged his duty for his country but it : stops there.... : September is in many countries the fresh : start after the summerholidays for many and : that goes for parliament too (and schools as : well ). : The fact that the royal ladies wear black : has more to do with the well-known fact that : when attending official events : (concerts/going to church etc) ladies often : dress in black and wear pearls and even if : one might think it is a hint to old : fashioned Court-Dresses but Queen Silvia : changed these back for her ladies-in-waiting : to dark blue, so.... : : Sorry to be off-topic here but since you : included your interpretation in your text, : besides the splendid pics for which I thank : you, I thought I'd mention it here, after : consulting a Swedish friend/expert : : On the GREMB I had posted a link to the last : old fashioned Swedish opening, including : ladies-in-waiting with tiaras: : http://members3.boardhost.com/Oranjes/msg/1412058676.html : :
on October 3, 2014, 2:55 am, in reply to "
