Swedish royal couple visit Finland

The royals are marking the 50th anniversary of the Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre in Espoo.

Four people pose in front of Finnish, Swedish and EU flags. — From left: Suzanne Innes-Stubb, Alexander Stubb, Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle

Yle News

2.6.2025 13:58Updated 2.6.2025 14:01

Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are in Finland on Monday to take part in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Hanasaari Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre in Espoo.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and his spouse, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, greeted the royal couple at the Presidential Palace in downtown Helsinki.

Two men wearing dark suits shaking hands, one of the men seen from behind is holding an open umbrella over his head. — Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf shakes hands with Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Image: Silja Viitala / Yle

Around 200 guests were invited to the event, according to Svenska Yle, the public broadcaster's Swedish-language news unit. Attendees included Sweden's former prime minister Carl Bildt.

This file photo from 1975 shows Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and then-Finnish president Urho Kekkonen on a pheasant hunting trip in Janakkala, Southern Finland. Image: Kalle Kultala

Along with then-Finnish president Urho Kekkonen, King Gustav formally opened the cultural centre on 1 June 1975.

The cultural centre is meant to promote cooperation between Finland and Sweden. Hanasaari (Hanaholmen in Swedish) is a small island in the western part of Espoo.

Apart from the cultural centre, Hanasaari is also home to a 66-room hotel featuring Nordic 1970s-era design and decor.