Swedish King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia visit Philadelphia

Philadelphia rolled out the red carpet … literally … for some regal visitors. 

 

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden made several stops in Philadelphia Friday as part of the 375th anniversary of the founding of New Sweden in what is now known as Delaware.

King Gustaf told a gathering at City Hall he would like to see an expansion of trade.

“We came in those early days 375 years ago together to build this big country,” he said. “We wanted to make trade and that’s what we want to do also now.”

Mayor Michael Nutter says the city has plenty in common with Sweden.

“The city of Philadelphia’s flag shares the same colors as the Swedish flag in homage to these first settlers — blue and yellow,” Nutter said. “The New Year’s Day Mummers parade has its roots in the European New Years celebrations of parades and masquerades brought to Philadelphia by Swedish immigrants.”

Gifts were exchanged and then it was on to Independence Hall and the Swedish Museum.