Sweden
Queen Silvia celebrated her seventieth birthday on December 23rd 2013 but after several public events to mark the occasion, the day itself was a private affair with close family. There was however a gun salute at midday and flags were flown. The royal family also invited wellwishers to leave birthday messages on the royal Facebook page.
Silvia Renate, Queen of Sweden, celebrated her 70th birthday on December 23rd 2013
King Carl XVI Gustaf gave his traditional Christmas Day address on December 25th 2013 and thanked his fellow citizens for their support during his 40th jubilee celebrations through the year. He also spoke of the strong image of the country abroad and the many innovations in business and technology that he had witnessed through 2013.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during his 2013 Christmas Day address
Norway
The Norwegian royal family had no formal engagements in the week running up to the festive season. Crown Prince Haakon Magnus and Crown Princess Mette-Marit attended a church service in Uvdal, near their residence in that part of Norway, on Christmas Eve. They were accompanied by their family - Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus and Marius Hoiby.
Prince Sverre Magnus comes over all shy as he joins his family for a Christmas Eve service in Uvdal
King Harald and Queen Sonia attended a service on Christmas Day in Oslo accompanied by their daughter, Princess Martha Louise and her family.
The king and queen of Norway with their daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters Maud, Leah and Emma at Christmas Day service in Oslo
Denmark
The Danish royal family were seen at a traditional Christmas service on Christmas Eve with just the youngest members of the family staying at home in the warm.
Queen Margrethe II makes her traditional speech at New Year.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark with her grandson, and the future king, Christian as well as husband, Prince Henri, for a Christmas Eve service in Copenhagen
Queen Margrethe II makes her traditional speech at New Year.
United Kingdom
In the run up to Christmas, the Queen went to her home in Norfolk, Sandringham, where she attended a service of carols and lessons on December 22nd. She was joined there by other members of the Royal Family and on Christmas Day all four of the queen's children attended Christmas service with her at St Mary Magdelene church. Her youngest great grandchild, Prince George of Cambridge, was not at either of the two services the family joined on Christmas morning.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the second Christmas Day service they attended with other members of the Royal Family
In her traditional Christmas Day message, the Queen emphasized the importance of taking time to reflect on life. There was also previously unseen footage of Prince George of Cambridge at his christening which gave another glimpse of the famous gathering of four generations of monarch and monarchs in waiting.
Elizabeth II mentioned family long gone and much missed in her Christmas speech with special reference to her own parents, George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
Prince William and Prince Harry were seen playing football over the Christmas week in a charity match in Norfolk. The brothers were on opposing teams but despite Prince Harry scoring a goal, the game finished 2-2 and there was a royal hug at the end.
The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Henry of Wales in their charity football match in
Christmas week 2013
Belgium
The new king of the Belgians, Philippe, gave his first Christmas message as monarch on Christmas Eve 2013. He thanked his fellow citizens for their support on the day of his accession and afterwards and spoke of the difficulties that many faced through unemployment.
Philippe, King of the Belgians, chose to pose for posterity during his first Christmas speech as monarch under a portrait of Leopold I, his country's first king
The Netherlands
Another new king also gave his first Christmas address. Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands delivered his first Christmas message on Christmas Day and again thanked those who had supported him on his accession and, like Philippe, mentioned the troubles that many had encountered in the last year because of economic difficulties. His Christmas message was the only royal engagement of the festive week for the Dutch royals.
Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands gave his festive message on Christmas Day 2013 with a photo of his parents placed prominently behind him
Spain
The traditional Christmas Eve message of King Juan Carlos was the only official royal event of the week in Spain. The king also spoke of economic problems for many citizens and specifically thanked the older generation in Spain for the support they had given younger family members in hard financial times. He spoke about youth unemployment and also pledged to restore public faith in the country's leadership.
King Juan Carlos of Spain during his Christmas Eve address, December 24th 2013
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