The wedding between Carl XVI Gustaf and Silvia Sommerlath 1976 - Premium poster with matte paper

The wedding marked a historic event, as it was the first time since 1797 that a Swedish king married a non-noble person.

Silvia, born December 23, 1943 in Heidelberg, Germany, was the daughter of a German businessman, Walther Sommerlath, and his Brazilian wife Alice. She met Carl Gustaf during the 1972 Munich Olympics, where she worked as an interpreter and hostess.

The ceremony took place in front of around 1,200 guests, including heads of state, royalty and diplomats from around the world. The main church, located next to Stockholm Palace, was decorated with white and pink flowers. Silvia wore an elegant wedding dress designed by Marc Bohan at Dior, with a long train and a lace collar. Her veil, previously worn by Queen Sofia and Princess Sibylla, was held in place by a camédiadem from Queen Josefina. Carl Gustaf was dressed in formal attire with the Order of the Seraphim's kraschan and chain. The wedding was officiated by Archbishop Olof Sundby, and the music included Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" and a newly written wedding march by composer Lille Bror Söderlundh.

After the ceremony, the couple rode in an open carriage through the streets of Stockholm, where tens of thousands of people had gathered to celebrate. The day was sunny and warm, which added to the festive atmosphere. The wedding reception was held at Stockholm Palace, with a banquet in the Vita Havet Hall. The menu included Swedish specialties such as smoked reindeer meat, fresh salmon and cloudberry parfait.

Facts of the day: Date: June 19, 1976

Location: Storkyrkan, Stockholm

Number of guests: Approximately 1,200

Wedding dress: Designed by Marc Bohan, Dior

Weather: Sunny, around 22°C

TV broadcast: The wedding was broadcast live and watched by millions of viewers worldwide.