SWEDEN EN FETE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 19 January 1938, Page 8

SWEDEN EN FETE

ACCESSION ANNIVERSITY CELEBRATED [By Air Mail—From Our Own Correspondent] LONDON, 16th December. Not only in Stockholm, the neatest capital in Europe, but throughout Sweden, the thirtieth anniversity of King Gustaf V’s accession to the throne has just been loyally celebrated. Exactly one hundred and twenty-seven years ago the Prince of Ponte Corvo, otherwise Napoleon’s famous Army Marshal Bernadotte, was elected Hereditary Prince. King Gustaf is, however, in looks and ideas as in descent almost pure Swede, and his popularity with his subjects is founded on mutual respect. He has done much to simplify royal ritual, has shown himself a genuine democrat, and. last but not least, displayed shrewd acumen as well as clear judgment on two occasions. First, when he was Crown Prince, acting largely for an invalid father, at the time of Norway’s secession. That was thirty-two years ago. Second, when early in the Great War he called the three Scandinavian kingdoms into royal conference and secured their complete neutrality in the struggle on their doorstep. King Gustaf is nearly eighty now, but stil plays a “centre court" game at lawn tennis.