State Visit from Germany

The aim of the State Visit is to foster the already good Swedish-German relations and further strengthen long-term political, economic, social and cultural ties. The Visit is also aimed at stimulating deepened collaboration in the areas of climate, energy and digital transformation, with a focus on innovative and sustainable solutions.

Germany is one of Sweden’s most important trade partners, has the world’s fourth largest economy and is one of our closest and key partners in the EU and in international contexts. We are likeminded with respect to many social issues and have broad bilateral cooperation.

The theme of the Visit, which will take place in Stockholm and Kiruna, is innovation, sustainability and democracy.

The most recent State Visit between the countries was in October 2016, when the King and Queen visited Germany.

The programme in brief

The State Visit will be held with forms adapted to the ongoing pandemic and in accordance with the prevailing restrictions. Adjustments to the programme may be necessary.

Tuesday 7 September

The first day of the State Visit traditionally comprises a number of traditional ceremonial elements.

Morning

The Crown Princess and Prince Daniel receive the President and First Lady on arrival at Arlanda.

The King and Queen meet the President and Ms Büdenbender at the Royal Stables for a procession to the Royal Palace.

Official welcoming ceremony in the Inner Courtyard.
Press statements by the King and the President.

The King and Queen host a luncheon for the President and First Lady at the Royal Palace.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs hosts a luncheon for representatives of the German delegation at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Afternoon

The President and Ms Büdenbender and the King and Queen visit Saint Gertrude’s Church (the “German church”).

The Speaker of the Riksdag receives President Steinmeier at the Riksdag, where the President delivers a speech.

The Prime Minister receives the President for talks.

Ms Büdenbender and the Queen visit the Ombudsman for Children in Sweden to discuss the rights of the child and how the pandemic has affected children, and for a presentation of Barnahus activities.

Evening

The King and Queen hold a gala dinner at the Royal Palace. In light of the pandemic, the dinner will be scaled down to a smaller format.

Wednesday 8 September

Morning

The King and Queen receive the President and Ms Büdenbender at Drottningholm and show them around the unique World Heritage Site.

The President and the King visit Scania in Södertälje, where sustainable transport, electrification, electric road systems and artificial intelligence are discussed.

Ms Büdenbender and the Queen visit Silvia Home Foundation, which works to spread knowledge about dementia with the aim of giving people living with dementia and their relatives the highest possible quality of life.

The Queen and Ms Büdenbender visit the German School in Stockholm and learn about how school activities have been managed during the pandemic.

Stockholm City hosts a luncheon at City Hall.

Afternoon

The President and the King visit Karolinska University Hospital. Topics for discussion include research and innovation within eHealth and how it has been affected by the pandemic.

Ms Büdenbender and the Queen visit the Goethe-Institut for a panel discussion on the important linguistic exchange between Sweden and Germany and how to encourage linguistic studies.

The President and the King visit ArkDes, the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design, for a presentation on Swedish architecture and sustainability, with a focus on wood construction. They will also pay a digital visit to Sara Kulturhus in Skellefteå, one of the world’s tallest wooden buildings, which opens the same day.

Thursday 9 September

The third day of the State Visit will take place in Kiruna.

Morning

Visit to Esrange. The Esrange Space Center, owned and operated by the state-owned Swedish Space Corporation, is home to national and international research and commercial space activities, including work with sounding rockets, stratospheric balloons and satellite communications. German and Swedish space actors have long collaborated here on advancements in the field of space.

The Norrbotten County Governor hosts a luncheon at Kiruna’s new City Hall, Kristallen. Various aspects of the city’s relocation are highlighted during the lunch.

Afternoon

Visit to LKAB. A presentation is held on the transformation of the iron and steel industry for a sustainable future. This includes fossil-free iron and steel production, digitised, automated and carbon dioxide-free mining operations and production of critical minerals from recycled mine waste.

Evening

The State Visit concludes when the King and Queen bid farewell to their guests at the farewell ceremony at Kiruna Airport.

A more detailed programme will be published in connection with the Visit.

Media accreditation

Media representatives need special accreditation from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to cover the State Visit. The deadline for accreditation applications is Thursday 2 September 2021.

Apply for accreditation via Ms Boel Lindbergh at the MFA International Press Centre (see contact details below).