Official visit of Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden to Australia
Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden visited Australia on February 13-15. Mr Johan Forssell, Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade represented the Swedish government.
The visit confirmed Sweden’s excellent political and diplomatic relations with Australia. Our shared values and interests were highlighted.
In Canberra, Governor-General His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC hosted a dinner for the delegation at which HRH Crown Princess Victoria delivered a speech: H.K.H. Kronprinsessans tal vid middag hos generalguvernören i Canberra | Kungahuset
Sustainability was an important overarching theme throughout the visit. HRH Crown Princess Victoria and Minister Forssell participated in a seminar on electrification at the Australian National University hosted by Professor Brian Schmidt, Vice-Chancellor and Nobel Prize Laureate: Electrification in Sweden and Australia – ANU
The program in Canberra also included a visit to Namadgi National Park to learn about the effects of the bushfires in 2020 to interact with the ACT emergency services and visit a koala rehabilitation centre. Also included in the program was a tree planting ceremony at the National Arboretum: Ceremonial Tree Planting – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden – National Arboretum (act.gov.au)
Minister Forssell held bilateral talks with his counterparts The Hon Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry, International Development, and the Pacific as well as Senator The Hon Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism. Minister Forssell and Minister Farrell published a joint op-ed on creating a greener trade future: Sweden and Australia — Creating a Greener Trade Future | Minister for Trade and Tourism (trademinister.gov.au).
In Sydney, NSW Governor Mrs Margret Beazley hosted a business networking reception. Minister Forssell delivered opening remarks at the Sweden-Australia Sustainable Mining Summit, organised by Business Sweden and the Embassy of Sweden in partnership with Invest New South Wales and with important contributions from the Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce.
The program in Sydney also included a visit to the Sydney Opera House and the Royal Botanic Garden where the Crown Princess viewed the green flower wall, designed especially for Sydney World Pride to highlight the importance of inclusiveness, diversity, and tolerance.
During a visit to HMAS Kuttabul, Rear Admiral Christopher Smith, Commander Australian Fleet, hosted a lunch discussion around regional maritime security and bilateral defence and defence materiel cooperation.
The Sydney leg also included a visit to Saint Vincent’s Hospital for an orientation about oncology and cancer treatment in Australia and about Swedish companies’ contribution to achieve equitable care: For our patients Lyn and Karen, meeting Sweden’s HRH Crown Princess Victoria and HRH Prince Daniel at our St Vincent’s Clinic in Sydney was a wonderful… | By GenesisCare | Facebook
HRH Crown Princess Victoria, HRH Prince Daniel and Minister Forssell met with parts of the Australian women’s football team the Matildas and its Swedish coach Tony Gustafsson ahead of the World Cup 2023: Matildas Meet Swedish Crown Princess Victoria | 10 News First – YouTube
The visit to Australia ended with a reception for representatives of the Swedish community organisations in Australia hosted by H.E. Ambassador Pontus Melander at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. HRH Crown Princess Victoria held a speech: H.K.H. Kronprinsessans tal vid svenska ambassadens mottagning för svenskkolonin i Sydney med anledning av det officiella besöket till Australien | Kungahuset
The visit to Australia was followed by a visit to New Zealand on 16-18 February.
