Duke and Duchess of Cambridge dazzle at gallery event celebrating Swedish culture

Royals: Kate and William attended the event before flying to Oslo tomorrow
PA
Robert Jobson31 January 2018

Prince William raised his glass and gave the Viking toast of "Skål!" at the end of the successful "soft power" royal visit to Sweden.

On their last evening in Stockholm, William - accompanied by his wife Kate - spoke of the close friendship between Britain and Sweden at the Fotografiska Gallery, which boasts glittering views over the city.

"In the past two days, Catherine and I have experienced some of the unique mix of factors that contribute to the Swedish way of life.

"The Swedish love of the outdoors – the way you embrace your climate and environment, and are committed to ensuring future generations can do the same.

The Duke of Cambridge makes a toast after speaking at a reception at the Fotografiska Galleries
PA

"The fact that you do so when it is so cold is really inspiring. One lesson that we will take home with us is that children are actively encouraged to spend time outdoors, whatever the weather.

"This is obviously very good for their physical health but, as we learned this morning at the remarkable Karolinska Institute, it has huge benefits for a child’s mental health as well," he said.

Kate: The Duchess was glowing in her blue dress
PA

He went on: "In the past two days, Catherine and I have also explored some of the many scientific partnerships between the UK and Sweden that make our lives longer, healthier and more productive.

"It was a privilege to learn more about how the legacy of Alfred Nobel is used to celebrate the very best of humanity in science and the arts.

The Duchess of Cambridge (left) greets Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
PA

"Our visit to the Karolinska Institute was a particular highlight – a world-class centre of learning, which has developed extraordinary insight into the science underpinning our mental health."

Speaking of close security links, William added, "Tomorrow, we are looking forward to meeting representatives of Sweden’s armed forces.

The Duchess of Cambridge's Scandinavian tour wardrobe

1/14

"There is a Swedish saying that I won't attempt to say in Swedish but which translates in English something like "It matters to you, too, when a neighbour's wall is on fire."

"Your security concerns are ours, and it is hugely important that we continue to work ever more closely together to reduce threats," he said.

The Duke and Duchess with Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel
PA

Pressing home the post Brexit soft power message he added, "Great things happen when we work together."

The event celebrated contemporary culture with guests representing the worlds of music, film, television, theatre, tech, dance, art and sport, with live music, drinks and canapés.

The royal couple fly to Oslo, Norway, tomorrow for the second leg of their week-long tour as they deliver, the British Foreign Office hopes, a clear message: Britain may be leaving the EU, but we are still part of Europe and we are still friends.

The couple’s unspoken task - as with previous visits to Poland, Germany and France - is to woo Europe as the UK undertakes the process of leaving the EU and rebooting existing trade relations.

The Duchess arrives at the reception
PA

The Queen's direct heir The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have also visited Romania, Italy and Austria, and Kate has undertaken a solo trip to the Netherlands.

Royal overseas visits are decided by the FCO, with schedules drawn up by the British ambassador to the host country, who accompanies the royal visitor throughout.

The Royals earlier spent time with the Swedish Prince and Princess at Haga Palace
PA

William went on, "We have encountered a wonderfully warm welcome. We are particularly grateful for the hospitality of Their Majesties The King and Queen, and of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel.

"We have been very fortunate to have spent much of the past two days in their welcoming company, including at their home in Haga.

The Duke and Duchess with Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel and their children Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar
PA

"Thank you for making us feel so welcome. We very much hope we will have the opportunity to repay your generosity in the United Kingdom soon.

"Tonight is a celebration of energy, creativity, innovation and engagement in the world – all words we associate with both Britain and Sweden. Above all, tonight is a celebration of friendship. Skål," he said.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in