Royal Pearls at the Opening of Sweden’s Parliament in Stockholm

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia were joined by Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip, and Princess Sofia for the opening of the Riksdag, Sweden’s parliament, in Stockholm. Above, they’re pictured beside Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during the event.

The opening of the Riksdag is now a fairly casual daytime engagement, dress-wise at least, but it used to be a glittering event that involved long dresses, robes, and tiara. Traditional Swedish court dress was black and white, and today, the ladies of the royal family still wear black and white clothing for the event in a nod to the past.

Here’s a look at the way that the Bernadotte women dressed for the Riksdag opening in generations past. This is the King’s mother, Princess Sibylla, wearing her gown and robes in 1957 for the event, plus the Connaught Diamond Tiara (her favorite!) and the Bernadotte Emeralds.

Here’s the King’s eldest sister, Princess Margaretha, wearing court dress in 1954.

And here’s the King’s aunt, Princess Ingrid of Sweden (later Queen of Denmark) in her court dress robes and jewels (including her mother’s Turquoise Daisy Bandeau) in 1928.

The Swedes ditched the ermine and tiaras at the opening of parliament years ago, but the black-and-white dress code for women continues. Queen Silvia wore a white skirt suit and hat with black shoes and a black bag for this year’s Riksdag opening.

The Queen’s blouse was embellished with crystals, and she added diamonds and pearls to the look as well.

She wore diamond and pearl drop earrings, a single strand of pearls, and the family’s Floral Pearl Drop Brooch.

Also, check out that diamond ring on her right hand!

Crown Princess Victoria wore a structured ivory tweed jacket with a matching bow blouse, paired with a black pleated skirt and black accessories.

Her jacket featured pearl and crystal buttons, which she coordinated with her jewels for the occasion.

Victoria wore her pearl and diamond cluster earrings with the outfit, plus another diamond and pearl brooch from the family vaults. This brooch features a central pearl in a diamond halo setting with a pearl drop.

Princess Sofia also opted for a trendy structured jacket in black and white with a black skirt for both the Riksdag opening and the church service held at Stockholm’s cathedral ahead of the ceremony.

Sofia kept her jewelry extremely minimal for this year’s parliamentary opening.

She wore a pair of modern geometric earrings with the outfit—an interesting contrast with the more traditional, Chanel-inspired jacket.