Ordensförläning = Bestowal of the Order

All four ABBA members were honoured with Royal titles as recipients of the Order of the Vasa 2024 (one of the four royal orders of Knighthood) from the hands of King Carl XVI Gustaf, at a conferment ceremony, in the banquet hall Vita Havet of The Royal Palace of Stockholm.

For the first time in fifty years, the four royal orders of knighthood: the Order of the Seraphim, the Order of the Sword, the Order of the North Star and the Order of the Vasa, were awarded to thirteen exceptional Swedes. Among that number were:

Artist Benny Andersson
Commander of First Class of the Royal Order of Vasa.
“For very distinguished achievements in Swedish and international music life”

Artist Agnetha Fältskog
Commander of First Class of the Royal Order of Vasa.
“For very distinguished achievements in Swedish and international music life”

Artist Anni-Frid Reuss
Commander of First Class of the Royal Order of Vasa.
“For very distinguished achievements in Swedish and international music life”

Artist Björn Ulvaeus
Commander of First Class of the Royal Order of Vasa.
“For very distinguished achievements in Swedish and international music life”


The ABBA members sat together for the ceremony (purely from an organisational point of view, it made sense).  Benny arrived with his son Ludvig (and Ludvig's wife?), Agnetha arrived with a man (who?), Björn arrived with Christina Sas and a young girl (Christina's daughter maybe?) and Frida arrived with Henry Smith, one of Ruzzo's daughters (Henriette of Plauen), Görel Hanser and Ulrika Fredrikkson (Frida's son's Hans' wife).

Broadcast Information:

1. Svensk Damtidning - online
   Footage of individual ABBA members arriving at the Royal Palace
   
    
2. SVT Nyheter Direkt - LIVE online
   Broadcast the ceremony LIVE - thank you SVT for letting us share this
   The ceremony was broadcast LIVE via: SVT Nyheter Direkt – Ordensförläning | SVT Play
   The link will only be available for ONE week until 7 June 2024.
   
    
3. Brisant, ARD, Germany
   A short piece showing part of the ceremony and ABBA posing for photos afterwards plus shows Björn and Benny giving press interviews.
   
    
4. ITV Evening News, UK

Björn's award keeps closing when he's receiving it from the King and then shaking hands with the Queen.

When they are standing together with their awards, Agnetha flashes Björn a huge grin!

Björn gets back to his seat and sits down but they are supposed to all stand up and Frida gives him a nudge!

Thanks to Andy Wetson, Lars Stenmark, Jens Täuber, Mike New and Jan Bach. Special thanks to Jakob Regnér c/o ABBAtalk.
Thanks also to Wolfgang Eichelberg.