Yahoo News Swedish King and Queen Award ABBA a Knighthood
Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia awarded ABBA the prestigious Royal Order of Vasa at Stockholm Royal Palace today.
The Order of Vasa, an order of chivalry, was given to ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Fältskog and Benny Andersson "for very outstanding contributions in Swedish and international music life." At the ceremony today, King Carl Gustaf said, "The order you get today is Sweden’s thanks for your exceptional efforts."
Today marks the first time the royal orders of knighthood were handed out since 1974. Between 1974 and 2023, royal orders were restricted to foreigners only. According to professor Dr. Martin Sunnqvist, "The orders were not formally abolished, but were reduced significantly in importance. Only the need for international diplomatic exchange kept the chapter of the orders and the organisation around it functioning." Only at the end of 2022 did the Riksdag, Sweden's parliament, agree to reinstate the orders for Swedish citizens. Sunnqvist writes, "In the new system, the general public will be encouraged to nominate persons to be considered for knighthoods."
ABBA's career launched at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, where they won with their song "Waterloo." (ABBA is an acronym for the first letters of the band member's first names: Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid.) In the years since, they've become one of the most successful pop groups of all time.
In 1999, their music was adapted into a stage musical, Mamma Mia!, which has since been made into a film (in 2008). A sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), also featured ABBA's music. Watch a trailer for that film, here:
A third Mamma Mia movie is reportedly in the works; star Meryl Streep recently shared at Cannes that she wants to do it, and that the producers "have an idea."
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