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Queen Silvia of Sweden: Born in Baden-Württemberg in 1943
Photo: Uwe Anspach / dpa
Award for Queen Silvia of Sweden: The 79-year-old has been made an honorary citizen of Heidelberg.
"It is a great pleasure and honor for me to be honored in this way by my native city of Heidelberg," she said at a ceremony in the town hall. She had lost her heart to the city. She also regularly comes to Heidelberg incognito.
Lord Mayor Eckart Würzner (independent) praised the Queen's commitment. "They tirelessly take care of those who urgently need help and give them a voice," he said at the presentation of the municipality's highest award. "I don't think we can imagine a better ambassador than her." With the World Childhood Foundation, which she founded, she stands up for children with extraordinary commitment and a lot of heart, it said.
Silvia also wants to stay in the city on Saturday. Among other things, a three-hour boat trip through the Neckar valley on the "MS Königin Silvia" is planned, it said. This is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the German Swedish Society (DSG), of which Queen Silvia is patron. At the same time, this is also a charity event for the benefit of the World Childhood Foundation.
The 79-year-old was born Silvia Renate Sommerlath in Heidelberg in 1943. Between 1947 and 1957 she lived with her family in São Paolo in Brazil before returning to Heidelberg in 1957. In 1972, as a hostess at the Olympic Games in Munich, she met King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. The couple married about four years later.
bbr/dpa/AFP