Princess Madeleine, Chris O'Neill, Prince Daniel, Sweden's Queen Silvia, Sweden's King Carl Gustaf, Prince Carl Philip, Prince Daniel and Crown Princess Victoria watch from the balcony during the changing of the guard in the outer courtyard of Stockholm Palace on the occasion of King Carl XVI Gustaf's 50th anniversary on the throne, in Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreSTOCKHOLM, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf celebrated 50 years on the throne on Friday with ceremonies throughout the capital, including gun salutes, speeches and a lavish dinner with other heads of state. Friday is the culmination of a four-day celebration and the public was invited to the Stockholm palace courtyard to congratulate the 77-year-old king, the Nordic country's longest sitting monarch. The Swedish king is the official head of state but is largely confined to ceremonial and representative duties. Carl Gustaf ascended to the throne when he was 27 years old on Sept. 15, 1973, after the death of his grandfather Gustav VI Adolf. The king, who suffers from dyslexia, was often ridiculed in the early years of his reign for misspeaking during speeches.

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Persons: Madeleine, Chris O'Neill, Prince Daniel, Sweden's Queen Silvia, Sweden's King Carl Gustaf, Prince Carl Philip, Victoria, King Carl XVI Gustaf's, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Carl Gustaf, Gustav VI Adolf, misspeaking, Johan Ahlander, Tom Little, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Crown, Nordic, Sweden, Gothenburg University, Thomson Locations: Stockholm, STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Southeast Asia, Brunei