Sweden's king and queen visit Baltic neighbour Estonia

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia began a three-day state visit to Estonia Tuesday — ir first official visit to former Soviet repubic in more than 30 years.

Estonian President Alar Karis and his wife welcomed Swedish king and queen at Tallinn’s central Freedom Square with full military honors, and an enthusiastic crowd of ults and children alike waved Estonian and Swedish flags.

president’s office said visit, to both Tallinn and second city of Tartu, “underscores close friendship between Estonia and Sweden, all more so given that it is taking place during 50th anniversary of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s accession to throne.”

Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — all former Soviet republics that are members of European Union and NATO — are Sweden’s neighbors across Baltic Sea and have close business and political ties with Stockholm. Estonia also has historical links to Sweden, as small nation of 1.3 million was a province of Swedish Empire in 17th and early 18th centuries.

last time King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia paid a state visit to Estonia was in 1992, a year after Baltic nation regained in its independence after nearly fifty years of Soviet rule.

royal visit will focus on boosting cooperation between two countries in security and defense sectors, economy and in field of education, research and innovation, Estonian president’s office said.

King Carl XVI Gustaf ascended throne on Sept. 15, 1973, and is Sweden's longest reigning monarch. In early June, king will mark his 50 years on throne with extensive celebrations.