Swedish royal family marks Sweden’s 500 years as independent country

Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia visit Strangnas (Pontus Lundahl/TT News Agency/AP)

Sweden’s royal family has taken part in ceremonies marking 500 years since the Scandinavian country emerged as an independent nation.

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia were first in the town of Strangnas, 37 miles west of the Swedish capital, Stockholm, where Gustav Vasa was elected king of Sweden in 1523.