Seraphim Toll on February 19th
Princess Désirée, sister of HM The King, will be honoured by a Seraphim Toll at the Riddarholmen Church on February 19th 2026.
The Royal burial church on Riddarholmen also houses the Coats of arms of deceased Seraphim Knights. The deceased Knight or Member is honoured with a Seraphim Toll the same day as the funeral service takes place.
The Royal Order of the Seraphim is the highest Royal Swedish Order. It has only one degree: Knight/Member. The Order is mainly awarded to foreign Heads of State and their equals.
Seraphim Toll 19 february
Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschilöd External link, opens in new window.
Member and Commander of the Royal Order of the Seraphim External link, opens in new window.
Princess Désirée was born 2nd of June 1938 and passed away on the 21th of January this year. The Princess, who was the spouse of the late baron Niclas Silfverschiöld and elder sister of H M King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, was appointed Member and Commander of the Royal Order of the Seraphim by H M King Gustaf VI Adolf on 22th March 1952.
The Princess was the 716:th member of the Seraphim since its institution in the year of 1748.
The church will be open to the public during the ceremony, approximately 12:00–13:00. The bell of the Riddarholmen Church will ring between 12:00 and 13:00.
About the Order of the Seraphim
Since 1748, the coats of arms of Seraphim Knights have hung on the walls of the church. The coats of arms for living Knights and Members are kept in the Royal Palace. When a Knight or Member passes away, the date of death is added to the coat of arms and is taken to the Riddarholmen Church during the day of the funeral service.
The bell of the Riddarholmen Church are also rung on the day when a Seraphim Knight is buried. This is known as a Seraphim Toll. The Seraphim Toll lasts for one hour.
The Royal Order of the Seraphim is the highest Royal Swedish Order. It has only one degree: Knight (for gentlemen) and Member (for ladies). The Order is mainly awarded to foreign Heads of State and their equals.
Since the church has not been a parish church for more than 200 years, these tolls are one of the few occasions when the church bell ring.
The ceremony
The Seraphim Toll usually takes place at 12:00–13:00 at the Riddarholmen Church, on the same day that the funeral service is held for Seraphim Knight.
The Seraphim arms of the deceased will be hung in the chancel during the toll. Musicians from the Armed Forces Music Corps will take part in the ceremony.
During the ceremony, the Deputy Clerk to the Office will officially announce the death of the Knight of the Seraphim. The church is open open to the public during the ceremony.
How to get to the Riddarholmen Church Opens in new window.
Top image: The Riddarholmen Church, photo Erik Lefvander
Princess Désirée, sister of HM The King, will be honoured by a Seraphim Toll in Riddarholmen Church on 19 February.
The church is open to the public during the ceremony. Photo: Royalpalaces.se
The Riddarholmen Church is a royal burial church, and is also where the Seraphim arms of deceased Knights of the Order of the Seraphim are hung. Photo: Dick Norberg/Royalpalaces.se
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