Gustaf V (born Oscar Gustaf Adolf; 16 June 1858 – 29 October 1950) was the King of Sweden from 1907 until he passed away in 1950. He was the oldest son of King Oscar II of Sweden and Sophia of Nassau.

Gustaf V ruled for nearly 43 years. This makes him the oldest monarch of Sweden ever. He also had the third-longest reign in Swedish history. He was the last Swedish king to actively use his royal powers. After him, kings mostly became symbolic leaders. He was also the first Swedish king in a very long time not to have a coronation ceremony. This means he never wore the king's crown.

During his early rule, Sweden started to become more democratic. This meant that the people, through their elected representatives, had more say. Gustaf V was a big fan of sports, especially tennis. He even played tennis competitively under the name Mr G. He was succeeded by his son, Gustaf VI Adolf.

Early Life and Family
Becoming a Constitutional Monarch
- The Courtyard Speech and Change
- Parliamentary Democracy Takes Hold
Gustaf V During World Wars
- World War II and Swedish Neutrality
A King of Sports
Death
Issue
Honours
- Arms
See also

Early Life and Family

Photograph of Crown Prince Gustav, around 1897.

Gustaf V was born at Drottningholm Palace near Stockholm. His parents were Prince Oscar and Princess Sofia of Nassau. When he was born, he was given the title Duke of Värmland.

In 1872, his father became king. This made Gustaf the crown prince of both Sweden and Norway. On 8 December 1907, he became King of Sweden after his father died.

On 20 September 1881, he married Princess Victoria of Baden in Germany. They had three sons:

Gustaf VI Adolf
Prince Wilhelm, Duke of Södermanland
Prince Erik, Duke of Västmanland

Becoming a Constitutional Monarch

Meeting of the three kings in Malmö, 18 December 1914: Haakon VII of Norway, Gustaf V, and Christian X of Denmark.

When Gustaf V became king, he had a lot of power. The old rules said the king was both the head of state and the head of government. Ministers only answered to him. However, his father had already started to accept that the government should be chosen by the majority in Parliament.

Early in his reign, Gustaf V seemed to accept this new way of doing things. In 1911, he appointed Karl Staaff, a Liberal leader, as Prime Minister.

The Courtyard Speech and Change

Before World War I, there was a debate about Sweden's defenses. In 1914, many farmers gathered at the royal palace. They wanted the country's military to be stronger. Gustaf V gave a speech, known as the Courtyard Speech, promising to improve defenses. This speech made Prime Minister Staaff angry. He felt the king should not get involved in politics without consulting him.

Gustaf V said he had the right to speak freely to the Swedish people. Staaff's government resigned because of this disagreement. Gustaf then appointed a new government led by Hjalmar Hammarskjöld.

Parliamentary Democracy Takes Hold

In 1917, elections showed that the Liberals and Social Democrats had a strong majority in Parliament. Gustaf V first tried to appoint a Conservative government. But it became clear he could no longer choose a government that Parliament didn't support.

So, he appointed a government led by Nils Edén, a Liberal. This new government quickly took most of the king's political powers. They also made big changes, like giving all men and women the right to vote by 1919.

Even though Gustaf V still formally appointed ministers, they now had to have the support of Parliament. He had to follow their advice. This meant that the ministers were now truly in charge of governing the country. Gustaf V accepted this new, smaller role. He continued to be a respected symbol of the nation's unity for the rest of his life.

Gustaf V During World Wars

Gustaf V and L. K. Relander, the 2nd President of the Republic of Finland, passing the honorary company on 19 June 1925 in Stockholm.

Gustaf V was thought to have some sympathy for Germany during World War I. His wife, who was German, also felt a strong connection to her homeland. In 1914, he hosted a meeting with the kings of Denmark and Norway in Malmö. This meeting was to show that the Scandinavian countries were united and to assure others that Sweden would stay neutral.

Even with less political power, Gustaf V still had some influence. In 1938, he told the German ambassador that if Hitler attacked Czechoslovakia, it would start a world war that Germany would likely lose.

World War II and Swedish Neutrality

Prince Gustav Adolf, Hermann Göring, and King Gustaf V in Berlin, February 1939.

During World War II, Sweden remained neutral. In June 1941, when Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union, Gustaf V wanted to send a letter to Hitler. He wanted to thank Hitler for fighting against the "Bolshevik pest." However, Prime Minister Per Albin Hansson stopped him from sending it.

There was a big event in 1941 called the "Midsummer Crisis." It is said that the King threatened to step down if the government did not let German troops travel through Sweden. This was a request from Nazi Germany to move a German army division from Norway to Finland. This event is still talked about by historians. German documents from the war confirm that the King did tell Germany that the troop movement would be allowed.

A King of Sports

Tennis shoes worn by Gustaf V.

Gustaf V was very tall and thin. He was known for wearing pince-nez glasses and having a pointed mustache.

He was a very enthusiastic tennis player. He played under the name Mr G. He was so good and did so much to promote the sport that he was put into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980. He learned tennis in Britain in 1876. When he came back to Sweden, he started the country's first tennis club. In 1936, he founded the King's Club.

Gustaf V continued to play competitive tennis even into his 80s. He was often seen playing on the French Riviera. He even played a tennis match with a Jewish player, Daniel Prenn, right after meeting with Hitler in Berlin. During World War II, he helped get better treatment for tennis stars who had been imprisoned.

Gustaf V playing tennis at Real Club de la Puerta de Hierro, 1927.

Swedish coastal defence ship HM Pansarskepp Gustaf V (1922-1957).

Death

King Gustaf V died in Stockholm on 29 October 1950, after ruling for almost 43 years. He was 92 years old. His son, Gustaf VI Adolf, became the new king.

Issue

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden	11 November 1882	15 September 1973	Became King of Sweden. Married 1) Princess Margaret of Connaught, had children. Married 2) Lady Louise Mountbatten, had a stillborn daughter.
Prince Wilhelm, Duke of Södermanland	17 June 1884	5 June 1965	Married Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, had children.
Prince Erik, Duke of Västmanland	20 April 1889	20 September 1918	Died unmarried from the Spanish flu.