United Kingdom–Sweden relations (also known as Anglo-Swedish relations or British-Swedish relations) () are relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Sweden.
History
Viking Age
The earliest wave of migration from present-day Sweden, came from the Viking invasion of Britain in the year 793 when Viking pagans from Scandinavia (present-day Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) started raiding and settling around the British Isles. Viking raids occurred up and down the largely undefended east coast of England and Scotland during the eighth and ninth centuries. Scandinavian settlements became established over the entire island of Great Britain, the most important of which was Jórvík (now York). Scandinavian influence is evident in the UK even to this day and many millions of Britons have some Viking heritage (especially in Northern England, Eastern England, Scotland and the Shetland Islands).
Another early recording of Swedes in England can be found on the so called England runestones which describe Swedish Vikings taking gold, Danegeld, and tributes in England. Almost all Runestones of this period mentioning England are found in modern day Sweden.
Beowulf
One of the earliest mentions of present day Sweden in old English literature comes in the form of the epic poem of Beowulf. The story is set in Scandinavia. Beowulf, a hero of the Geats, (Swedish Viking tribe), comes to the aid of Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by a monster known as Grendel. After Beowulf slays him, Grendel's mother attacks the hall and is then also defeated. Victorious, Beowulf goes home to Geatland (Götaland in modern Sweden) and becomes king of the Geats. Fifty years later, Beowulf defeats a dragon but is mortally wounded in the battle. After his death, his attendants cremate his body and erect a tower on a headland in his memory.
Colonial era
In the Treaty of Stockholm of 1813, Britain ceded Guadeloupe to Sweden in exchange for Swedish support against Napoleon in the War of the Sixth Coalition and trading rights in major Swedish cities. Swedish rule was brief as the island was ceded to France in the 1814 Treaty of Paris.
Migration
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many Swedes emigrated to the United States and the majority of Swedes sailed from Gothenburg to Kingston upon Hull before travelling to Liverpool or Southampton to continue their journey to North America. This created a significant Swedish presence in these cities, so much so that Swedish churches were built to cater to the dynamic communities. Although most emigrants eventually left the ports for the US, some remained in Britain and started their new lives a stage early.
Defence
In 2022, Sweden and the UK signed a mutual defense treaty.
Diplomacy
Of the United Kingdom
Stockholm (Embassy) Gothenburg (Consulate General) Malmö (Consulate General)
Of Sweden
London (Embassy), Gibraltar (Consulate General) Honorary Consulates: Belfast, Brighton, Cardiff, Dover, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Immingham, Lerwick, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, St Helier, & Stornoway.
The British embassy in North Korea based in Pyongyang, is in the same building as the Swedish embassy.
State visits
Two official states visits each between UK and Sweden took place during the reign of Elizabeth II. Former King Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise made a visit to Elizabeth between 28 June to 1 July 1954. In return she made an official visit to Sweden visiting Stockholm and Gothenburg between 8 and 10 June 1956. Later on, the current monarch Carl XVI Gustaf made an official visit to the UK between 8 and 11 July 1975. Elizabeth later returned the visit between 25 and 28 May 1983.
Monarchy
King Carl XVI Gustaf is about 290th in line to the British throne as he is a descendant of Victoria of the United Kingdom through her third son, Prince Arthur. King Charles III, although a descendant of Charles IX of Sweden is not in line to the Swedish throne, as the Swedish Act of Succession limits successors to the descendants of Carl XVI Gustaf.