Saturday, March 29, 2014

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia in Latvia - Day 2

King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia have spent two days in Lativa on a state visit at the request of The Latvian President Andris Bērziņš. Their day began with in early morning meeting with The Swedish Business Delegation looking for ways to improve the business relations between Sweden and Latvia.

The rest of the second day had the Royal Couple separated. While The King spent most of his day in important meetings about industry and the environment Queen Silvia took the opportunity to visit some of her favourite causes and areas of interest.

Queen Silvia first visited Riga Strandins University and toured the medical training labs where she met several Swedish Students.

Silvia then made her way to Arsenal Art Gallery where she was given a private guided tour.

At the same time The King visited a water treatment plant in Riga which handles all the water for the city and surrounding neighbourhoods.

After the tour of the plant he met with several Latvian and Swedish businesses to get a better understanding of the trade and industry work between the two countries. After lunch Carl Gustaf stopped by army base Ādaži and met with Defense Minister Raimonds VĒJONIS and supreme commander Lieutenant General Raimonds Graube. Lastly Carl Gustaf went to The Stockholm School of Economics in Riga and met with economic and trade ministers for both countries.

Next for Queen Silvia after lunch was a trip to The Salvation Army in Riga, here she spent her time touring the facilities and programs and meeting staff. Silvia spent most of her time in the Young Peoples Program, where she met several children of varying ages who are benefiting from the programs The Salvation Army offers. The young girls there dressed up as the beloved Swedish children's character Pippi Longstocking and performed a song for The Queen.