His Majesty's Marshal of the Realm () who heads the Office of the Marshal of the Realm (), is the highest official in the Royal Court of Sweden. The Marshal of the Realm is appointed by the monarch and is directly responsible for the organization and affairs of the court, and for maintaining liaison arrangements with the Riksdag and the Prime Minister/Government. Press releases and official statements from the Swedish royal family to the press and the public are typically released through the Marshal of the Realm.
History The office was created in 1607 during the reign of Charles IX, and until 1936 during the reign of Gustaf V, with the appointment of Axel Vennersten, it had always been held by a member of the Swedish nobility. The incumbent is in formal writing entitled to the style of Excellency, and is today, apart from Swedish ambassadors, the only officeholder to use this style. Until the 1970s, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs also used this style, but it has since fallen out of use. The Marshals of the Realm were also in the past, until the reform of the state orders of chivalry in 1975, appointed as Knights of the Royal Order of the Seraphim, but since then Swedish citizens other than members of the Royal House are no longer eligible.
By convention former Marshals of the Realm are appointed as Chancellor of the Royal Orders upon their resignation, a position they hold until the next Marshal of the Realm resigns and themself assume the role.
The present officeholder, Jan Björklund has been the incumbent since January 1, 2026.
List of Marshals of the Realm since 1607
Name Image Lifetime Term of office1. Göran Claesson Stiernsköld 1552–1611 1607–16112. Henrik Carlsson Horn af Kanckas 1578–1618 1611–1618 vacancy 1618–16343. Axel Gustafsson Banér 1594–1642 1634–1641 vacancy 1641–16434. Åke Axelsson Natt och Dag 1594–1655 1643–16515. Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie 1622–1686 1651–16536. Adolph John I, Count Palatine of Kleeburg 1629–1689 1653–16547. Johan Oxenstierna af Södermöre 1611–1657 1654–16578. Gabriel Oxenstierna af Korsholm och Wasa 1619–1673 1657-?9. Johan Gabriel Stenbock 1640–1705 1673–170510. Carl Piper 1647–1716 1705–171611. Nicodemus Tessin the Younger 1654–1728 1717–172712. Magnus Julius De la Gardie 1669-1741 1727–174113. Samuel Åkerhielm af Margrethelund 1684–1768 1741–174714. Wilhelm Ludvig Taube af Odenkat 1690–1750 1747–175015. Claes Ekeblad the Younger 1708–1771 1750–176116. Adam Horn af Kanckas 1717-1778 1761–176917. Nils Adam Bielke 1724-1792 1769–177218. Hans Henrik von Liewen d.y. 1704–1781 1772–178119. Göran Gyllenstierna 1724–1799 1781–178820. Carl Bonde af Björnö 1741–1791 1788–179121. Johan Gabriel Oxenstierna 1750–1818 1792-?22. Axel von Fersen the Younger 1755–1810 1801–181023. Magnus Stenbock 181024. Hans Henric von Essen 1755–1824 1810–182425. Claes Adolf Fleming 1771–1831 1824–183126. Magnus Brahe 1790–1844 1831–184427. Arvid Mauritz Posse 1792–1850 1845–184928. Mauritz Axel Lewenhaupt 1791-1868 1849–186029. Nils Gyldenstolpe 1799–1864 1860–186430. Gustaf Sparre 1802–1886 1864–188631. Gillis Bildt 1820–1894 1886–189432. Fredrik von Essen 1831–1921 1894–191133. Ludvig Douglas 1849–1916 1911–191634. Otto Hack Roland Printzsköld 1846–1930 1916–193035. Eric Trolle 1863–1934 1930–193436. Oscar von Sydow 1873–1936 1934–193637. Axel Vennersten 1863–1948 1936–194638. Birger Ekeberg 1880–1968 1946–195939. Nils Vult von Steyern 1887–1966 1959–1966– Stig H:son Ericson (acting) 1897–1985 1966–196940. Stig H:son Ericson 1897–1985 1970–197641. Gunnar Lagergren 1912-2008 1976–198342. Sten Rudholm 1918-2008 1983–198643. Per Sköld 1922-2008 1986–199644. Gunnar Brodin 1931–2009 1996–200345. Ingemar Eliasson 1939– 2003–200946. Svante Lindqvist 1948– 2010–201847. Fredrik Wersäll 1951– 2018–202648. Jan Björklund 1962– 2026–
See also Admiral of the Realm Lesser Officers of the Realm Governor of Stockholm Reichsmarschall
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