Why is the palace so big?

The enormous size of the Royal Palace of Stockholm has always attracted interest, and has sometimes led to debate about how the building is used. But why is the palace so big, and what was originally intended to be housed there?

Even before the palace fire of 1697, extensive planning and preparations had already been carried out for the construction of a new palace under the direction of Stockholm's city architect, Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. At that time, Sweden was still a great power and Stockholm was a city of European proportions.

A building with several functions

In the cities of the European monarchies, the architecture was used to emphasise the sovereignty and strength of the nation. The role of the prince as head of state was manifested in the castles and palaces built for him and his family. Their size and expression should signal not only power but also intellectual strength, in order to legitimise the role of the prince and the royal house in society.

In addition to premises for the Riksdag of the Estates and the Council of the Realm (the parliament and government of the time), a number of central authorities were also based here, including the National Archives, the National Library and the Supreme Court.

These various objectives were depicted in slightly different ways around Europe. In the largest cities of London and Paris, as well as in the cities that were similar in size to Stockholm or smaller, palaces were built to meet the needs of the prince (in other words, the head of state) for a residence and the needs of the state for one or more buildings to house its central administration.

A focal point for the nation

Tessin's plan for the city, which was partly realised, was based around a large, dominant palace building. This would house both the residences of the king and the royal family and the entire central state administration. In addition to premises for the Riksdag of the Estates and the Council of the Realm (the parliament and government of the time), a number of central authorities were also based here, including the National Archives, the National Library and the Supreme Court.

Today, we can only speculate about why Tessin wanted everything in one building. Like architects throughout the years, he was influenced by economic, aesthetic and topographical conditions. Whatever his reasoning, King Karl XII's regency – under the direction of Queen Dowager Hedvig Eleonora – approved Tessin's plans and a lengthy period of construction began.

An open palace

Over time, the authorities that were once based at the palace moved to other buildings as their needs changed in line with social developments. Alongside this, the palace has retained its function as a residence for the head of state, but has also become a kind of historic monument to which visitors have a high degree of access.

Visitors to the palace can now experience a building that depicts Sweden's history from a broad and multifaceted perspective. They can find out not only about the lives of Sweden's kings and their families, but also about how Sweden has been governed, administered and developed in modern times.

Top image: The Royal Palace of Stockholm. Photo: Mattias Klum