September 8th-10th, 2017, the Grand Priory of Sweden had the great pleasure of hosting an International Investiture – the biggest ever organized in the country. 84 participants from 12 countries took part in the event, including the Supreme Council and Priors from 7 countries.HIRH Royal Protectors & Prince Grand Master Herta and Sandor Habsburg-Lothringen honoured the event by their presence.The late summer sun lighted Stockholm in the beginning of September as the festivities started.
At Friday September 8th, all participants visited the Nobel Museum for a welcome dinner. The Nobel Museum opened 2001 and is located in the Stortorget square in Gamla stan (Old town), in Börshuset (old Stock exchange building), also the home of the Swedish Academy and the Nobel library. The museum is celebrating the Nobel laureates and their achievements as well as of the Nobel Prize and Alfred Nobel, and is devoted to science.
The museum’s representative Pia Jonsson welcomed us all and gave an introduction.We then enjoyed a very special dinner. It was a delicious buffet with nine different courses, hand-picked from the authentic Nobel banquets throughout history, from 1910 to 2000. The dessert was the famous Nobel ice cream parfait, served at the banquet for more than 20 years because of its popularity. And, not to forget, we all got Alfred Nobel’s gold medal – made in dark chocolate. 
The visit at the beautifully designed museum was very popular and appreciated.The solemn Investiture took place on Saturday September 9th, at the Sankta Eugenia Catholic Church, at the Kungsträdgården (Royal garden), not far from the Opera house. Chancellor Anders Stävhag, Great Priory of Sweden, coordinated all the events, with help from other brothers from the Priory. You could almost think that the Sankta Eugenia Catholic Church had been designed with the Investiture in mind. Due to the Church’s large foyer entrance, the procession – carrying the flags of the participating countries – could well assemble in this single space, before entering the Church itself. During the following ceremony, 12 new postulants from Sweden, USA, the Ukraine and Poland were escorted to their places at the chancel by the Priory Marshall. The Former Grand Chancellor Malcolm Hitchman supervised it all from his place at the Sanctuary and together with Chancellor Anders Stävhag performed a fantastic investiture. A while later, the postulants were Knighted and decorated by HIRH the Prince Grand Master. 
11 new Knights and one new Dame were given a very warm welcome to our prestigious Order. The solemn ceremony concluded with promotions and appointments, followed by the departure of the procession. All the Knights and Dames gathered at the Altar for a big group photo, showing many smiles.In the evening, the Grand Priory of Sweden hosted a Gala dinner at the Hotel Reisen in Gamla stan (Old town). The hotel is located at Skeppsbron, a street and a quay close to the Royal castle. The Grand Prior of Sweden, Christer Kylsberg, welcomed Leaders, Knights, Dames and their families to a three-course dinner, comprised of typical Swedish dishes. During the dinner, HIRH the Prince Grand Master expressed his enjoyment of the event,” one of the best Investitures”. Several speakers also praised Chancellor Anders Stävhag’s planning efforts. As a gift from the Grand Priory, each Knight and Dame was given a unique white mug with the emblem of our Order. At the dinner, Olaf Schabbach, creator and designer of this emblem, generously signed over its rights to our Order for the symbolic sum of one Euro.
The newly Knighted and promoted brothers and sisters were awarded their Diplomas, from the hands of HIRH the Prince Grand Master and the Grand Chancellor. After the dinner, participants from all the nations happily gathered in the bar area, enjoying themselves in friendship. The weekend in Stockholm was both solemn and joyful – a happy moment for our prestigious Order.