Stockholm’s getting bigger
Sweden’s capital is growing at record speed. The latest numbers indicate the city is approaching 850,00 inhabitants and the county has over 2 million. From 1980 to 2005, the increase was almost always between 10,000 and 20,000 per year, but in 2006 the pace increased dramatically; in the last five years, the county's population has increased with about 163,000 inhabitants. The city of Stockholm has had a somewhat less stable development curve. After steady growth Stockholm reached 603,000 inhabitants in 1960. Then there was a downturn that did not stabilize until 1981. But since then the city has demonstrated an increase each year. And in the last five years, the increase has been nothing but enormous―around 85,000 in five years! The official population figures will not be published until February, but in round numbers, the city of Stockholm had 847,500 inhabitants and Stockholm County 2,053,000 on New Year's Eve. The strongest reason is a relatively young population with a record-high birth rate and high immigration. Labor migration from Eastern Europe, for example, is the largest immigration group from Poland.

Companies demand Saab cars again
During the auto industry crisis few Swedish companies dared buy Saab as official company cars due to the risk of the car manufacturer going bankrupt. This has changed, and more and more companies are ordering Saab cars again. Company cars have traditionally been a vital part of Saab’s market.

Royal monograms
Here they are, the monograms of the royal family. What do you think? Do you prefer the more ornate ones, or the ones that are simple and modern―like Prince Daniel’s and Princess Madeleine’s? Kungen (the King), Drottningen (the Queen), Kungaparet (the Royal Couple), Kronprinsessan (the Crown Princess), Prins Daniel (Prince Daniel), Kronprinsessparet (the Crown Princess couple), Prins Carl Philip (Prince Carl Philip), Prinsessan Madeleine (Princess Madeleine) and Prinsessan Lilian (Princess Lilian). Monograms of the names of monarchs are used as part of the insignia of public organizations in kingdoms, such as on police badges. This indicates a connection to the ruler. Royal monograms often appear on coins, frequently surmounted by a crown. A notable example of a royal monogram is the H7 monogram of King Haakon VII of Norway. While in exile during World War II, Haakon VII spearheaded the Norwegian resistance to the German occupation, and H7 became a symbol used by the Norwegian populace to mark solidarity and loyalty to the King, and adherence to the Norwegian resistance movement. The act of drawing or creating a H7 symbol in German-occupied Norway was punishable by imprisonment.

Meet Prince Daniel the tulip
Soon you can have Prince Daniel in your own home―at least in floral form. Unveiled at a recent ceremony was the Prince Daniel Tulip, a red and cream cross between the “Liverpool” and the “Strong Gold” tulips, and a creation by Dutchman Johannes The Lightheart. It will however take some time before Swedes can get their hands of Prince Daniel (not until next season it seems), but why not enjoy the lovely red “Princess Victoria,” a tulip that’s been on the market for several years already? King Carl XVI Gustaf won’t have a problem choosing which tulips he wants because he doesn’t like the flower in the first place. He thinks they squeak.