She is one of the longest-serving first ladies in the world: Silvia of Sweden. On December 23, the queen beloved by many Germans will celebrate her 80th birthday. To mark the occasion, she shares insights into her life with Julia Melchior in an exclusive interview for Terra X History. The marriage of King Carl Gustaf to Silvia, a commoner from Heidelberg, marked the beginning of a new chapter for the Swedish crown in 1976. Calls for a republic were loud at the time, but Silvia helped usher in a renaissance for the monarchy and restored the royal family’s luster. Silvia herself always saw herself as a working mother. Her job: queen. For this self-image, she is considered a trailblazer in the royal scene.