Legendary Swedish pop group ABBA reunited recently to receive one of Sweden's highest honours, the Royal Order of Vasa. The ceremony was held in the royal palace in Stockholm on Friday.

ABBA members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, all in their 70s, rarely appear together in public. They were presented with the award by King Carl XVI Gustaf. The Royal Court stated the honour was given “for the outstanding contribution to Swedish and international music.”

“ ABBA – Commanders, 1st Class, of the Royal Order of Vasa : Clément Morin/Kungl. Hovstaterna,” the official handle of the Swedish royal court posted on Instagram alongside photos of the ceremony.

ABBA, formed in 1972 and disbanded in the early 1980s, remains incredibly popular, having sold an estimated 385 million records worldwide. Their timeless hits, including Dancing Queen, Thank You For The Music, Mamma Mia and Fernando continue to captivate fans globally.

Ten years after disbanding, a compilation titled ABBA Gold was released, which became a global best seller. Their music inspired the stage musical Mamma Mia! in 1999, a long-running success on Broadway and the West End. The 2008 film adaptation was the UK's highest-grossing film that year, followed by a sequel in 2018.

ABBA received the BRIT Billion Award in 2023 and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Dancing Queen entered the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2015. The group reunited in 2016 for a digital concert tour, releasing Voyage, their first album in 40 years, in 2021.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of ABBA's Eurovision Song Contest victory in Britain in 1974 with their song Waterloo, which catapulted them to international fame.