The Order of Vasa is one of the four knightly orders of the kingdom, it was established in 1772. The award was originally given to people who had served to the benefit of the fatherland in the fields of agriculture, art and commerce. However, in 1974, Swedish subjects decided not to award any more orders to ensure equality.
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Only last year, the government reversed this decision following requests from Swedes. Candidates for the Order were approved by the king and the government itself. The award ceremony was broadcast live on local television.
After winning the Eurovision Song Contest, the band instantly gained worldwide popularity, with their album selling 40 million records worldwide. The band’s hit song ‘Mamma Mia!’ became the inspiration for a Hollywood film starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth. The name of the band itself is an abbreviation of the names of the band members.