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THE four members of Abba made a rare appearance together yesterday as their King and Queen said thank you for the music.

Björn Ulvaeus, 79, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, 78, Agnetha Fältskog, 74, and Benny Andersson, 77, were honoured at the Royal Palace in Sweden’s capital Stockholm.

The music group ABBA, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Benny Andersson pose for a photo after the received the Royal Vasa Order from Sweden's King and Queen during a ceremony at Stockholm Royal Palace on May 31, 2024 for outstanding contributions to Swedish and international music life. (Photo by Henrik Montgomery/TT / TT News Agency / AFP) / Sweden OUT (Photo by HENRIK MONTGOMERY/TT/TT News Agency/AFP via Getty Images)
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Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Benny Andersson received a major gong at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, SwedenCredit: TT News Agency / AFP via Getty
epa11381789 The music group ABBA with Björn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Fältskog and Benny Andersson receive the Royal Vasa Order from Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf (L) and Queen Silvia (2L) for outstanding contributions to Swedish and international music life during a ceremony at Stockholm's Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden, 31 May 2024. EPA/Henrik Montgomery SWEDEN OUT
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King Carl XIV Gustaf and Queen Silvia presented the group with the Order of the Vasa - an extremely rare awardCredit: EPA

The group — who won the Eurovision Song Contest with Waterloo in 1974 — got the Order of the Vasa for their “very outstanding efforts in Swedish and international music life”.

It was the first time the order has been handed out since reforms to the Swedish honours system 50 years ago.

Abba, who have sold more than 150million records worldwide, have not been seen together since the 2022 launch of their virtual Abba Voyage concerts at a purpose-built arena in Stratford, East London.

Asked at the time whether there would be any further projects from the band, Benny said: “It’s a no. Nothing is going to happen after this.”

READ MORE ON ABBA

Notably, this is not the first time Abba star Anni-Frid has rubbed shoulders with the upper class.

In 1992 she wed Prince Heinrich Ruzzo Reuss, Count of Plauen.

She became the Dowager Princess of Reuss when Heinrich Ruzzo died of lymphoma in October 1999.

After his death, she started seeing Brit aristocrat Henry Smith, 5th Viscount Hambledon.

Anni-Frid has taken a hiatus from music since 2005, preferring to now be involved in charity work.

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Picture taken in 1974 in Stockholm shows the Swedish pop group Abba with its members (L-R) Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus posing after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo". Sweden's legendary disco group ABBA announced on April 27, 2018 that they have reunited to record two new songs, 35 years after their last single. The quartet split up in 1982 after dominating the disco scene for more than a decade with hits like "Waterloo", "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Super Trouper". / AFP PHOTO / TT News Agency / Olle LINDEBORG / Sweden OUTOLLE LINDEBORG/AFP/Getty Images
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Abba really took off after their 1974 Eurovision winCredit: AFP - Getty
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