Benny and Björn met on 5 June 1966 and a huge (private) party was thrown to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their friendship and working partnership.

350 Guests, made up of fellow musicians, actors and celebrities all of whom had worked with Benny and Björn throughout their career, started to gather from 18:15 (a nod to the Battle of Waterloo!) and the party kept going until well after midnight.

Frida and Agnetha were among the guests and took the stage to perform The Way Old Friends Do for Benny and Björn. ABBA, as a quartet, did NOT perform together, it was only Frida and Agnetha who sang ... but as Benny and Björn thanked them on stage afterwards, all four of them were on stage together for a few minutes - not as ABBA, but as four friends.

The guest list included:

1. Görel Hanser
2. Michael B Tretow
3. Linda Ulvaeus
4. Peter Grönvall
5. Lasse Berghagen
6. Svenne & Lotta
7. Janne Schaffer
8. Claes af Geijerstam
9. Jerry Williams
10. Jan Malmsjö
11. Lill-Babs
12. Tomas and Marie Ledin
13. Alexandra Charles (owner of Alexandras night club)
14. Tommy Körberg
15. Björn Skifs
16. Tim Rice
17. Murray Head
18. Kristina Lugn
19. Niklas Strömstedt
20. Helen Sjöholm
21. Peter Jöback
22. Pernilla Wahlgren
23. Lena Philipsson
24. Lolo Murray
25. Kalle Moraeus
26. BAO!
27. Judy Cramer
28. Jan Gradvall (journalist) - he photographed his plate

Sir Paul McCartney sent a video message.

Claes af Geijerstam hosted the party and had personally put together a video retelling the careers of Björn and Benny, highlighting key moments such as winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest.

Lena Philipsson and Pernilla Wahlgren sang together. Lill-Babs performed with Peter Jöback. Helen Sjöholm sang Where I Want To Be and then Tommy Körberg performed her hit song, Du Är Min Man.

"They talked a little bit about their history, how everything started with ABBA. And then they all sang together towards the end," Janne Schaffer said to Expressen (NOTE: they were on stage together but they did NOT all four of them sing together!).

"A magical night. I never could have dreamed it would become such a party. I feel like I can die happy having experienced a night like this, said actor Marie Göranzon.

"We got to see a kaleidoscope of people that have been present in Björn and Bennys careers," said an Malmsjö.

"It was absolutely amazing. A lot of emotions. We've made this journey throughout our history. Benny and Björn in particular. Its been very nostalgic.  I've cried a lot tonight," said Frida.

"It's been a great night", said Benny.

See icethesite.com for a detailed account of the evening.

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Thanks to Dmitry Shipov and icethesite.com 
YouTube links c/o ABBAtalk and ABBA Videoedits
Thank you to those taking pictures and private footage.