Carola Häggkvist, the 1991 Eurovision Song Contest winner, and one of Sweden's biggest stars in the contest, left Stockholm yesterday, her fortieth birthday, to celebrate her big day in the exclusive 16th century Mauritzbergs castle outside Nörrköping.

The guests, Carola's closest friends,gathered at a meeting point in Stockholm, and formed a "caravan of cars" on the journey to the castle. Security was extremely tight, and every guest entering was questioned.

Among the guests were the pastor Andreas Nielsen, who said prayers, Carola's sister and cousin and her stepmother and stepfather. Carola's parents died within five months of each other in 2004.

Her son Amadeus from her failed marriage to the contoversial Norwegian lay preacher Runar Søgaard was also present, although Runar was not.

Carola says she plans another big party in the not too distant future!

In mid January 2006, Carola confirmed that she had been to a clinic in Stockholm to receive Botox injections to remove the wrinkles in her forehead. According to the Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet, she paid between US$326 (2500 Swedish kronor) and US$391 (3000 Swedish kronor) to have these injections done.