Founded in the aftermath of the First World War, the Anglo-Swedish Society was established to foster greater understanding and friendship between Britain and Sweden.

The Society's first chairman, Sir Henry Penson, explained that it had been formed "to promote intellectual intercourse between the peoples of the British Empire and Sweden, assistance in arranging an interchange in educational facilities and the encouragement of reciprocal travel".

The courses received support from members of the Swedish Royal family and business enterprises in Sweden, who placed their houses and hospitality at the disposal of the Society.

The annual dinners of the Anglo-Swedish Society were generally held in the late autumn, and it was common for members of the British and Swedish Royal families to be present.

In November 1934, Anthony Eden (then under-secretary for foreign affairs, 1955–57 Prime Minister) spoke about trade relations between Britain and Sweden at the Society's annual dinner.

In addition to its own annual dinners, joint events were held most years from the 1920s to the 1960s with the Swedish BV Society ("Sällskapet Bärsärkar & Vikingar").

At the latter, the King and Queen of Sweden, Prince Philip, Archbishop KG Hammar and 350 members of the Swedish colony in the UK attended.

The guests of honour were the Ambassadors of Sweden, Denmark and Finland, Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Archbishop Emeritus Hultgren, the First Sea Lord and Lady Fanu and other dignitaries.

This anniversary was mistakenly celebrated a year late, and the confusion is likely to have arisen from the fact that the Swedish-British Society was established in Stockholm in 1919.

The chronological anachronism was perpetuated as late as May 2009, when the Swedish Ambassador, Staffan Carlsson held an elegant dinner for members and benefactors of the Society at his Residence.