In August 2010 Yvonne Hirdman published a prized book entitled Den röda grevinnan (The Red Countess)[2] about their mother Charlotte.

He served as ambassador in Moscow and Tel Aviv and earlier as embassy official in London and Beijing.

[4] In time chronology, Hirdman was deputy director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) from 1969 until 1972; Embassy Counsellor in Beijing from 1972 to 1976; Head of Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1976 to 1979; State Secretary in the Ministry of Defence from 1979 to 1982; Ambassador in Tel Aviv and Nicosia from 1983 to 1987; War Materials Inspector and head of the National Swedish War Materials Inspectorate from 1987 to 1994.

During his service in Moscow Hirdman was simultaneously accredited as ambassador to Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

As an active participant in the security policy debate in Sweden Sven Hirdman is often engaged as a lecturer around the country.