Adolf Frederick, King of Sweden, is little more than a figurehead, the real power being lodged in the hands of the Riksdag of the Estates, often distracted by party strife.

Twice he endeavors to free himself from the tutelage of the estates.

The first occasion had been in 1756 when, stimulated by his imperious consort Louisa Ulrika of Prussia (sister of Frederick the Great), he had tried to regain a portion of the attenuated prerogative through the Coup of 1756, and nearly lost his throne in consequence.

On the second occasion during the December Crisis (1768), under the guidance of his eldest son, the crown prince Gustav, afterwards Gustav III of Sweden, he succeeds in overthrowing the "Cap" senate, but is unable to make any use of his victory.

French envoy to Sweden Louis Auguste Le Tonnelier de Breteuil had in 1767 suggested a coup to increase royal power to the Hovpartiet (English: The Royal Court Party), the name for a political group in Sweden during the age of liberty.

The Hovpartiet, in existence in one form or another since 1723, seeks to strengthen royal power against the parliament of the Riksdag of the Estates.

It is most known in history as the force behind Queen Louisa Ulrika's Coup of 1756.

During the early 1760s, Hovpartiet had allied with the Caps (party).

After the election of 1765, it had  allied with the defeated Hats (party).

At this point, it has only followers among the nobility in the Riksdag of the Estates.

During this time, it is led by Fredrik Carl Sinclair in parliament.

Queen Louisa Ulrika had lost her leading position within the party after 1766 in favor of crown prince Gustav.

In December 1768, the king refuses to sign state documents in protest to his limited power and on  December 15, the king formally resigns his throne in order to bring about the gathering of a new Riksdag, during which a reform to increase his capacity can be introduced.

This creates a difficult political situation, as he has hereby technically abdicated and the nation is in interregnum.

The Hovpartiet suggests that the crisis can be used to stage a coup to establish absolute monarchy.

The queen opposes because she does not consider the time right for such a step and advocated negotiation with the Hats  and the Caps, but at this point, the Hovpartiet for the first time turns to the Crown Prince rather than the queen; however, the crisis cannot be used for a coup because the Caps party breaks an agreement.

On December 20, the government agrees to assemble the Riksdag and promises new reforms, and the king thereby agrees to retake the throne: the crisis is hereby averted and the government can function again.

The Riksdag was however not assembled until 1769, and it did not give the royal house more than an increased allowance.