Royal Insight Forum

QuoteQueen Sonja opened a new university facility

Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway opened a new facility at Bergen University yesterday. The facility will offer studies in art, music and design. Through various programmes, the University will offer education in creative art, designers and musicians. The facility will also offer education in nearby fields with expertise in the creative arts, design and music are included – as music therapy, curating and education for artists, designers and musicians.

Students from the Grieg Academy performed a new royal fanfare composed by the Norwegian composer Harald Sæverud when the procession of the Queen was led into the main hall where the opening ceremony took place. Secretary Bjørn Haugstad from the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Education gave a speech and officially opened the new facility that became the seventh facility at the University of Bergen. The new facility is the result of a merger of Bergen National Academy of Arts and the Grieg Academy's Department of Music. The new facility will move into a distinctive new building, designed by the renowned Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta.

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon opens centre for job creation

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway opened "Kubatoren" today in the west Norwegian city of Haugesund. This will be a meeting place for Norwegian entrepreneurs and a centre for creating new jobs in a region that is heavily influenced by the decline of the oil industry.

Haugesund has long worked to put in place a creative environment in the city. Today they opened "Kubatoren" and the Crown Prince was the first one to take a look at the building. There are opportunities in several buildings and floors. Many local companies in the Haugesund municipality have worked hard to get it up and running in the recent months. Now they hope more businesses and more jobs to turn up, but they also believe this will help to create a more vibrant city centre. Not only the Crown Prince but also entrepreneurs from around the western part of Norway were invited to the opening.

Not only the Crown Prince but also entrepreneurs from around the western part of Norway were invited to the opening. The first stop on today's tour was a prototype workshop. Here the entrepreneurs can work to create prototypes with advanced tools, everything from a 3D printer to a laser cutter.

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon works to promote surfing as a professional sport

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon has been asked to sit on the committee that will plan the European Championships in surfing this year and in 2018. Today the committee gathered at their very first meeting to plan the European Championships. Crown Prince Haakon is himself an accomplished surfer and practices the sport as a hobby. Also, Danish Crown Prince Frederik is an active surfer.

In 2020, surfing will for the first time a branch during the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Long before that time, the European Championships will be held in Norway. The Championships for seniors will be held in 2017 and for the juniors in 2018. The Crown Prince recently agreed to sit on the Norwegian Sailing Federation surf Committee and the Committee for the European Championships.

It is expected that more than 15 countries will participate with 12 participants each, in addition to the public and media from a variety of countries. One of the things the committee will work on is the recruitment of volunteers for the event. Crown Prince has experience of preparing for these types of events, he has previously worked with the world championships in skiing in Oslo in 2011 and the Youth Olympics in Lillehammer last year. During the meeting, some of the first plans were submitted.

QuoteHer Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway visited Monsters Inc. yesterday. This is a company that hires people, who for various reasons, have difficulty getting a job in ordinary society. This may be former criminals, former addicts or people who for various reasons have not been at work for some time. Monsters Inc. is a contractor who performs various construction and demolition projects, asbestos removal, coring, heat treatment and various demolitions. Overall they have demolished more than 7500 bathrooms. Today, the company has offices in four Norwegian cities in eastern Norway and 40 employees.
Crown Princess Mette Marit visits Monsters Inc.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit visited the company in the district of Stovner in east Oslo. Here Monsters Inc. has a contract to demolish many bathrooms that will be renovated again. First, the Crown Princess was able to learn more about the business and what they do before she had the opportunity to talk to several of those who work for the company. After talking with the workers, the Crown Princess got to see one of the apartments where some workers were already in the process of tearing out a bathroom. After having been issued appropriate clothing and protective gear, Mette-Marit was able to see how it is to tear a bathroom out herself. The Crown Princess posted a picture of the visit on her Instagram profile later the same day.

Monsters Inc. is a company that the Crown Princess has met before. In 2014, Crown PriMette-Marit Marit presented the award "This Year's Social Entrepreneur" to the company at a ceremony in Oppland. The reason why Monsters Inc. received the award in 2014 was for their clear and robust core values. The people in this business are not monsters; they're the opposite. The workers not only tear down, but they build up.

QuoteQueen Sonja to visit France

Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway will visit France for a few days around 10 March. The Queen will attend the opening of the new Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré (CCC OD) in Tours, France, on 10 March 2017. The opening of the new centre will take place in a brand new building designed by the Portuguese architect Manuel Francisco Aires Mateus. In addition to being a centre for contemporary art through thirty years, CCC OD manages the legacy of the French artist Olivier Debré (1920-1999). Centre de Création Contemporaine Olivier Debré was opened in 1984 and was one of the very first created by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication. The centre will be more than 4,500 square meters in size.

The official opening of the new CCC OD will be marked by extensive exhibits in various ways related to Norway. The exhibition "Olivier Debré: a trip to Norway" presents the painter's works inspired by his many trips to the Kingdom of Norway. Many of these paintings come from different Norwegian collections. In addition, the works by several Norwegian artists are present in the exhibition, including Per Barclay, Thora Dolven Balke, Tiril Hasselknippe Ahmad Ghossein, Saman Kamyab, Ignas Krunglevicius, Kamilla Jensen, Lars Laumann, Solveig Lønseth, Ann Cathrin November Høibo, Linn Pedersen and AK Dolven.

QuoteKing Harald congratulates winners at skiing championships

This weekend, His Majesty King Harald of Norway attended the Norway championship for skiing. The ski teams 'Varden Meråker' and 'Lyn' won the gold medal for women and men on Sunday. His Majesty the King congratulated the winners when they finished. The relay for women was the day's first contest.

King Harald arrived at the Norwegian championship for skiing on Saturday and stayed until Sunday evening. The King watched Saturday's competitions from the Royal tribune with the President of the Norwegian skiing federation Erik Røste, County Governor Sigurd Tremoen and Mayor Willy Westhagen.Saturday night King Harald attended a dinner at Lygnasæter with several of those involved in the event.

Marit Bjørgen is perhaps one of the world's most famous female skiing-athletes. When she won, she visited the King. The king said to Bjørgen that he was very impressed. Bjørgen said to the press that the King was in good spirits, but was worried that she was going too fast, considering that it was early in the season. Bjørgen managed to calm the King down and said that she also had gone very fast on skis before she took gold in the Olympic Games in Vancouver in 2010.

QuoteCrown Princess Mette-Marit meets female entrepreneurs

Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, met female entrepreneurs yesterday at Skistua in Trondheim who "supply solar lamps, highly absorbent feed sheets and other solutions to the United Nations work in crisis areas," according to the Norwegian Royal Court.

The Crown Princess witnessed the signing, alongside Foreign Minister Børge Brende, of a new agreement between United Nations Women and Innovation Norway which aims to "ensure more such good and forward-looking solutions to strengthen women's health and position of developing countries" in line with the UN's sustainability goals and their global contribution, explained the Court. Before the signing, the leaders of innovative Norwegian businesses exhibited their solutions to Mette-Marit and those gathered.

QuoteNorwegian Crown Prince couple visit women's shelter on International Women's Day

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway marked International Women's Day on Wednesday, 8 March with a visit to Church City Mission prevention project Sister to Sister and a women's shelter in Trondheim.

The Crown Prince couple began their day at Sister to Sister – a project focused on preventing violence against women in minority communities through raising awareness. The belief behind the project is that women immigrants can play an active role in disseminating information and changing attitudes within their communities and environments.

The Sister to Sister program arms volunteers with the skills needed to provide support within their networks on issues related to forced marriage, domestic violence and genital mutilation. It also gives these women the tools needed to, in turn, provide knowledge and training to their peers in their native language. The Crown Prince and Princess learned about the program's positive results thus far, both in personal development for the volunteers and larger community impact.

QuoteState visit from Iceland to Norway next week

On the invitation of His Majesty King Harald of Norway, the President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson and his wife, Eliza Reid will make an official state visit to Norway next week. The state visit will take place from Tuesday through Thursday next week.

The state visit will start in Sentrum, Oslo. The President will be received in an official ceremony in front of the Royal Norwegian Castle by His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. The focus during the state visit will be aimed at cooperation between the two nations, Iceland and Norway's shared cultural heritage and how the work will take place in the future related to education, culture, research and innovation.

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon participates in major military exercise

His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, has, the last two days, participated in the international military exercise "Joint Viking" which takes place in northern Norway. The exercise aims to strengthen the military cooperation within NATO and between the Nordic nations.

The military exercise "Joint Viking" takes place from 6 to 15 March in an area stretching from Alta to Lakselv in the far north of Norway. The exercise takes place mostly along the Norwegian coast which is difficult to transport troops on. Here, it is an especially tough climate during the winter, and there are extremely long distances to transport soldiers and military equipment. This provides excellent opportunities to train military forces to tackle demanding tasks in demanding environments. This training is held every two years; the last time, in 2015, it was also held in northern Norway.

His Royal Highness got to meet many of the Norwegian soldiers participating in the exercise. He was also shown the battlefield by Norway's defence chief, Admiral Haakon Bruun-Hanssen.

QuoteState visit from Iceland to Norway starts tomorrow

On the invitation of His Majesty King Harald of Norway, the President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson and his wife, Eliza Reid will start their official state visit to Norway tomorrow. The state visit will take place from Tuesday through Thursday.

The state visit will start in downtown Oslo. The President will be received in an official ceremony in front of the Royal Norwegian Palace by His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. The focus during the state visit will be aimed at cooperation between the two nations, Iceland and Norway's shared cultural heritage and how the work will take place in the future related to education, culture, research and innovation.

After Iceland's president has been officially received by the King, His Majesty and President Johannesson will lay down a wreath at the Norwegian National Monument at Akershus Fortress. The President will also hold talks with the Norwegian Prime Minister and members of the Norwegian Parliament but in which the Norwegian Royal Family will not participate.

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit served insect cake

The Crown Prince couple of Norway visited the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) at Ås, just outside the capital of Oslo, on Thursday last week. During the display of the exhibition 'no insects – no food', Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette Marit and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon were offered food made from crickets, flour beetles and grasshoppers.

While the Crown Princess politely refused to eat food made from crickets and grasshoppers, the Crown Prince ate a slice of cake containing flour beetles during the visit. Brownies garnished with flour beetles did however not tempt Mette-Marit, but Haakon showed courage and tasted a slice of the insect-cake. His Royal Highness tasted the cake they got a briefing about how important insects are to take care of the Earth's biodiversity. Students explained that the insects are needed for a variety of purposes, such as food production and animal feed, but also as a future source of protein for humans.

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon to travel to Liberia with the UN

The Royal Norwegian Court has announced that His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon will conduct a four-day trip to Liberia next week as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations. The journey will start on Sunday and will last until Wednesday. The Crown Prince has been very involved in the work of the United Nations in the last few years and has conducted numerous trips to several parts of the world to highlight the important tasks that the United Nations performs.

In December of last year, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway conducted a three-day visit to New York. His Royal Highness visited New York to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This is an organisation that the Crown Prince supports, and he has been the organisation's goodwill ambassador since 2003. The UNDP has been fighting poverty worldwide for the last 50 years.

QuoteQueen Sonja on Svalbard to open a new art foundation

On Thursday, the Royal Standard of Norway was hoisted on Svalbard. Accompanied by the Norwegian Minister of Culture, Linda Hofstad Helleland, Her Majesty Queen Sonja opened a brand new arts foundation in Svalbard's main town of Longyearbyen on Thursday evening. The foundation has been named "Artica Svalbard." Arild Olsen, head of the local board on Svalbard, also participated in the official opening.

"A new place we can meet has now been created! I hope many artists in all art genres will have good working conditions and inspiring stays here – that both will come themselves, their community and, not least of all, for good," said Her Majesty in here opening speech.

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon visits Liberia to highlight poverty issues

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon concludes his four-day visit to Liberia today. The Crown Prince is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations and wanted with to highlight the poverty issues in Liberia this visit.  The Crown Prince has been very involved in the work of the United Nations in the last few years and has conducted numerous trips to several parts of the world to highlight the important tasks that the United Nations performs.

The Crown Prince has had an eventful visit to Liberia and has tried to meet as many as many locals as possible. The Crown Prince landed in Liberia's capital Sunday evening and was welcomed by a large crowd. He was greeted by representatives from the government, but also by ordinary people who had survived the Civil War, the Ebola virus and other humanitarian disasters.

One of the last events His Royal Highness attended before he left Liberia was a meeting with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. In 2003, she became the first democratically elected female head of state in Africa and in 2011, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In connection with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize, President Johnson Sirleaf was granted an audience with King Harald, and she also met Crown Prince Haakon.

QuoteKing Harald of Norway is invited to a state visit to China

His Majesty King Harald and Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway have been invited to conduct a state visit to China. The visit may take place in the autumn of 2018, if it is appropriate for the Chinese government, said Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg today to reporters.

This became evident when Prime Minister Erna Solberg met with the Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this Monday. "We are now working to find a date that suits both parties," said Solberg, and the Norwegian Royal Court has indicated that the fall of 2018 fits in the schedule for King Harald and Queen Sonja. There are parliamentary elections in Norway in the autumn of 2017; therefore, no state visits to Norway are planned during that time. It is likely that the King and Queen will not travel on any more state visits this year to not steal attention from the upcoming elections.

Quote
King Harald delayed for two hours due to snow storm

His Majesty King Harald of Norway visited several places in southern Norway today, but the journey took an unexpected turn when the King was about to start his journey to Kristiansand earlier in the day. During the night, eastern Norway and the Norwegian interior were hit by a significant snowstorm. The snowstorm also affected His Majesty's schedule.

It is common for the Norwegian Royal Family to travel by regular flights when they visit places in Norway. The King was expected to leave Oslo's main airport Gardermoen on Monday morning, but slippery runways and bad visibility grounded all planes. The King's aircraft was not allowed to go to Kristiansand Airport.

The weather did not get any better resulting in the King arriving very late. For almost two hours, His Majesty sat at the airport and waited for the weather to improve. Finally, the Armed Forces were forced to set up transportation and flew the King with a military transport plane to southern Norway, which in stark contrast to Eastern Norway today is characterised by sunshine and high temperatures.

QuoteKing Harald celebrated the 100th of Lions Club International

His Majesty King Harald of Norway participated today in the 100th anniversary of the Lions Club International. King Harald is Lions Norway's royal patron. In this regard, the King attended an event in Oslo, which was a collaboration between Lions Norway and the organisation "Young in Norway."

His Majesty met several children with different personal backgrounds. Together, with these children, King Harald took a boat trip from Lohavn Harbour in Oslo to Bygdøy. The trip took about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The event is a part of a boat trip that will go from Oslo to Bergen to put the spotlight on children and youth which has grown up in a challenging environment; many are minor asylum seekers. These children will also take part as the crew on the boat.

For more than an hour before the King arrived at Bygdøy, the celebration had taken place. Many children attended and were served ice cream, sausages and soda by members of Lions Norway. There were also organised activities for the children.

QuoteCrown Princess Mette-Marit opens this year's literature train

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit started her literature tour yesterday. This year, the Crown Princess went with the literature train from her home, Asker, to Kristiansand, the city the Crown Princess is originally from. The train will have many stops and will arrive in southern Norway's largest city on Friday.

This is the fourth year in a row that the Crown Princess arranged the literature train to set the focus on literature. During the journey, the train will stop in several places. Along the way from Asker to Kristiansand, the literary train stops at Bø, Gjerstad and Vennesla. In addition, there will be an evening event in Dypvåg Church outside Tvedestrand on Thursday evening.

During the opening of the tour yesterday, the Crown Princess gave a speech. Her Royal Highness said, "It was natural for us to create a theme that is about coming home. I travel from one home to another. From Asker to Kristiansand. On the way we will meet authors who have written about this subject in different ways. And not at least, we will have to reflect on what that creates a home, where and what it is for each of us – and how it affects us as humans."

QuoteKing Harald celebrated the 100th of Lions Club International

His Majesty King Harald of Norway participated today in the 100th anniversary of the Lions Club International. King Harald is Lions Norway's royal patron. In this regard, the King attended an event in Oslo, which was a collaboration between Lions Norway and the organisation "Young in Norway."

His Majesty met several children with different personal backgrounds. Together, with these children, King Harald took a boat trip from Lohavn Harbour in Oslo to Bygdøy. The trip took about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The event is a part of a boat trip that will go from Oslo to Bergen to put the spotlight on children and youth which has grown up in a challenging environment; many are minor asylum seekers. These children will also take part as the crew on the boat.

QuoteHKH Crown Princess Mette-Marit was present at the Oslo municipality's annual Christmas dinner this evening, for guests associated with the Salvation Army, Church Town Mission, Blue Cross, Fatthus and various care and rehabilitation centers.

QuoteCrown Prince at the NHO Annual Conference

One of the country's most important conferences is taking place in Oslo today: It is the theme for NHO's annual conference. The "Value of Work" is the main theme this time.

QuoteLater in the evening, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess also attend the NHO's traditional year-round dinner in Oslo Spektrum

QuoteEarly Wednesday morning a statement was published announcing that His Majesty King Harald of Norway had assembled the government to an extraordinary state council at the royal palace in Oslo and it was announced that Crown Prince Haakon was also going to attend. The remarkable state council was held today at 14:00 and is the result of a long-standing political process in Norway.

King Harald has now officially approved a new government that will rule Norway over the next four years. Erna Solberg, leader of the Norwegian Conservative Party, continues as Prime Minister, but now with a government consisting of three parties. In addition to the Progress Party, the Liberals have also entered into the Norwegian government.

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway (@CrownPrincessMM) are in Davos for the World Economic Forum seen below yesterday. Photo copyright by World Economic Forum / Walter Duerst

QuoteThe Royal Court of Norway have announced that Crown Prince Haakon and his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit will be visiting the three Baltic states in April. The royal couple will visit Latvia on the 23rd and Lithuania on the 24th, before two final days in Estonia on the 25th & 26th April. With the visits, the couple are combining celebrations for the centenary of the states, with enhancing the close ties that Norway has with them, both commercially and security-wise through NATO

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon of Norway will be travelling to Austin, Texas, USA, on the 13th and 14th of March for the South by Southwest Conference (SxSW).

His Royal Highness will be travelling together with several Norwegian founders, tech companies and members of the Norwegian music industry. There, he will speak to those assembled, view exhibitions and meet Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Austin?s Mayor Steve Adler.

Norway?s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said that the ?purpose of the Crown Prince?s visit is to provide a good and visible profile of Norwegian companies in a global arena. SxSW has become a showcase for some of the world?s most innovative companies and new technology in interaction with creative environments.?

?For Norwegian players and startup companies, it is a unique opportunity to showcase some of Norway?s leading focus areas and industries,? they added in a press release.

While in Texas, Crown Prince Haakon will deliver a speech regarding the Norwegian ecosystem for startup companies with the aim of introducing the ?Nordic model and what motivates Norwegians to start their own companies

QuoteOn Saturday, Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway was confirmed in a downscaled ceremony in Asker Church. The grand celebration originally planned had to be scaled back due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, the day was celebrated by the Norwegian people and the Norwegian Royal Family.

Sverre Magnus has, this year, followed the confirmation teaching in Asker parish, and the confirmation service, therefore, took place in Asker Church. After the confirmation service, a smaller, private dinner was held at the Skaugum Estate.

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon, Regent of Norway, has visited the former Falstad prison camp in Tr?ndelag. During the visit to Falstad, Crown Prince Haakon met three school students from Trondheim and students from Ole Vig upper secondary school in Stj?rdal. The middle school students are all descendants of prisoners who were imprisoned at the Falstad camp.

His Royal Highness said during the visit: ?It is great that young people can come here and relive history. That way we are reminded of what freedom costs, because there were many who sacrificed a lot for us to have that freedom. We can not take our freedom for granted.?

QuoteKing Harald has issued a statement after a massive landslide close to the Norwegian capital, Oslo, in the early hours of December 30th 2020. Just hours after the accident took place, His Majesty wrote:

?The night?s landslide in Gjerdrum has made a deep impression on me and my family. My thoughts are with everyone who is affected, injured, has lost their home and who now lives in fear and uncertainty about the full extent of the disaster. In a situation that is still confusing, I send a sincere hope and my warmest concern to all those affected by the disaster. I would also like to thank all the emergency services, the municipalities in the immediate area and volunteers for their great efforts under very demanding conditions.?

It was early on Wednesday morning that a large mudslide occurred in Gjerdurum, outside the capital Oslo. There are children among the 15 people who have not been accounted for, said the police at a press conference. A Swedish crisis team has been sent to Gjerdrum from Gothenburg to assist the Norwegians.

More than 1,500 residents in the area are being evacuated and police are looking for survivors. Throughout the day, the landslide has continued and houses have collapsed with some falling into ruin as live TV cameras filmed them. It is the largest and most serious accident of its kind in Norway in over 30 years. Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Minister of Justice Monica M?land visited the area while the landslide is still going on. More than 100 people from ambulances and the military are now working in the area to search for survivors.

QuoteKing Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon have marked the beginning of the new Norwegian royal year in a sad way. The three royals visited the people of Gjerdrum after the catastrophic quick clay landslide that started on December 30th 2020. So far, seven people have been confirmed dead, while three people are still missing. Another ten people are injured and still more than 1.000 are evacuated in the fear that the landslide may continue.

The royal couple and Crown Prince Haakon travelled to the affected area on January 3rd 20221 and met evacuees and relatives, as well as representatives of municipalities and emergency services who have worked continuously since the landslide in parts of the city of Ask in Gjerdrum. The royal couple praised emergency services and volunteers.

To the press after the visit His Majesty the King said: ?We have had a moving day behind us. I have trouble finding things to say, because this is absolutely awful.?

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon of Norway has participated in a digital meeting with the team that will lead the Norwegian efforts in the United Nations Security Council for the next two years. From the Skaugum Estate in Norway, Crown Prince Haakon attended the digital meeting on January 6th 2021 with the Norwegian UN team in New York and Foreign Minister, Ine Eriksen S?reide, in Oslo. Earlier in the day, the Foreign Minister had made her first speech to the Security Council.

In the meeting His Royal Highness said: ?I hope you are ready for the tasks that await you. Now the real work begins. International cooperation is important, and through the United Nations, we have the opportunity to find solutions that make people?s lives better. In addition, for the UN to function, the countries that believe in the organization must take their share of the work. Norway is ready to do that now.?

The Security Council is the UN?s supreme body for international peace, stability and security. Through the UN Charter, the Security Council has the power to impose sanctions or military action, and all 193 UN member states must comply with the Council?s decisions.

QuoteThough King Harald and Queen Sonja are marking 30 years on the throne this year, there?s another anniversary in Norway to commemorate as well: Crown Prince Haakon?s 30 years as the heir apparent to the throne.

Born on 20 July 1973, Haakon has been destined for the Norwegian throne since birth, as absolute primogeniture had not yet taken effect in Norway until 1990 (otherwise, his older sister, Princess M?rtha Louise, would have been the heir). In his early years, Haakon attended royal functions only as necessary, but as he became the Crown Prince of Norway in 1991, his role and responsibilities have increased.

Only 17 when his father ascended to the throne, Haakon began the traditional royal route for an heir to the throne: military service and higher education. He joined the Royal Norwegian Navy and studied at the Norwegian Naval Academy before spending a year at sea aboard missile torpedo boats and other naval vessels. His current military ranks are Admiral in the Royal Norwegian Navy; and General in both the Norwegian Army and the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

Haakon attended the University of California in Berkley, graduating in 1999 with a political science degree, and followed that up with coursework at the University of Oslo and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (taking the civil servant introductory course) in 2001. He was also a trainee with the Norwegian delegation to the United Nations, and in 2003, he received a Masters of Science in Development Studies, focusing on international trade and Africa, from the London School of Economics.

QuoteFrom the harbour close to Oslo City Hall, Crown Prince Haakon opened the digital event ?The Seafood Days? but added his own surprise. During the event, on January 19th 2021, the Crown Prince walked down to the harbour from the Royal Palace to make a surprise visit to the fishing boats who are anchored there. There, the Crown Prince met several of the various shrimp boats and fishermen who sell fish on the quay daily. Fish has traditionally been an extremely important Norwegian export product.

At the harbour Crown Prince Haakon talked to fisherman, Sigurd-Andre Kristoffersen, who is the skipper of the shrimp trawler ?Vikingen?. As one of the approximately 92,000 people working in the seafood industry in Norway, he was able to tell about his experiences over the past year. For someone who usually docks in Oslo and sells shrimp and other delicacies from the sea directly to tourists and the population of Oslo, he has also noticed the effects of the pandemic.

In his opening speech the Crown Prince said: ?Norway is a nation of harbours. We have always lived in, and from, what nature has given us. It has helped to give us today?s prosperity and wealth. This can also be the case in the future, if we manage to collaborate and contribute to global, sustainable solutions. That is why you play a key role in the seafood industry in Norway?s future?.

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon has commemorated the murder of Benjamin Hermansen, twenty years after his racial killing shocked Norway. The Crown Prince sent a digital message on the 20th anniversary of his death.

Benjamin Hermansen was killed in the infamous ?Holmila-murder? on January 26 in 2001. He was just 15 years old and he was killed because he was black. Two Norwegian neo-Nazis were later convicted of the murder. Benjamin?s death had a deep impact across Norway and is considered to have had a major effect the on the Norwegian anti-racism movement.

Despite strict infection control measures, several hundred candles had been lit by a bust of the killed 15-year-old which has been erected at the place where he was killed. The Crown Prince wanted to participate in person in the commemoration but due to the strict infection control rules he had to take part remotely. In his digital message, Crown Prince Haakon said: ?I want to thank all of you who every day stand up for a better society. A society that is safe and inclusive for all.?

The murder of Benjamin made a deep impression on an entire nation. Following the murder in 2001, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Martha Louise, along with many thousands of others, took part in torchlight processions through the streets of Oslo to commemorate the young boy and to show that Norway will not accept racism and violence. More than 40.000 people participated in the torchlight procession in 2001. In 2002, Crown Prince Haakon met Marit Hermansen, Benjamin?s mother.

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon of Norway has met four Norwegian sailors on board ships around the world in a digital chat to show his support for their ongoing work. His Royal Highness wanted to thank the many Norwegian sailors who work every day to ensure that essential goods are transported during the ongoing pandemic.

About 80 % of the world?s retail trade is transported by sea. Crown Prince Haakon also met with representatives of the seafarers? organizations and the shipping industry during the digital voyage. His Royal Highness said to the sailors: ?Thank you for your efforts to keep society and the vessels going.

Director Harald Solberg of the Norwegian Shipowners? Association began the meeting by talking about how crucial ships are for us all to get what we need in everyday life, for industry and for energy production at sea. The Norwegian fleet is the world?s fourth largest in value and Norwegian shipping companies operate about 1800 ships and rigs worldwide.

QuoteHis Royal Highness Crown Prince Regent Haakon of Norway has sent a digital greeting to the Norwegian Farmers? Association, thanking the organisation for 125 years of protecting Norwegian agriculture and suitable working conditions for farmers. In his message, Crown Prince Haakon emphasised his thanks to the association for providing short-haul food of high quality during the pandemic and for Norwegian farmers contributing to increased food security.

His Royal Highness said: ?Thank you for taking environmental considerations into account and are concerned with managing our resources in a good way. Thank you for your tenacity and perseverance which is absolutely necessary for farming under demanding conditions. Thank you for your creativity, which we constantly see examples of in the development of new additional industries and adjustment to new times.?

The Norwegian royal family has been linked to agriculture since 1905 through the Bygd? royal farm and the Skaugum farm. During a visit to farmers in Stokke in Vestfold last autumn, Crown Prince Haakon met farmers who had been affected by the pandemic. The Crown Prince visited a vegetable packing plant and two farms to hear how the agricultural industry has experienced the corona situation.

QuoteOn Sunday last week, Crown Princess Mette Marit shared some news in a fresh post on Instagram. She confirmed that she has been a guest in a well-known Norwegian podcast. This is the Crown Princess? very first assignment alone in almost a year. The last time the Crown Princess did an assignment all alone was when she visited the activity house in Sandvika on 27 February last year.

In the picture published by Her Royal Highness we get to see the actor, podcaster and stand-up comedian Else K?ss Furuseth. Else K?ss Furuseth also shared an update on her profile where she made it clear that she and the Crown Princess recorded an episode of Furuseth?s popular podcast.

Her Royal Highness has had several assignments with the Crown Prince, but that the Crown Princess has assignments on her own is not particularly common due to her lung disease. The Crown Princess? participation in the podcast was not in the royal court?s public calendar, nor is it known at this time what the two were talking about or when the episode will be published.

Quoteor seven days, The goal was to capture the Queen of Norway?s attention in an attempt to invite her to this year?s music festival in Hardanger. It was a tired, but happy, group that arrived at the final destination of the trip, the Royal Palace, on March 12th, a full week after setting off. In the recent days, the group has encountered most of what a Norwegian winter can offer, everything from glorious sun to strong winds and snow.

Due to infection control rules, it was unfortunately not possible for the skiers to meet the Queen in person. Rather, they were invited to a Facetime conversation with the Queen. Following the talk the Queen suddenly appeared in one of the castle?s windows, opened the window and waved to the skiers and all the others who had turned up at the Castle Square that day.

The group also had some gifts for the Queen. Among other things, she was gifted one of the last skis that was produced at the old Utne ski factory in Hardanger. On the ski, the names of everyone who had taken part in the salute march were engraved. The Queen was also presented with an invitation to the Hardanger Music Festival, which kicks off later this year.

QuoteHis Royal Highness the Crown Prince thanked war veterans and contemporaries for the efforts they made for Norway during World War II. In his speech the Crown Prince said: ?What we are gathered for here today is first and foremost about two things: The most important thing is to thank you. On behalf of the Royal Family and the entire Norwegian people, I would like to say thank you for everything you have given, for everything you have sacrificed, so that we can live in a free country. The second is to give you, and ourselves, a promise that we who did not experience the war ourselves will tell the stories of it further. Not just as knowledge of the past, but as a living value discussion about what these stories mean to us today, so we will never forget what thousands of people in our country have suffered and sacrificed their lives for.?

QuoteAfter a period marked by illness and absence, King Harald of Norway is back at work full time. On Monday, His Majesty attended an event at the football club V?lerenga. Tuesday also turned out to be a hectic day for the 84-year-old monarch. The King hosted lunch at the Royal Palace before attending an award ceremony later that day.

It is a tradition that the King and Queen invite new ambassadors to lunch, but due to the global health crisis and strict infection control rules, it has not been possible to carry out such events at the Palace. His Majesty the King held a lunch on Tuesday afternoon for new foreign ambassadors who will serve in Norway. This was the first major event held at the palace in over a year and a half.

King Harald received the ambassadors with companions in the Mirror Hall, while lunch was served in the Great Banquet Hall. The guests sat at round tables, and three dishes were served which consisted of sashimi of salmon and scallops with small tomatoes, tomato broth and coriander oil, halibut with tatlete, mushrooms, spinach, potatoes, leeks and butter sauce with caviar. For dessert, there were mullets with pistachio and caramel ice cream.

Tuesday evening His Majesty the King was present at the annual meeting of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences in Oslo where four prizes were awarded. At the annual meeting, the Academy?s new members also received their diplomas. King Harald is honorary president of the Academy. Three researchers each received a diploma and a reward of NOK 75,000 from the chairman of the board of the Nansen Foundation, Professor ?yvind ?sterud.

QuoteKing Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway were joined by Crown Prince Haakon on Monday as they performed the State Opening of the Norwegian Parliament, Storting, in the country?s capital, Oslo. This was King Harald?s 29th State Opening that he has presided over as King of Norway and was the 166th time that the Norwegian parliament has officially opened.

Military forces from the Navy, Air Force and ground defence, as well as the King?s Guard, took their place on the parade street, which runs between the Royal Palace and the Parliament in plenty of time before the opening took place. The roads were also decorated with Norwegian flags and thousands of spectators.

QuoteKing Harald of Norway has approved the new Norwegian government after Prime Minister Erna Solberg?s Conservative Party was ousted from power during the recent elections.

On Tuesday of this week, King Harald held a number of audiences at the Royal Palace in Oslo. Prime Minister Erna Solberg expressed a wish to the King to resign after she lost the parliamentary elections in September. King Harald then accepted the decision.

Furthermore, opposition leader Jonas G. St?re of the Labour Party was called in for an audience with His Majesty and asked to form a new government that could be submitted for royal approval. On Thursday, the new government was formed, and incoming Prime Minister St?re applied for an audience with the King.

On Thursday morning, St?re arrived at the palace for an audience with the King and the Crown Prince. In the audience, St?re presented his proposal for a new government, which then received the King?s approval. Shortly afterwards, all the new ministers were summoned by King Harald to the Royal Palace for an audience where the first Council of State was held with the new government. The government is a minority government consisting of the Centre Party in cooperation with the Labour Party.

St?re takes over from a conservative government that has ruled Norway for the past eight years. St?re has previous experience as Foreign Minister (2005-2012) in the government of former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, the current Secretary-General of NATO.

QuoteKing Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway have opened a new art museum in Oslo dedicated to a famous Norwegian artist, Edvard Munch.

The King and Queen were joined by Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit for the opening of the MUNCH Museum. The opening ceremony took place outside on Edvard Munch Square, where the King spoke, and the Queen cut the ceremonial ribbon.

His Majesty spoke of Edvard Munch during his remarks and how those across the globe feel a connection to his art. The King elaborated on Munch?s artistic side and his work, saying: ?He belongs to all of us. We can see ourselves in our encounters with his trail-blazing works ? our own light and dark sides. He strips away all that is unnecessary and hones in on the essence of human life: Love and angst. Joy and sorrow. Life and death.?

Quote

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the first Queen Sonja School Award ? an honour instigated and named after the Queen of Norway.

Queen Sonja has been present at all the award ceremonies over the past 15 years, with Thursday being no different, as Her Majesty awarded the 2021 prize to Sandnessj?en upper secondary school in the Nordland region.

The Queen was received by the school?s principal, Arne T?mmervold, and student council leader, Ida Olsen-Dahlen. Students from the school stood on either side of the entrance to welcome the Queen to the town of Sandnessj?en and to the school.

Before the award ceremony began, Her Majesty undertook a tour of the school. The Queen visited a class where she met with the students. Her Majesty also visited 15 students who are taking ambulance courses and who will go into practice now before Christmas. The students demonstrated what actions they take if they have to attend to a patient with chest pain.

The school works closely with local businesses to secure apprenticeships for its vocational students. The jury for the school award emphasised that it helps to counteract dropouts and ensure that more people succeed and become skilled workers. The Queen and her entourage also received a presentation about the school environment and participation in the MOT program, which is there to combat bullying. Each morning, the school?s 450 students are welcomed on the steps by environmental worker Ken Pettersen.

The award ceremony took place in Stamneshallen, which is next door to the school. The prize itself consists of 250.000 Norwegian krone and a print made by the Queen herself. This year, 19 schools from across the country were nominated for the Queen Sonja School Award. The Queen gave a speech in which she praised the school and the students and emphasised the importance of the vocational subjects.

Her Majesty the Queen said: ?This year?s prize winner is a worthy winner, it is stated in the jury?s reasoning and highlights a number of areas where Sandnessj?en upper secondary school excels: Good and comprehensive collaboration with the primary school on the transition from lower secondary school; Support for apprentices and students who have not previously passed all subjects; Systematic cooperation with the home; Strategies for students with high learning potential; Real student participation; Student representation. Security and well-being are fundamental to running a good school and Sandnessj?en upper secondary school has taken great responsibility for inclusion and integration in our society?.
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King Harald of Norway has developed cold symptoms just hours after it was confirmed he had come into contact with someone who later tested positive for coronavirus.

King Harald, who turns 85 next month, is now on sick leave. In a brief statement, the Royal Court said he would be away from his duties for the ?next few days? while tests and examinations are carried out.

Just hours before the statement, issued on January 28th 2022, it was confirmed that the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Anniken Huitfeldt, had tested positive for Covid soon after a meeting with King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon. The minister had tested negative before the meeting but tested again soon after leaving the gathering after developing a headache. The second test was positive.

Crown Prince Haakon has since tested negative for Covid and will act as Regent. He will participate in a cabinet meeting that King Harald was due to attend.

QuoteIt was hoped that the King of Norway would go back to work today following his cold, but his sick leave and thus the regency of Crown Prince Haakon have been extended to the end of this week. This means that the Crown Prince Regent will lead the Council of State on Friday and that he will therefore appoint the new Governor of the Bank of Norway, a position about which there has been much speculation as former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, the current Secretary-General of NATO, is one of the candidates. (The real decision will of course not be made by the Regent but by the cabinet). (Photo: J?rgen Gomn?s/the royal court) See less

Quote from: Curryong on February 03, 2022, 04:01:56 AM
I hope the King feels better soon. He?s overcome several health conditions over the last couple of decades, some serious, some not so much. However, he always appears to me to be a man with a great love of life and his basic constitution is good. Hope he remains on the Norwegian throne for many years yet.

QuoteKing Harald of Norway?s sick leave has been extended for a second time.

The decision was announced late on February 6th 2022. It means that Crown Prince Haakon will take over the king?s duties between February 7th and 9th 2022 as acting regent of the Kingdom of Norway. King Harald?s next expected engagement will be on February 10th 2022 when he is set to receive the Foreign Minister, Anniken Huitfeldt, from the Labour Party in an audience.

King Harald has been on sick leave since January 28th 2022 when he developed mild cold symptoms. The announcement came the day after Anniken Huitfeldt had tested positive for coronavirus just hours after an audience with the King, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon. King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon had to undergo testing themselves.On 29 January, Queen Sonja opened the exhibition ?State of the Art? by Bj?rn Ransve at Haugar Art Museum in T?nsberg. Then, she gave an update on the King?s health situation to the press. Her Majesty revealed that King Harald had tested negative for COVID-19.

QuoteSkiing has always been important to the Norwegian royal family. It has been an important part of Norwegian cultural heritage for over 1,500 years. King Harald, like his father and grandfather, is very interested in skiing and often shows up to watch the Norwegian athletes both in Norway and abroad.

King Harald was present this weekend during the World Cup in biathlon in Holmenkollen, just outside the Norwegian capital of Oslo. There he also handed out the Holmenkoll-medal to four Norwegian athletes who for many years have enjoyed great sporting achievements.

QuoteKing Harald of Norway has tested positive for coronavirus.

The Norwegian Royal Court confirmed that the king, who is 85, has the virus on the morning of Tuesday March 22nd 2022.

In a statement, it was stated that King Harald tested positive on March 22nd. The monarch is experiencing mild symptoms and will take sick leave for several days as well as observing all necessary isolation measures.

Crown Prince Haakon will take over the king?s constitutional duties.

King Harald made several public appearances in the past few days as he attended the skiing World Cup in Holmenkollen.

Quote

King Harald of Norway has extended his sick leave after contracting COVID-19 last week.

The King of Norway was scheduled to return to royal duties on Thursday, 21 March; however, this did not occur.

The head of communications at the Norwegian Royal Court informed the Norwegian press that the King was still on sick leave. No further comments have been made.

King Harald was set to receive the Foreign Minister in an audience, with Queen Sonja also present. The monarch was also scheduled for several events on Thursday, but the calendar for 31 March was updated to show that Crown Prince Haakon would take over the King?s constitutional duties.

When the Royal Court announced that His Majesty had COVID, they said that the King had mild symptoms and would be on sick leave for the next few days.

It was also stated later that the King and Queen of Norway would no longer be able to attend the memorial service for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on 29 March.

QuoteAfter two years of pandemic restrictions, the public was finally able to participate in the celebration of the Norwegian Liberation and Veterans Day.

Nevertheless, the war in Ukraine left its mark on the day that was commemorated on May 8th 2022 with both His Majesty King Harald and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon present. The royals were present during the main celebration at Akerhus Fortress in the capital of Oslo. The day was celebrated in all Norwegian cities.

Several thousand spectators had turned up at the fortress to see the royals. At the fortress there was an open day with stands, gun salutes, concerts and wreath-laying. The day ended with medal awards and a main ceremony in the presence of King Harald.

QuoteLater in the morning, the Crown Prince Family joined King Harald and Queen Sonja in Oslo at the Royal Palace for another children?s parade. The Royal Family appeared on the balcony to watch the parade as ?The King?s Song? and ?Yes, we love? were played before the children walked past the royals.

The Royal Court reported that a record 130 schools took part this year in the parade, with an estimated 60,000 children carrying small Norwegian flags and waving to the Royal Family. Children from H?ybr?ten and Slemdal schools led the parade as their schools were marking their 100th anniversaries this year.

QuoteAfter a break of three years, caused by the pandemic, the stage was again set for an informal football match at the home of the Norwegian Crown Prince and Princess, Skaugum. On June 13 2022, the family held their traditional game at their home in Asker.

Crown Prince Haakon was captain of a team consisting of Norwegian celebrities. This year the team was joined by the professional football players Caroline Graham Hansen and Erling Braut Haaland. Former professional football player Alfie Haalan also participated.

As usual, Crown Princess Mette Marit, Princess Ingrid and Prince Sverre Magnus also took part in the football match. The opponents were as usual the team ?Vivil IL? which showed up with 24 players. This is a sports team with the purpose of involving those with learning, education and psychological development needs, run in Asker, B?rum and Oslo.

QuoteWalking Princess Ingrid Alexandra into the dinner is Prime Minister Jonas St?re.

Tonight?s dinner is hosted by the Government of Norway.

Quote from: TudorQueen on June 18, 2022, 04:27:09 AM
@Curryong Mette seems to like the little ones. Shame as the Vifte and the Maude pearl are both delicate but have a bit more pressence.

It seems both her and Mathilde chose their smallest, perhaps to let the girls shine on debut. In contrast to Max who while yes she wore the smaller setting to the tiara, the Stuart is still a big gun.

Quote from: TLLK on June 18, 2022, 07:51:11 PM
I was so excited to see the posted. While I was expecting a family and group photo,  I hadn't considered a photo of the young future heirs together.  Delighted that petite Charles was there too.
While Estelle is too young for a tiara,  her headband is a lovely accessory.  She looks tickled pink to be included with I-A, C-A and Elisabeth.  Would have loved to have seen Leonor with them as well.

Quote from: TLLK on June 18, 2022, 07:51:11 PM
I was so excited to see the posted. While I was expecting a family and group photo,  I hadn't considered a photo of the young future heirs together.  Delighted that petite Charles was there too.
While Estelle is too young for a tiara,  her headband is a lovely accessory.  She looks tickled pink to be included with I-A, C-A and Elisabeth.  Would have loved to have seen Leonor with them as well.

Quote from: Curryong on June 19, 2022, 12:13:10 AM
It was a lovely and historic photo. I thought all the girls looked delighted to be there with each other and young Charles didn?t mind it either! There was some criticism elsewhere online that Elizabeth Brabant looked as if she was on her way to another sort of event by wearing the gown she did, but I didn?t feel that at all. She?s a lovely and stylish young woman (have noted that since her early teens) and after all this was a girl?s eighteenth birthday celebration not a Coronation.

As for Leonor, her presence would have just been the icing on the cake. Again, there was speculation elsewhere as to why King Felipe had turned up alone, with talk that Leti doesn?t like these all-royal gatherings too much (especially when a lot have family links.) I hope that isn?t true but Leonor could have and should have been there iMO (especially as Felipe is I-A?s godfather) and made it a quintet of future Queen regnants.

As usual my biggest bugbear is that no BRF members turned up.  It?s one of my main moans as you know but I really think it is notably sad that Charles and Camilla didn?t make the effort to mix with fellow royals, but it?s just become par for the course for that family to hold itself apart.

Quote

King Harald V is in a stable condition in hospital after developing a fever.

In a brief statement, the Royal Court said ?His Majesty the King was today admitted to Oslo University Hospital for the investigation of fever. His condition is stable.?

No further details were given.

The King of Norway was last seen in public at a sailing competition last week. Along with the rest of his family, he has had a low public profile in recent weeks as the summer holidays continue.

Harald V, who turned 85 earlier this year, has ruled Norway since 1991.

Quotehe King of Norway is being treated in hospital for an infection.

Harald V will remain at Oslo University Hospital for ?several days? while he receives intravenous antibiotics for the condition.

His condition is described as stable.

King Harald, who is 85, was taken to hospital on August 4th 2022 after becoming ill with a fever that required further investigation. Doctors have now confirmed it was caused by an infection that needs hospital treatment.

A brief statement from the Royal Court confirmed that ?His Majesty the King has been diagnosed with an infection that must be treated with intravenous antibiotics and will therefore remain at?.hospital for a few days.?

The king?s next scheduled engagement is on August 12th 2022.

QuoteKing Harald V of Norway has been discharged from hospital where he was treated for three days for an infection.

The King of Norway left Oslo University Hospital on August 8th 2022 and was said by royal officials to be in good health now.

King Harald, who is 85, spent several days receiving intravenous antibiotics to deal with the unspecified infection.

QuoteKing Harald and Queen Sonja will host a gala dinner for the diplomatic corps, with Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Astrid in attendance.

QuoteKing Harald of Norway has attended the celebration of Sami National Day at the Oslo City Hall.

Five hundred guests were in attendance at the event, which has been a tradition in Oslo since 2003 to celebrate the indigenous group in Norway who has faced challenges in preserving their history and cultural identity.

The day began with the Sami flag being raised in the courtyard of the town hall while the national anthem, ?S?mi soga l?vlla,? was played on the town hall?s carillon.

King Harald was greeted by Mayor Marianne Borgen, Ann Finnborg of the 6 February committee, a representative of the Sami parliament, and Aili Guttorm, general manager of the House of the Sami People, upon his arrival at Oslo City Hall.

Tatjana Kolpus and Aina Madelen Aslaksen hosted the celebration that featured performances by kindergarten children and students from the Sami school in Oslo.

QuoteKing Harald of Norway has honoured Norwegian veterans at an event organised by the Norwegian Veterans? Association for International Operations (NVIO).

The King, who is patron of the organisation, discussed the importance of peer support and the skills veterans acquired during their time in the military.

The meeting was attended by around 60 delegates from across Norway. The NVIO President Ole Asbj?rn Fauske spoke of the importance of individual veterans? competence. With over 62,000 surviving veterans in Norway, the skills and expertise they have acquired during their service can be utilised in many contexts, which is a valuable asset that the country can use.

Norway has a rich history of military engagement in international operations, and the Norwegian Veterans? Association for International Operations plays a vital role in supporting the veterans who have served in these operations.

QuoteKing Harald V of Norway has been admitted to the Rikshospitalet in Oslo.

The king has been diagnosed with an infection that needs to be treated in hospital and he will remain there for several days.

The Royal Court in Oslo says that His Majesty?s condition is stable.

The King of Norway was due to be at Akershus fortress on Monday afternoon to mark the Day of Atonement and National Veterans Day. Crown Prince Haakon will take over that role.

King Harald is scheduled to receive Italian President Sergio Mattarella on a state visit to Norway later this week. It is not clear yet whether he will be able to carry out those engagements.

QuoteCrown Prince Haakon has stepped in for his ill father on Liberation Day.

King Harald was unfortunately ill during this year?s Liberation Day, but Crown Prince Haakon was ready to take over the task of participating in the ceremonies. The Norwegian monarch was admitted to hospital on 8 May. The King has been diagnosed with an infection that needs to be treated in hospital and will remain there for several days.

The King of Norway was due to be at Akershus Fortress to mark the Day of Atonement and National Veterans Day. However, due to his illness, he could not attend, and the Crown Prince participated in his place. Crown Prince Haakon has proven to be a worthy representative of Norway on previous occasions, and his participation on Liberation Day shows that the Norwegian Royal Family stands together and continues to carry out its duties despite challenges.

QuoteThe Royal Court issued an update the following day saying that the King was still in hospital but recovering; however, he would be on sick leave for the rest of the week.

As such, Crown Prince Regent Haakon will take over the King?s planned programme for this week, which includes the planned state visit from Italy.

While Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were marking the 10th anniversary of the Asker football street team, the heir to the throne answered some press questions about his father?s health.

His Royal Highness said: ?Fortunately, his condition is going well. He is recovering and will probably be in the hospital for a few more days. We are happy that he is recovering. He is, of course, upset that he won?t be able to join the state visit from Italy this week, but the rest of us will try to accommodate as best we can. So I think it will probably go well. Then we can hope he recovers relatively quickly. He is recovering well. So we hope so.?

Another important event is just a week away ? Norway?s National Day. According to tradition, the Royal Family will wave to the Children?s Parade in Oslo from the palace balcony. However, the Crown Prince does not know whether the King will be well enough to greet the people on National Day.

The Crown Prince remarked: ?He must take the time it takes to recover. So that is our first priority. I think he himself certainly hopes to be back by 17 May, but we have to follow the doctors? recommendation. He just has to take the time it takes.?

It is well known that there is a lower threshold for admitting King Harald, 86, to hospital, than other people. His Majesty has been hospitalised several times in recent years. The most recent time was also for an infection.

QuoteKing Harald of Norway has been released from the Hospital after a week long stay for an infection.

The palace has said the King & doctors will decide tomorrow if King Harald is well enough to participate in National Day celebrations on Wednesday.

QuoteThe Norway Palace has announced that King Harald is feeling well enough to participate in tomorrow?s National Day (Constitution Day) celebrations.

Quote from: TudorQueen on May 18, 2023, 07:43:09 PM
Relieved to see the king out of the hospital and able to take part in the festivities  :flower3:

Also happy not to see Ingrid. Yes she is a royal and future queen but its good they get to enjoy some normalcy in their student days as well. Time enough to be on the balcony for years to come.

Quote from: TudorQueen on May 19, 2023, 05:51:27 AM
With her pulmonary fibrosis sadly MM is basically on borrowed time. Her health will only get worse. And with Harald failing as well, yes Ingrid will likely be called on much earlier then anyone planned.

Thankfully her grandmother is still in descent health, so hopefully she can focus on school for a few years till she has to really step up.

Quote from: Blue Clover on May 26, 2023, 03:06:08 AM
I think that Haakon is more than prepared to take over, his children are maturing, in the event that King Harald can't continue in his role.

QuoteEastern Norway has been hit by one of the worst floods in over 20 years. King Harald and Queen Sonja have visited the areas that have been affected by floods and the storm ?Hans?.

King Harald and Queen Sonja visited the flood area in the Drammen region after the King had attended his weekly Council of state where the floodings were also the top priority.

The royal couple started their visit in Mj?ndalen, where they met the local population and personnel who work on site. The king and queen also met representatives of the Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy.

The extreme weather has affected areas in southern Norway as well as parts of Sweden, causing landslides, floods and damage to infrastructure and property, especially in the Norwegian counties of Innlandet and Viken. In Norway, 4.000 people have been evacuated and two dams have collapsed.

The visit of the king and queen was announced just hours before it took place. It was also confirmed that the Crown Prince will visit flood-affected areas in Hole, Ringerike and S?ndre Land in the coming days.

QuoteIn connection with Queen Sonja?s 80th birthday the Queen Sonja Art Stable was opened in Oslo. Located just beside the Royal Palace the Art Stable has now for many years been an exhibition hall for royal history and modern art. Now a new building is part of the complex.

After several years of restoration, the Castle?s historic riding house is opened to the public in Oslo. The venue will become a part of the Art Stable and be used for exhibitions and performances.

QuoteDebarkation of the royal ship Norge in the port of Oslo, Norway. 3 October 2023

QuoteKing Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon all took part in the annual opening of Parliament ceremony, which marks the end of the summer recess and the beginning of a new legislative season.

On 3 October, Their Majesties and His Royal Highness arrived at the Parliament building in an open car, as tradition dictates. The short piece of Karl Johans Gate (Oslo?s main street) that leads from the Palace to the Parliament was full of Norwegian flags, as well as soldiers in parade and members of the public.

Upon their arrival, the royals were welcomed by a representation of MPs, who led them inside, where they sat on the thrones that had been specially prepared for them. King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon wore their full military uniforms, while Queen Sonja donned a black and white ensemble.

Storting President Masud Gharahkhani declared the session legal, one of his first acts as the head of the newly re-elected presidency. The process happened in a special session on Monday.

From the central throne, the King pronounced his speech; traditionally, it is written by the government in power, and it outlines the intentions of the executive for the upcoming year. This year, the government has vowed to start discussing proposals for the state budget as early as this Friday.