While most of their European contemporaries give their year-end speeches during Christmas, the monarchs of Norway and Denmark do theirs on New Year’s Eve. King Harald V and Queen Margrethe II sat down before their Kingdoms to talk about 2010 and what are their thoughts and hopes for in 2011. 
“Be greater as a human being!” the Norwegian King opened his speech with. “This I think tonight when we go into a new year.”
“Growing as a human being, I believe, among other things, is about daring to take on challenges, to stand for what we believe. By standing by our choices and opinions, we are more whole and safer. My experience is that we rarely regret what we have to push ourselves a little too daring. It is often what we did, we regret. As I get older, I have become less fearful of the reactions to my choices and actions. We must see ourselves in the mirror in the morning and say that we are trying to be the best of ourselves.”
King Harald talked about treating others with dignity, something his son and heir, Crown Prince Haakon, works extensively on.
“I think everyone can get into how difficult it is to be seen just a small part of everything we are as human beings. A man from Afghanistan may have had a good job, position, and a rich social life in their homeland. So he comes to Norway as an asylum seeker – and is suddenly a stranger – without language, without a job, with few opportunities to contribute. Then it is easy to start thinking small thoughts about themselves.
“Every person has the resources to use in our community – regardless of nationality, health status, life experience, age and social conditions. We just help each other to see them, and prepare to use them. A resource I hope employers are increasingly know how to appreciate, is the multicultural competence that many in our country possesses. Norwegian youth born of parents with different cultural backgrounds have an experience and an insight that is becoming increasingly important for us in a smaller world.”
The King also gave his thanks to the Norwegians who work to make the world a better place, no matter how they do it.
“Thousands of Norwegians are always engaged in international service out there. I will tonight especially greet Norwegian women and men who work for peace, stability and development – in the military, foreign service and humanitarian organizations. It’s great to give up domestic security – and choosing the risk it means to serve in a conflict area. My thoughts are also with everyone at home who miss them out there. And among those who mourn after losing one of their loved ones.”
Harald closed his speech with an urge for his people to look after each other for the sake of one another.
“I wish that we can look each other in the new year. Be there for each other. We all know life’s vulnerability. We know that it alternates between light and darkness, between joy and sorrow, despair and hope. In this whole, we can dare to meet each other: In a room that is generous – and where its own security means freedom of others.
“We must act boldly and do what we think is right. As we grow as people. As we grow as a nation.”
“I wish everyone a happy new year”
Across the Baltic Sea, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark gave her own New Year’s Eve speech. Done live, instead of taped, she discussed the economic crisis that hit her country hard, but not as much as others.
“It is worrying, because many have lost their jobs, stores earn less money when customers have less to spend, and crisis global scale means that companies are hit by lower sales both home and away,” Margrethe said.
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“Nevertheless, Denmark is among the nations that the crisis has hit less hard.
“Throughout the crisis has helped us that we in Denmark have had wealth and savings to eat out. But what we have to resist with is not only our robust material wealth. We have an entrenched community that we are proud of. It goes far, far back in our history, back to the free constitution, yes, even longer, because the Constitution of 1849 can just be seen as a confirmation of a community that already existed.”
The Queen went on to highlight the importance of society’s evolution into a more safer place, economically and socially. But that shouldn’t mean anyone ought to forget one another.
“We human beings live in mutual dependence. It is true today, as yesterday, and at all times. Earlier, it was perhaps more evident when people lived in small villages, where many tasks had to be solved jointly, and when several generations often lived under the same roof, and all had their tasks to perform for each other. It was a relationship that was obvious to everyone. Today we left for society to cope with many of the obligations that were once everyone’s job. Often it goes so far that we completely forget or overlook the fact that the society is really ourselves, and that it does not work if we do not each make an effort and feel a commitment to both our loved ones, as for those we do not run on a daily basis,” she said.
Towards the end of her speech, Margrethe gave her condolences to the Danish troops who died in Afghanistan this year, and those who suffered physical or mental injuries from their service.
“Some of our soldiers have returned home badly wounded, and others are labeled mentally by their experiences. For all of them that they deserve all our care and recognition. In the fall I had the opportunity to meet some of our wounded soldiers during their rehabilitation at University Hospital. All show a spirit and an incredible will to overcome their disabilities, which made a big impression on me, and which can only arouse admiration.”
At closing, the Queen said: “In good times, we must remember that prosperity is not a foregone conclusion and that there are always some for whom everyday life can be cramped. When times are bad, we must not forget our good mood and that a smile helps to carry us through everyday, even when it is gray.
“So let’s meet the new year with confidence and let’s show each other confidence in its level in the fine print. It must be my wish for year 2011.
“God save Denmark.”
Sources: Kongehuset.no, Kongehuset.dk
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