While most of their European counterparts deliver their year-end speeches to their people, Norway’s King Harald V and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark give their speeches on New Year’s Eve. They both discussed the hard times their country’s faced in 2011, and urged optimism for 2012.
Click here to read the Queen's speech (in Danish)
Queen Margrethe talked about how many Danes are still struggling with the poor economy. She called for them to keep their heads held high.
“We have faced adversity before and we’ve seen before how we could get through a crisis by biting the teeth together, support each other and not give up,” she said.
“We can not leave it to others or to chance, how we should proceed. We need to make sure you get where we can find a starting point. This applies both mentally and concretely.”
“Also many of the young, the situation is worrisome. They can not really hold, because they can not find work or because they do not get the education that can improve their chances of finding employment. It can give confidence to recede, making it more difficult to get started, find a foothold and move on. This is serious, not just for the individual young person but the entire community. For it is the young who must lead our society forward, they are the ones that our future must be based.”
The Queen also talked about the troops in Afghanistan, whom she personally went to visit earlier this year. “We all know that they are doing a great and good effort, but with my own eyes to see how they live, to talk with them and gain an insight into their everyday lives is something I will never forget.”
Her Majesty then went on about her own family, and increasing number of grandchildren. This year saw Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary have twins, and Princess Marie is due to have a second child next month.
“We are pleased and touched by everything that happens in our family. I could wish for all families that they could experience as much joy as we: to see their children grow up and develop, and their grandchildren thrive and spread joy.”
With that, Queen Margrethe ended her speech with the traditional, “God save Denmark”.
Over in Norway, King Harald V had the somber duty of healing the country still reeling from the terror attacks in Oslo and Utøya back on July 22nd.
Click here to read the entire speech (in Norwegian)
“Those directly affected should be processing strong emotions and a heavy loss in their own way and at their own time. In this slow adaptation to the rest of us to be fellow human beings,” he said.
“‘When all is no longer with and carry, it becomes harder for us,’ said one of the survivors of Utøya two months after the tragedy. Here is a challenge to each and every one of us. A challenge to show care and provide assurance. We must not forget the children. They might be sitting back with more and stronger impression than we realize.”
“2011 has been a dramatic year,” the King went on to say. “The tsunami that struck Japan took twenty thousand lives and caused widespread nuclear contamination. In the Horn of Africa and elsewhere have natural disasters hit the poorest and most vulnerable hardest. In our own wealthy European debt crisis threatens to close youth out of work – to an extent we thought belonged to the past. But there have also been many positive: the so-called Arab spring. Nobel Peace Prize award to female democracy activists in Africa and the Middle East. Let’s hope this is what will stand out as milestones in history when the long lines to be drawn.”
Harald went on to mention Norway’s fight against racism, and how a program that was started this year saw native Norwegians be invited to the homes of immigrants. Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were invited to an Iranian family’s house for tea as a result of the program. “The conversation with his neighbor over a cup of coffee or tea will also help us to understand differences and appreciate the resources inherent in diversity. At the same time it gives us the opportunity to hone ourselves to each other. We must dare. When the call is an even more important way forward.”
King Harald then ended his speech by saying, “Every person has a great power in themselves – that can carry us through what we encounter in life. But we can not do it alone. And I’m not alone would be to cope with life’s greatest challenges.”
With that, His Majesty wished all Norwegians a happy new year.
Sources: Kongehuset.dk, Kongehuset.no
Dear Readers, I would like to take this time to wish you all a Happy New Year! 2011 was very eventful, both in the royal sphere and beyond. Let’s make 2012 a great year! – Megan
The Norwegian royal family are the latest to release Christmas photos this year. In the past, themes included playing outdoors and building a gingerbread house.
For 2011, this theme was simple. Queen Sonja read How The Snow Got Color by Dan Lindholm to her two grandchildren, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. The Princess, who will be 8 next month, listened intently while her 6 year old brother was more interested in the large Christmas tree behind them.
The Queen and Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore traditional Norwegian clothing for the photo shoot.
For Christmas this year, King Harald V and Sonja will join Crown Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit at their home outside Oslo at Skaugum Palace.
In front of the Norwegian royals, three women jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo Saturday.
Click here to see more photos at Daylife.com
King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit watched as Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Leymah Gbowee, also from Liberia, and Yemeni journalist and activist Tawakkul Karman, were given the prestigious prize.
Sirleaf and Gbowee won for their works on democracy in Africa while Karman won for her role in this year’s Arab Spring.
“You give concrete meaning to the Chinese proverb which says that ‘women hold up half the sky,’” said Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. “That was why, when giving its reasons for this year’s award, the Nobel committee stated that “we cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women acquire the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society.’ We thank you for the hope you awaken in us all.”
Prior to the ceremony, the women met with the King and Queen.
Yesterday, the three laureates met with Norwegian children at an meeting organized by the Save the Children Foundation. Together with Crown Princess Mette-Marit, the women talked to the children about making the world a better place.
Read more here
“When there is war and conflict, there are mothers and children who suffer most. When I see children affected by conflict and suffering, I am angry. But in the mind I am inspired to work harder for peace,” said Leymah Gbowee.
“It is difficult for children to live with years of conflict,” said Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. “Some people lack clean drinking water, access to health care and the opportunity to get an education. Our focus has been to focus on children and provide education. But the most important was to get children to smile. And I am pleased to say that children now smiling again.”
Tawakkul Karman said simply, “The world must be built with love and respect. We must stop the hate.”
Besides receiving the medal, Nobel Peace winners also take home $1.5 million. These three women will split the prize money.
The Queen of Norway debuts her artistic works at the Jacob Hansen House in Helsingborg Thursday. Attending the event was King Harald V, Crown Prince Haakon and Sweden’s Queen Silvia.
Click here for more photos at Dagbladet.no
The exhibit, “Under Great Pressure” features eight of Queen Sonja’s graphic designs. She teamed up with Kjell Nupen and Ørnulf Opdahl for this project, and created the eight designs based on the duo’s photographs of Svalbard. The Queen is among eighty artists who contributed to this project.
Her Majesty has long had an artsy side, even having a photography exhibit in 2009.
“I am proud,” said King Harald after studying his wife’s art.
Even son Crown Prince Haakon was impressed. “It is very fine work,” he said.
The purpose of this exhibition is to mark the 40th anniversary of the renowned graphic studio Ateljé Larsen. Sonja’s cooperation with Kjell Nupen and Ørnulf Opdahl is to set up an art scholarship in her name. That scholarship will be first distributed in the summer of next year.
The royals of Scandinavia spent some time together in New York, both in the morning and in the evening. They are in the Big Apple mainly to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Scandinavian-American Foundation.
Click here for images of the Ground Zero visit
But sadly, no visit to New York is without a visit to Ground Zero, site of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. Together, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, and Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary went to the place where nearly 3,000 people died. With them were the Presidents of Finland and Iceland. Everyone went to the memorial and laid flowers there. All look solemn during the visit.
For the rest of the day, each royal couple went to their separate engagements. The Danish Crown Princely couple went to the BIG Architectural Studios, the Norwegian King and Queen attended an awards ceremony, while their Swedish counterparts met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and his wife Yoo Soon-taek at the United Nations headquarters.
Check out more photos of the gala here
In the evening, it was time to dress up for a black-tie event for the American-Scandinavian Foundation’s centennial ball. All three royal couples, plus the Presidents of Finland and Iceland, went to the Hilton Hotel for the event. Even Sweden’s Princess Madeleine, who’s been spending most of her time in New York these days, attended.
After today, Frederik and Mary will spend a few more days in New York, while the Kings and Queens of Norway and Sweden will go north to Jamestown, near Buffalo, New York Saturday, to celebrate the Norden Club’s centennial anniversary and visit the Roger Tory Peterson Institute. The Norden Club was founded in 1902 by Swedish immigrants to the area.
On Thursday evening, five Scandinavian royals – and Finland’s President – opened the art exhibition, Luminous Modernism:
Scandinavian Art Comes to America 1912, at the Scandinavian House in New York.
Click here for image gallery at Daylife.com
Norway’s King Harald V and Queen Sonja, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen of Silvia, and Crown Princess Mary were present for the inauguration. All are in New York for tomorrow’s centennial ball for the Scandinavian-American Foundation.
It was Queen Sonja who did the actual ribbon cutting.
The exhibition showcases 48 works by Nordic artists who did modernism style, such as Edvard Munch, Vilhelm Hammershøi,and Anders Zorn. It is a sort of remake of the 1912 exhibit that displayed the modernism painting style. The exhibit will be open to the public on October 25th and will run until February 11, 2012.
“During the 100 years of its existence,” said Edward P. Gallagher, President of The American-Scandinavian Foundation. “The ASF has played a leadership role in promoting American awareness of Nordic culture. In looking back at the 1912 exhibition of Scandinavian modernists, we pay tribute to our founders’ vision and to a pivotal event in the study and appreciation of Nordic art in this country.”
If you live in the American Midwest, you might have a chance to get a glimpse of Norwegian royalty for the next few days.
Click here for the original photo and article at Aftenposen
Their Majesties, King Harald V and Queen Sonja, are on an 11 day tour of the United States. They are there to tour Norwegian-American institutions and communities, the latter which has plenty of. The Midwest is known for its roots in Norway.
The couple arrived late Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minnesota. They were greeted by former Vice President Walter Mondale, the governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton and the city’s own mayor, Chris Coleman at a St. Paul hotel.
Before disappearing inside, the King spoke briefly to the Norwegian media. “It’s good to be back here again, pure and simple. It will be interesting.”
When asked what he most looked forward to on this trip, he replied, “To get the old haunts and visit the Norwegian-Americans among other things.”
The next day, the King and Queen rested from their long flight, so their program did not really begin until Thursday. That was when they traveled to Decorah, Iowa to see Luther College and Vesterheim Museum.
Click here for original article at Des Moines Register
The college, founded by Norwegian immigrants, was celebrating its 150th anniversary. Having Norway’s King and Queen there added “the centerpiece to the birthday cake,” said Richard Torgerson, Luther’s president, as he mingled in front of the Center for Faith and Life — a building for which Harald’s father, King Olav, laid the cornerstone in 1975.
During a ceremony at Center, Harald and Sonja were presented with the Spirit of Luther award. As part of his acceptance speech, the King thanked Americans for their support following the July 22nd attacks in Oslo and Utøya.
“The peaceful and inspiring atmosphere of Luther College, however, is a striking contrast to the acts of terrorism that hit Norway so hard on July22. I would like two thank you, the American people, for your support and compassion in the wake of these terrible events.”
Decorah was most excited for its royal guests. Norwegian flags dotted the neighborhood along with the American flag. Some of those who attended the award ceremony at Luther wore traditional Norwegian costumes.
For the remainder of their visit, King Harald and Queen Sonja will visit various Norwegian-American institutions up and down the Midwest, including the world famous Mayo Clinic.
During the end of their tour, they will go to New York City to visit Ground Zero and also celebrate the anniversary of the American-Scandinavian Foundation. At the latter, they will join the Swedish King and Queen and Denmark’s Crown Princely couple for that event.
This is not the first time Harald and Sonja have made such a tour in the United States. They did the same back in the 90s, and the King made trips to the country as Crown Prince. In fact, he lived America during World War II when the royal family was sent into exile following the Nazi invasion. With his mother, Crown Princess Martha and two sisters, Harald spent some time in the White House as a young boy. What other head of state can say the same?
Sources: Kongehuset, Aftenposten, Des Moines Register
Monday was a celebratory day in Norway, as the country marked 150 years since the birth of its national hero, Fridtjof Nansen. All year long, there were celebrations for the polar explorer, diplomat, researcher and Nobel Peace Prize winner, and yesterday saw the climax.
Click here to see more photos at Daylife.com
At the University of Oslo, King Harald V, Queen Sonja and the Crown Princely couple took part in a memorial for Nansen. The King gave a speech which praised the late great Norwegian.
“Fridtjof Nansen’s scientific, diplomatic and humanitarian life’s work was buoyed by an extraordinary faith in his own abilities, but also on other opportunities.
“Through his tireless commitment was Fridtjof Nansen, a moral superpower in the League. Nansen’s passport says a lot about the confidence of his name had built up in the world community.” said Harald.
“For all this and more, we are each and every one of us need to thank him. Fridtjof Nansen makes us proud to be Norwegians. He makes it an obligation to be world citizens.”
The King also stressed the monarchy’s link to Nansen. It was he who persuaded Danish Prince Carl to come to Norway to be its King as the country was dealing with independence. Nansen was also a mentor towards the then Crown Prince Olav, the current King’s father.
This commemoration ceremony was attended by many with links to Nansen’s achievements, including Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Red Cross representatives and explorers of Antarctica. There was a musical performance by Thine Things Helseth.
In the evening, the Norwegian royals held a banquet at Akershus Castle.
Fridtjof Nansen once skiied in Greenland, explored both the North and South Poles, and brought attention to famine and displaced peoples following World War I by being High Commissioner of Refugees for the League of Nations. The latter is what gave him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922.
Nansen died on May 17th 1930 and he was remembered not just by royalty, government officials and scientists, but also those he helped and influenced.
While some European governments are looking at budget cuts, it appears Norway has plenty to spend, especially for its royal family.
According to TV2, the Norwegian government has proposed the increase payment for the regal couple – King Harald V and Queen Sonja – by 336,000 kroner. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will receive 280,000 kroner more.
The money is meant to cover the royals’ expenses and maintenance of their homes.
In addition, the Royal Court will see an increase. In order to cover maintenance and refurbishing of palaces, the court will get 146 million kroner. This is also needed to fund the monarchy’s operations.
His Majesty King Harald V opened the 156th Parliament session Monday. With his wife, Queen Sonja, and his son and heir, Crown Prince Haakon, at either side of him, the King read a speech which officially opened the Stortinget.
Click here to view a gallery at Zimbio.com
The first few lines of his speech had Harald discuss the July attacks in Oslo and Utøya by a radical right-winger.
“The Norwegian people responded by defending democracy,” the King said in a speech that was written for him. “Out of the pain grew a strong popular desire for unity, openness and participation.
“In the most critical hours and days our country has experienced since the Second World War, the people took responsibility for our values and showed the way forward. It strengthens democracy. Meanwhile, the tragedy affect people and society for a long time.”
Then the monarch went on to discuss what the Parliament will do about the response towards the attacks, such as how the police and emergency teams reacted to the bombing in Oslo and the shootings on Utøya.
“There will be a need for measures to strengthen our security and emergency preparedness. In addition resulted in terror attacks 22 Jul. significant additional costs in several areas. The Government will come back with proposals concerning allocation changes as a result of the attacks 22 July, beyond the proposals already submitted.
“Government will balance the need for appropriate security and safe emergency response to a common desire for continued closeness between the Norwegian people and key actors in society.”
From there, King Harald discussed what the Stortinget will do for this political year. He highlighted how jobs is a main focus, with the goal of having Norway with the lowest unemployment rate in Europe.
Other issues important to the Stortinget is to make Norway a major player in the fight against climate change, as well as dedicating the country to being one of the best welfare societies.
As he ended his speech, the King pointed out what his government will do in terms of law making and presenting reports on the state of Norway.
Once King Harald completed declaring the Parliament opened, a member of Parliament then spoke to give a State of the Union, followed by an outline of what the government achieved last year.
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