Friday was day of ups and downs for Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II. First came the announcement that her daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary was pregnant with twins. Then came the downside when the Queen attended the funeral of a longtime friend of hers – and the Norwegian royal family – Countess Ruth of Rosenborg.
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Queen Margrethe arrived smiling at Skovshoved church in Klampenborg, though it is likely that smile was meant to hide her sadness.
On the contrary, Norway’s Queen Sonja and her two children – Princess Martha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon – looked very somber. Martha Louise reportedly wept during the service since she was close to Countess Ruth.
Ruth was married to Prince Flemming of Denmark, who had to give up his royal title because his wife was a commoner. The two became Count and Countess of Rosenborg.
Flemming was a first cousin to Norway’s King Harald V, and in this way, Ruth became close to the Norwegian royal family. She even attended the weddings of Martha Louise and Haakon, and the christenings of their children. Since 1948, Ruth had often spent Christmas with the family. Her last visit to Norway was for Queen Sonja’s 70th birthday.
Born Alice Ruth Nielsen in 1924 in Copenhagen, the Countess grew up in a wealthy family. She married Flemming in 1949, and had four children with him: twins Axel and Birger born a year after the wedding, a son in 1952 and a daughter in 1955.
Count Flemming died in 2002 at the age of 80. His widow mourned her husband, as well as the many royals she met during her long life.
Countess Ruth of Rosenborg was 86 years old at the time of her death.
It was a night of celebration as Sweden and royals from all over the world marked Saturday’s wedding between Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling. Just like her parents had 34 years ago, Victoria and her fiancè were a given a special concert at the Royal Concert Hall in Stockholm. Pop acts and classical artists played through the night as if it were a final hurrah before tomorrow’s big event.
First arriving at the Hall was the House of Bernadotte. When she got out of the car, Crown Princess Victoria wowed the crowd waiting for her. Beaming and radiating of joy, the Crown Princess waved as the people gave her and Daniel a four-fold cheer.
They walked up the red carpet behind her parents, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. Bringing up the rear were her two younger siblings, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine.
After the Swedish royal family came the friends and relatives of the royal couple, and the Swedish government leaders. Then came the royals from all over Europe, plus Japan and Jordan. The royal guest list even included those who are from deposed monarchies, such as Romania and Serbia.
All in all, 1,600 guests.
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Once inside, everyone dined amongst each other before the big concert. Those who haven’t seen each other in a while were able to say hello, such as Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary and Spain’s Crown Princess Letizia.
King Carl XVI Gustaf gave a small speech during the dinner, thanking the Prime Minister for allowing the wedding to take place – after all, the wedding of an heir to the throne needs government approval.
“We can all see how happy and engaged the engaged couple looks,” the King went on to say. “They really… You can feel the joy and youth and optimism in their eyes. We can all feel the warmth and happiness also in this hall and during this day.”
At about a quarter to nine local time, all those in attendance were in the Hall. Everyone stood and sang when the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra played the Swedish national anthem. Even Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, who’s mother was a Swedish Princess, sang along.
Right after that, the orchestra began to play “Party Song” and right in the middle of the stage, lights went on, illuminating two
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figures holding hands. Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling had made their appearance. They received a standing ovation as they made their way to two seats in the front row especially made for them. With that, the concert began.
It was clearly a joyous occasion for everyone in the Hall. Ballet was performed, the opera classic “Nessun Dorma” was sung – even pop and jazz acts played. The host of the event also poked playful fun at the royals in attendance. At one point, the group Jazz Divas of Scandinavia were about the perform and the host gave a nod to the Scandinavian Crown Princesses – Victoria, Mette-Marit and Mary. The women had a good laugh about it.
But the biggest act to perform that night was probably the 80s Swedish pop duo, Roxette, said to be one of Victoria’s favorite bands. As the band played “The Look,” everyone in the hall clapped along and a few – such as Norway’s Princess Martha Louise – moved their heads to the song. Once done, there was a standing ovation for Roxette.
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The concert came to a close when all the singers returned to the stage and together sang Elvis Presley’s classic, “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” As they did with the Roxette song, many of the royals sang along.
Overall, it was an emotional event for everyone. Queen Silvia was seen wiping away some tears and it looked as if King Carl Gustaf was getting teary-eyed. Even Princess Madeleine looked red in the eyes – as did Queen Margrethe and Dutch Queen Beatrix.
With that, the pre-wedding events were over. Tomorrow comes the wedding of the year as Crown Princess Victoria marries her love – and a former gym owner from a small village in central Sweden becomes Prince Daniel.
Tuesday began Holland’s Queen Beatrix’s three day state visit to Norway, her first since 1986. The country’s royal family welcomed the Dutch monarch as she arrived in Oslo this morning, and as whole, they held a state banquet in her honor in the evening.
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The Queen came to Oslo on board of the ship, the Tromp. Upon setting foot on land, King Harald V was there waiting for her. The two sovereigns joyfully hugged and kissed each other before Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit took turns welcoming their fellow royal. After that, the group got into a boat and sailed to their destination.
At the royal palace, the official welcoming ceremony took place. The Norwegian and Dutch national anthems were played, and King Harald and Queen Beatrix inspected the honor guards.
The next phase of the Queen’s visit was to lay a wreath, along with the King, at the national monument at Akershus, which remembers those who died in World War II.
Beatrix then went to Parliament to meet with its President Dag Terje Andersen.
In the evening, the entire Norwegian royal family – including Princess Martha Louise and Princess Astrid, the King’s sister, turned out for the state dinner. King Harald gave a speech at the dinner’s start, thanking the Queen for her visit and discussing Norwegian-Dutch relations.
“The exceptionally close relations between our countries are due to geographical, historical and cultural factors,” he said.
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“The Netherlands and Norway are both staunch supporters of the United Nations. Not only do we share many views, but the names of our countries begin with the same letter – N. This means that our politicians and experts are often seated close to each other in a whole range of international forums, which helps to create an informal network.
“Our countries enjoy close cooperation on many pressing issues facing the world today. We both attach importance to combating climate change; promoting human rights, good governance and democratic values; contributing to the peaceful resolution of conflicts; disarmament; and fighting poverty.
“I hope that this visit will give Your Majesty some interesting, fresh impressions of Norway. It is a great pleasure for the Queen and myself to ask you all to join us in a toast to Her Majesty Queen Beatrix, to the people of the Netherlands and to the close and friendly relations between our two countries,” King Harald said before offering a toast.
Next, Queen Beatrix gave her speech.
“It gives me great pleasure to be able to make a State visit to Norway for the second time. Some years ago, in nineteen eighty-six, Prince Claus and I paid a state visit to King Olav. On many other occasions you and Queen Sonja have welcomed my family and myself with warm hospitality and enabled us to enjoy many impressive features of this lovely and varied country. On these visits we have become acquainted with the overwhelming beauty of nature and the self-assurance and vitality of your people. The ties between our families now span five generations, from my grandmother Wilhelmina to our children and grandchildren. It is a precious friendship that we cherish.”
The Queen also talked about Norwegian-Dutch ties and how much the two countries have in common. She ended her speech also with a toast.
King Harald and Queen Sonja will accompany Queen Beatrix throughout her stay in Norway. On Wednesday, the three will go to a gender equality seminar, visit the Bjørnholt Secondary School, and have lunch with Parliamentary leaders. In the afternoon, they will also attend a business seminar and a opera-ballet. For the latter, all of the Norwegian royals – Haakon, Mette-Marit, Martha Louise and Astrid – will be there.
Then on Thursday, Beatrix will end her tour with a trip to Bergen on the west coast of Norway.
May 17th marks Norway’s National Day, and the entire country was out celebrating, including its royal family.
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In the morning, there was a children’s parade going past the Crown Princely family’s home Skaugum Palace. The family came out dressed head to toe in traditional costume, and waved flags as the parade went by.
According to Norwegian newspapers, Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus be dressed in beautiful costumes from Asker, while Crown Princess wore a dress from Hardanger and her son Marius was one from Vest-Agder
Standing around early in the morning for a long while may have been difficult for little Prince Sverre Magnus. The 4 year-old at one point acted up by sticking his tongue out and later refusing to stand up. Crown Princess Mette Marit had to pick up her son and hold him at her hip.
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At noon, Mette-Marit, Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Ingrid Alexandra joined King Harald V and Queen Sonja on the balcony of the royal palace. Another parade, this time of citizens of all ages wearing folk clothes, marched by the balcony, cheering and waving the Norwegian flag.
Also at the palace, but not on the balcony was Princess Martha Louise’s husband, Ari Behn, and his three daughters – Maud, Leah and Emma. They were standing at an open window watching and waving to the marchers below.
Late in the afternoon, the King and Queen paid a visit to the Nordre Aker area in Oslo. Since 1999, the regent couple visit an Oslo neighborhood for each National Day.
Norway is marking 2010 as Bjornson Year, after Bjornsterne Bjornson, one of the country’s greatest writers and a Nobel laureate. He was a poet and a novelist, and was the one who wrote the national anthem.
Silje Rindal/GD.com
To mark the one hundred years since his birth, his home-turned-museum in Aulestad was reopened following a renovation. Queen Sonja was there for the occasion. Dressed in traditional Norwegian clothes, she was given a guided tour of Bjorson’s home with the Minister of Culture Anniken Huitfeldt. Sonja called the renovated home, “impressive.”
After the tour, the Queen met with the poet’s great and great-great grandchildren.
“It is a revelation to see what has been done here. It’s nice to remember Bjornson’s ideal thoughts and morals, which therefore becomes visible again. It means a lot for Norway’s identity,” Queen Sonja told the media.
As for what Bjornson meant for her, she replied: “I think it’s incredibly important that we have a person who has been awarded the Nobel Literature Prize and who has worked with literary sizes abroad. He has also meant a lot to people in so many countries, and he has been here – far out in the country of Norway – and communicated so much to so many people. So it’s really great that we have the ability to take care of everything he stands for in this way, “said Queen.
In the evening, Sonja went to a concert at the newly opened amphitheater in Lillehammer, where a show was put on to commemorate Bjornson. After that, she went to another exhibit, “Moon Skin Coat Opunder Pole” by contemporary artist Borgny Farstad Svalastog, who is inspired by the great Norwegian writer.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is on a two day state visit to Norway this week. He, along with wife Svetlana, arrived at Gardermoen military air base at 10:38am local time Monday where Crown Prince Haakon welcomed them.
HEIKO JUNGE / SCANPIX / AFTENPOSTEN
Haakon then accompanied the couple to the royal palace in Oslo, where the King and Queen and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were waiting for them.
After the national anthems of the two nations played, the King, who was dressed in military uniform, escorted the President around the crowd of school children, whom were waving Norwegian and Russian flags.
Shortly afterwards, Medvedev went to Parliament and was given a briefing on how Norway’s government functions. Once that was over, the Russian President and First Lady had lunch with the royal family.
Later, the regent couple escorted the Medvedevs’ to the national monument for those killed in World War II. National anthems were played again as the couple laid flowers at the monument.
Dmitry Medvedev was later taken to the Armed Forces Museum where he met with Norwegian war veterans. He gave them medals to commemorate the end of the war, 65 years later.
In the evening, there was a state dinner in honor of the Russian President.
Expected to be discussed during this visit are fishing rights, and oil and gas, which both Norway and Russia have in common. What is also expected to be mentioned is the dispute over territorial waters in the Barents Sea, but doubtful to be resolved.
It was a trip down memory lane for the Norwegian royals as they attended the reopening of Oslo Cathedral on Sunday. It is the same cathedral where King Harald V and Queen Sonja were married in 1968 as well as Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit in 2001.
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The 17 century cathedral was closed in 2006 for renovation, and after four years is open again.
Joining the royals was Haakon and Mette-Marit’s daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra. The shy six year-old clung to her father’s hand, and even her grandfather’s, as the adults chatted with the Bishop of Oslo, Ole Christian Kvarme, and vicar Elisabeth Thorsen, before going inside for Sunday service.
During the service, Ingrid Alexandra sat on her father’s lap. She also seemed tired and bored with the service, but then again, most children her age would be.
If six years old seems young for a future Queen to start with her royal duties, that may not be so. Both the King and the Crown Prince began doing engagements at the same age, as did many other European royal heirs did.
The reopening of Oslo Cathedral will be marked by month long celebrations from concerts to special services.
The Queen of Norway was at the Olympic site of Lillehammer Saturday to present the Ildsjel Prize to cyclist Vidar Boe, for his work with society’s neediest.
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Queen Sonja arrived at Haakon’s Hall with Tove Paule, President of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports, for the annual Sports Gala. It was she who praised Boe for his work.
“Without volunteering, Norway and many other parts of our society would not have the standard we have today. I think, therefore, it is very nice to get to award the prize,” Queen Sonja said before calling Boe up to the stage.
Once there, Boe spoke of his concern for the next generation.
“This award shows that we need a voluntary basis. What concerns me is that the tail of a generation of enthusiasts is about to disappear,” he said.
Boe is known in Norway for cycling through the country with another cyclist, Tahir Hussein of Pakistan, who is blind.
Upon receiving the award, Boe called Hussein up, the first time the two had been together since cycling last year.
“Vidar has worked for the weak all my life and deserves this award. It was worth the long trip from Pakistan to meet him again,” said Hussein.
And Boe had these kind words to say about the Queen.
“She’s a great lady. This is not a show when Her Majesty comes to award the prize. Then it means something to her and praiseworthy. I really feel that this is not some other rank price.”
The Queen of Norway spent Tuesday at an Oslo Crisis Center for women and children. She met with the shelter’s administrators and the people who are staying there for Christmas.
Upon arriving, Queen Sonja was greeted by the center’s manager, Inger-Lise Larsen Walmsness. The manager briefed the Queen for a half-hour before the two moved on touring the shelter.
The Queen eventually went to the center’s main room, where 25 women and children were decorating a gingerbread. Sonja sat down and helped them with their handiwork. She certainly has some experience with gingerbread – last week, the Norwegian royal family distributed Christmas pictures of them making a gingerbread house.
Before leaving, Queen Sonja was given a tour of the children’s room. An eleven year-old girl at the shelter gave her a collage as a thank you for visiting.
The Oslo Crisis Center is the oldest such place in Norway. It is also the largest, with 86 beds. This is the shelter’s 31st year.
The royal family of Norway released their annual Christmas photos Thursday. As always, they chose an activity to show them enjoying each other’s company. This year, that activity was building a gingerbread house.
Terje Bendiksby/Scanpix
King Harald V, Queen Sonja, the Crown Princely couple and their children built the house at the royal palace in Oslo. The house was big enough for Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus to walk through. It included gingerbread and cookies with the names of the children of Princess Martha Louise, their cousins.
While building the house, Ingrid and Sverre felt tempted to eat the gingerbread. But their mother made sure they didn’t.
“Ingrid, no. You are not allowed to eat the house. You can get one of the loose,” said Mette-Marit, who was dressed in traditional Norwegian clothes, as was Queen Sonja.
Luckily, Ingrid and Sverre found and ate some pieces not yet on the house. The gingerbread was made by the palace chefs.
This Christmas, the King and Queen will be in Oslo, along with their eldest child, Martha Louise and her family. Haakon and Mette-Marit will be in a cabin in Nore and Uvdal.
Not since 2004 has the entire royal family been together.
Click here to see a video of the family (you have to scroll down to the middle of the page).
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