Opening of the Parliament (Stortinget) 2004 - 2023


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Interesting that Prince Haakon used the King's throne.

In my country (Netherlands) during a regency, the Regent or Regentess is seated next to the throne, to symbolize that it is and remains the King's seat: picture. Interesting to see the differences.
 
Interesting that Prince Haakon used the King's throne.

In my country (Netherlands) during a regency, the Regent or Regentess is seated next to the throne, to symbolize that it is and remains the King's seat: picture. Interesting to see the differences.


Wonder whhat would be done in the UK in such a case.
 
Interesting that Prince Haakon used the King's throne.


Just like the then CP Harald used the throne back in 1990


I was a bit disappointed that these railings had been raised again and the CP Regent also used this standing desk! I always thought they put these railings to help the ailing King Harald to have something to hold on to if he should sway when climbing the steps to the throne chair.
Until 2016 there were no such disturbing things like plants, railings and desk in front of the 3 throne chairs which looked way better. Then the (still fit) King stood right in front of the throne to deliver his speech. Nowadays TV cameras located in the right side of the chamber cannot catch the throne completely as it is partly coverd by this standing desk which I find a bit annoying...
https://blogg.tv2.no/kongebloggen/files/2014/10/szf4829e.jpg

HM almost fell in 2016:
https://www.rbnett.no/incoming/article13592884.ece/3nvevv/ALTERNATES/w980-default/tb6ee406.jpg

Wonder whhat would be done in the UK in such a case.
Well, for the last 3 Parliament openings in the UK, the Prince of Wales sat right beside the Queen on the throne of the Consort and not on his usual chair 1 step below.

When the D o Edinburgh was not able to escort the Queen in the 1980s or 90s, his throne has been put away and HM sat alone on the dais while Charles took his seat beside the royal alcove one step below the throne.
That was, of course, at a time, when Prince Philip was still the official consort of the Queen.
https://editorial01.shutterstock.co...itain-1996-shutterstock-editorial-265045g.jpg
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content...berWd9EgFPZtcLiMQfyf2A9a6I9YchsjMeADBa08.jpeg
 
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No, this is because of constitutional reasons. She will only attend after her husband has succeeded to the throne after the current King´s death as Queen.

I think it is simply traditional. After all the queen consort has no constitutional role either.
 
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Wonder whhat would be done in the UK in such a case.

If a Regency has not been created, the same thing that happened in 1959 and 1963. The Lord Chancellor will be reading The Queen’s Speech from the steps in front of the throne.

If a Regency has been created, then Charles (or whoever it is) will likely use the Monarch’s throne. That’s what the last ”Prince Regent” (later George IV) did
 
Too bad Princess Mette-Marit wasn't there, but probably because she had health problems, it would be risky.

She never attends this. Neither did Sonja when she was Crown Princess.

It’s always The King, The Queen and The Crown Prince.
 
I think it is simply traditional. After all the queen consort has no constitutional role either.
There was quite a debate about the Queen attending or not back in 1991. The King virtually insisted on her attending, which some parlamentarians were not too happy about at the time, which I find odd because it is the origin job of every female or male consort to support the head of state at events such as these. I couldn´t think of any other monarchy which would have discussed this. And Queen Maud also attended when she was not abroad and could somehow make it.
So, no, this is not just about tradition.
 
There was quite a debate about the Queen attending or not back in 1991. The King virtually insisted on her attending, which some parlamentarians were not too happy about at the time, which I find odd because it is the origin job of every female or male consort to support the head of state at events such as these. I couldn´t think of any other monarchy which would have discussed this. And Queen Maud also attended when she was not abroad and could somehow make it.
So, no, this is not just about tradition.




Probablythe Issue arrised because there was no Queen conosort forover 50 years and before that Queen Maud also rarely attended because at that time of the years she was often in the UK. So it has almost become a tradition that the onlythe King and Crown Prince attended.
 
What about the opening of parliament this year - no date set, yet?
 
What about the opening of parliament this year - no date set, yet?

According to the official calendar it will take place tomorrow, October 11.

Opening of the Storting
11.10.2021
His Majesty The King will undertake the formal opening of the 166th session of the Storting. Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Crown Prince will also be in attendance (13:00)
 
It looks like a very short speech. How long does the King speak?
 
King Harald delivering the 'Throne Speach' and the 'State of the Realm' at state opening of Parliament on Monday 11. Septemper.
https://imgur.com/a/fPKcaEZ
He is getting old our King now.
 
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I wish they would use a coach rather than a car.


It requires a Royal Mews with a collection of functioning carriages and horses and -like in Belgium, Luxembourg and Monaco- there is no such in Norway.
 
It requires a Royal Mews with a collection of functioning carriages and horses and -like in Belgium, Luxembourg and Monaco- there is no such in Norway.


They also don't have them in Spain but still use carriages for the accredition of new Ambassadors.
 
They also don't have them in Spain but still use carriages for the accredition of new Ambassadors.

That is true and in theory the King could use that splendid carriage but for some reasons it only rides a short ceremonial distance on the Royal Palace compound in Madrid, I believe.

There are royal escortes in Spain and Belgium.
 
It requires a Royal Mews with a collection of functioning carriages and horses and -like in Belgium, Luxembourg and Monaco- there is no such in Norway.

Queen Maud oversaw an upgrade of the stables (they are now Sonja's gallery space) so at one point they did have the horses and presumably the carriages as well.

Perhaps it was not maintained after WWII.
 
Such a shame that the carriages are no longer used by the Norwegian RF.
 
Queen Maud oversaw an upgrade of the stables (they are now Sonja's gallery space) so at one point they did have the horses and presumably the carriages as well.

Perhaps it was not maintained after WWII.

I believe they have a collection of 23 carriages. One of them is the coronation coach, and there are several other nice ones. But as they don't have horses, they don't use them anylonger. But it would have been nice to use this for parliament opening and state visits.
 
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