I have received some PMs about this program and the Christmas celebrations of the royal family, but due to some personal stuff (something positive BTW), I have not been active here since December 22.
Continuation of post 19 where I wrote about the changes of the program ''The year with the Royal Family:
Was the program more critical of the monarchy than before? No, but it was more balanced.
Did NRK's royal correspondent Kristi Marie Skrede (the new presenter/interviewer and Project Manager of this program) do a good job? IMO, no, she didn't.
Why? Because it was messy and manny of the King and Queen and the CP couple's most important engagements wasn't even included in the program.
BTW, some happy news: I've heard that the (very pro-monarchy) former presenter/interviewer and Project Manager of this program Nadia Hasnaoui will be back next year.
Royal Central article about some of the stuff who was revealed and talked about in the program:
Norway’s Prime Minister revealed King Harald’s secret holiday – Royal Central
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg revealed where King Harald celebrated his 80th birthday. This was first reported yesterday by Norwegian state television NRK. When King Harald on 21 February this year turned 80-years-old, the King was on a private holiday with his family in South Africa. It was, at this point, a well-kept secret where the King was, as the King wanted to celebrate his birthday privately without photographers and the media.
On the same day, Prime Minister Erna Solberg was at the Royal Palace in Oslo together with the President of Parliament to write their congratulations to the King. When the Prime Minister waited for Parliament’s president to write his greetings, she spoke to the King’s adjutant. In front of NRK and NTB’s photographers, the Prime Minister said, “So you did not join them in South Africa.”
The adjutant was surprised by the Prime Minister’s statement and said briefly “No” before looking at the press. NRK and NTB decided not to publish the information before the Norwegian Royal Family had returned to Norway. The fact that the Prime Minister revealed the information by accident was first published yesterday.
Read the whole article for more information (including what the King said about it).
Here are the private photos from the South Africa trip:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSJ3CazWsAAd0K9.jpg
NRK article with two quotes translated by me:
https://www.nrk.no/norge/kongeparet-dropper-stor-gullbryllupsfeiring_-_-nok-er-nok-1.13836165
"No, we shall have it so big," says King Harald, smiling to the NRK while keeping his fingers close to each other to show the size of the planned golden wedding anniversary.
Last year, King Harald and Queen Sonja celebrated 25 years on the throne with different selections over several months. Among other things, there was a ski-party at the palace square, a ten-day anniversary trip to six counties along Norway's coast, and a garden party in the Castle Park.
This year there has been a major celebration of the 80th birthdays of the King and Queen.
Q: But isn't that the really big jubilee?
"Yes, for us" said King Harald, smiling.
"And for the family,'' Queen Sonja says.
According to the royal couple, there will be a muted golden wedding celebration with the closest family.
"It will be very down, I think," said the Queen.
Q: Why?
"We think we have celebrated so much now," said the King and Queen at the same time, laughing loudly, before Queen Sonja said:
''Enough is enough''.
A summary of some of the other stuff from that article:
When two Majesties celebrates their round (means milestone) birthdays, there are many who want to attend the party. The 80th birthdays of the King and Queen was celebrated with, among other things, a gala dinner at the Palace and a banquet in the Opera, but also with the people.
In June, the King and Queen went on an anniversary trip in Hedmark and Oppland.
The King said: "We have come closer to the people."
By me: Most experts don't agree with him in this. - Why? Because he was already so close to the people as you can be.
The King said that he thinks it's an advantage that there is not so much distance between the royal family and the people.
"We have the advantage here in this country that we have no nobility, so we get very close to the Norwegian people," he says.
By me: I agree with him (as I usually doe).
NRK article with two quotes translated by me:
https://www.nrk.no/norge/her-er-juletradisjonen-kongen-ikke-liker-1.13839448
Most families have their Christmas traditions that they hold on to year after year. The royal couple, who has been married for 50 years next year, has collected most of their family traditions from King Harald.
Among other things, Queen Maud's Plum pudding which she brought with her from her native England.
"Which none of us likes," the King said in an interview with NRK.
Everyone in the family is not so excited about one of Christmas's main courses either.
"It's the Lutefisk that only half of us like," says King Harald.
''But as some of us like,'' Queen Sonja replies.
Q: So, it's like families most?
''Yes, absolutely. There is something from England, something from Denmark and something from Sweden,'' says the Queen.
Read about Lutefisk here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search=Lutefisk&title=Special:Search
NRK article with two quotes translated by me:
https://www.nrk.no/norge/kronprinsesse-mette-marit-forsokte-a-gjore-skaugum-plastfritt-1.13837837
"I made an effort to get Skaugum plastic free last year, and it didn't went very well. I think it was incredibly difficult. It was an experiment to see how ordinary consumers can avoid using plastic,'' says Crown Princess Mette-Marit to NRK.
The Crown Princess has long had an environmental commitment, and both she and others in the royal family have repeatedly helped to pick plastic and other trash along Norwegian beaches.
Whale with the belly full of plastic became a wake-up call.
A sick whale stranded on Sotra outside Bergen in late January, became a wake-up call to many. The wildlife committee eventually had to kill the animal, the first Cuvier's beaked whale documented in Norway.
"It was not a beautiful sight. I think it's become a wake-up call for many, "says King Harald, who has seen the increasing plastic pollution in the ocean when he's sailing and is worried about the developments.
''It's scary. We must hope that we are waking up to a common goal, all together," said Queen Sonja.
. I have never seen these photos of Q Maud! Still wowed by her tiny waist.
.
Silly me I just discovered it four months later and it's worth reading. Thanks for the translation ROYAL NORWAY. 
