70th birthday celebrations of Queen Sonja

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by acdc1

She looks good, imo. But she needs to cut down on the orange! Just because she is the wife of the Prince of Orange doesn't mean she needs to make orange the primary color of her wardrobe!!!

Euh... this is actually the only orange gown I have ever seen her in. So you are overreacting a little bit, with all due respect.

[ZandraRae]

I don't see what all the fuss is about, I think everyone, including Maxima looks great! For her to have come after only three months of giving birth: I congratulate her! BTW, I love Martha Louise's "Mommy" brooch!

[carlota]

Originally Posted by Henri M.

Euh... this is actually the only orange gown I have ever seen her in. So you are overreacting a little bit, with all due respect.

you are right, this is the first or second orange gown maxima uses. and even if she did use it many times, it wouldn't be because of being a member of the house of orange. i'd say that's more likely to be maxima's vibrant personality rather.

[Polly]

I'm definitely of the school which thinks that Maxima always looks absolutely splendid. To me, she's the most natural beauty of all the Crown Princesses, and to be honest, I don't think that she needs any make-up to embellish her wonderful smile, particularly on such casual and informal occasions. If I were forced to be more explicit, I'd say that Maxima's face seems to reflect a great deal of good humour, the sign of an attractive personality, and that's something which money and make-up can't buy or reproduce.

As for Queen Margarethe's raincoat - I love it! She obviously loves colour and is never afraid to indulge her preferences. She has her own style and I admire that; she's not just a slave to fashion, and good for her!

[Polly]

Isn't it intriguing how we all see such different things in people?

Well, to keep things on track, I thought that Queen Sonja looked wonderful. I liked her clothes, I like her attitude and style, she obviously enjoys her family very much, and I trust that she had her 'best ever' birthday.

[Marengo]

I actually fail to see how Maxima's choise of outfit was so disturbing during this visit. {Response to deleted post removed - Elspeth}

She did forget to put some make-up on when she arrived, but as others said, she is a mother of 3, just out of her maternity leave, and visiting Kenya, London and Norway within one week.

Now we seem to be de-railing a thread dedicated to the always-charming and seldom un-elegant Queen Sonja of Norway (who should get rid of those ugly sunglasses).

-
I really love the Norwegian parties, they are usually the best around., Where else would we see royals all dressed with these hats?

[madeleine victoria]

I thought Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena of Spain will attend the celebration as representative of SRF? I haven't seen any pictures of them?

[prinsesbeagle]

I so agree with the previous post about her ouftit. I too fail to see what was so horrible about them. So what if she looks a bit tired or with no makeup on. She's a REAL person, esp on events like this which are NOT official duties imho.
And dare I say it, but a lot of the outfits you hate so much are actually quite 'in fashion' these days and worn by other women, celebs and non-celebs. Maybe reading some fashionmags would help you learn to appreciate it? And I'm not talking about Paris/Milan couture but about what REAL women wear in daily life.

It's not as if she wore some of the <edited coarse word/Mandy> ugly outfits that Queen Margarethe was wearing.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by madeleine victoria

I thought Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena of Spain will attend the celebration as representative of SRF? I haven't seen any pictures of them?

They seem to have cancelled. Either because of the sad events in Beirut and Yemen, or because the Queen has injured her leg. More likely it's the first reason as Elena could have attended while the Queen is taking a rest.

[Mandy]

This thread is now reopened. However, several posts pertaining to an ongoing discussion about Princess Máxima have been deleted. If you wish to discuss Princess Máxima, please do so in the Analysis of Princess Maxima-thread in the Dutch forum. All such future posts will be deleted without notice. Remember, this thread is about Queen Sonja's 70th birthday celebrations.

Thanks,

Mandy
Norwegian Forum Moderator

[Kelly]

Originally Posted by Marengo

I really love the Norwegian parties, they are usually the best around., Where else would we see royals all dressed with these hats?

Absolutely right! Q Beatrix looks absolutely charming!

[princess olga]

Originally Posted by Larzen

..and still she is not really loved, repsected yes, loved like Bratrix and Margrethe, not really I would say (subjectivly of course).

really? I didn't know that

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by princess olga

really? I didn't know that

I'm surprised to hear that as well. It looks like Queen Sonja is a very popular with the Norwegians but indeed, that is just an impression over here.

By the way, Queen Beatrix is not really loved either. She is immensely respected, even feared. But 'loved', no.

[anirac]

To come away from this endless discussion about clothes (or to give more examples to talk about), here a view pictures from the last day of the journey (or the day before, I don't know)

01687200.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

01687206.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

a very heartwarming greeting between godmother and goddaughter
01687204.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

01687203.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

01687207.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

01687212.jpg - Image - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

from rbppress

I love the trousers of HM. It suits her and she looks so great with glasses.

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by princess olga

really? I didn't know that

I actually read something about that several years ago, even before the marriage of Haakon. There was some controversy about the restauration of the Royal Palace in Oslo, which costed much more then was calculated. The Norwegian press (or some of it) blamed the Queen, I believe. In the article it was also said that HM was respected but little Norwegians had warm feelings for her (which were reserved for her husband).

[Sonnenblumenmäd]

I love the bright rose dress of MM! Does anybody know who is this from?

[Larzen]

Originally Posted by princess olga

really? I didn't know that

Quite seruious Aftenposten has had several articles relating to if she is popular and loved or just repspected.

Here are translated excrepts of the original article

The Admin. Dir. of the Royal House

For 16 years she has been the motor of the royal house as Queen.
.....
The role of the Queen is precisely one where you are not supposed to overshadow your King. As late as yesterday Aftenposten wrote that Sonja’s “strong” personality was used against her in the debate about her right to meet in Stortinget or not. This is not the first nor the last time Sonja’s strength been used against her.
.....
For Sonja this massive resistance (against her marriage), also from most of the people is probably still a scar on her body. That she decided that her own kids should not suffer the same way pawed the ground for one of the steepest class journeys Norway has ever seen, Mette-MArit Tjessem Høiby and Ari Behn. Many saw the monarchy ending; it however did not take long until the popularity increased again, but not for Sonja herself. She has brought the royal house closer to the people than King Olav ever managed, still she is not embraced by most people, she is significantly less popular than the King and Crown Prince, Why, because she has brought the royal house closer to the people without bringing her self closer?
......
Seen from the outside she appears spotless, without a scratch, just perfect, and this crashes with many Norwegians prejudices against strong women. On top of this she has a clear “well raised upper clas girl” behaviour and way of talking, which in the wide society of the egalitarian Norway seems foreign
.....
Still the always so correct Sonja is not loved by the people. She is first and foremost respected for the job she does, and there it stops for most people. Is it because she is not so down to earth and jovial like the King and Crown Prince, is this what makes many see a cold arrogance in her? Supposedly it is just on the surface. Maybe it is the shyness in combination with a strong need for control, high intelligence, broad knowledge and a strong power to learn new things? She is not cold, but warm and vulnerable says those who know her. This vulnerability makes it easily for her to go in to defence position. She had much to prove after the republican Finn Gustavsen said her entrance into the royal family would bring a “dignified end to the monarchy” Dignified it became, extremely dignified, but no ending. More like a new beginning, for Sonja Haraldsen who came to a court shaped like a military fortress.
.....
He (King Olav) was the last of the old-fashioned royals in Europe. Sonja one of the first modern ones. But Sonja would never, like Princess Di, become known as the Peoples Queen. Instead she is a mirror of Norway, a Royal mirror and when we look into it we see a perfect Queen, a Queen who loves her people but who is not loved in return.

Kongehusets adm.dir.

And the article of course generated several replies, some agree other not
summaries of theese articles, also from Aftenposten

oppinion by a communication advisor (Kjell Terje Ringdal)

- Of course it is cooler to be the sailor king than to be concerend about the 3 world and the environment, but I think the Queen has decided that here she has a role to play, Im impressed by her ability to balance her self, her role and her perfectionism

- what impact has Sonja upper class backround on the Norwegian people?
KTR: I think it is her problem, Queen Sonja has a trippel set of challenges, firstly she went in to a royal house in a country that is not really ment to have a royal house, secondly she comes from the little that can be called upperclas in Norwa, Oslo-West, and thirdly because she as a woman has a strict and distanced style. It is interesting that she is often critisesed for beeing cold and un-common, it is typical that women are critisied for such things.

- Lim i frodig kongehus

Historian/Author of the Triology about Queen Maud and King Haakon Tor Boman Larsen

As important as the Queens role is in a royal house it is unresanable to conclude that she is not popular. but it is clear when one touches on the Crown Prince`s conclusion in the documentary: those who come from the ranks of the commoners to the ranks of the royals will always be in a very difficult situation, it is much more difficult to establish your position both in realtion to the royal house and in relation to the people

A King is usually most popular at the end of his reign, the same goes for the Queen. By investing their lifes they document their sense of duty to the people. It is the long run that counts. We saw it both with King Haakon and King Olav. Also the popularity of the present King and Queen will increase. It is the transitions that are difficult, that we saw in relation to the rennovation and the etablation of the new generation. Now this is a closed book and the King and queen can cash in that they were right and most people agree with them
- Utvilsomt vært en berikelse

NRK reporter, republican, feminist Christin Aamodt
Sonja has paved the road for women who wants to take some space, even on the expense of her husband, but because the society cannot stand very strong women, we step on her. Had Sonja been a man we would have loved the Prince consort who dared to pave the way for art, culture and integration. We would have been in aww of his work. When we have a monarchy I think she fills the role incredible well. She dares to show that she is intellectual, that she is smart and strong. But because she is clear and excells in a postion where one is ment to be invisible, we call her a bi*ch. First she is critisised because she is not a nice and calm little wife and then she is critised because she is to capable and smart. It is double punnishement.


feminist and editor Siri Lindal
she is a bit unreal for me, it is difficult to relate to her, her role is so special. But I do not think she could have managed the role she has today f she was not a very strong woman with a strong personality


Feminist, republican and editor of the paper New Time Martine Aurdal
- Everyone who dares to break with the sex-role-pattern in our society meets resistance. But it has gotten better in Sonjas time as Queen, but I dont think it is necessarily because of her. But Sonja could with the help of her symbolical power have helped to change this picture. She has created space for herself, both as a sort of boss within the Castle and in the public in the field of culture. she has not accpeted to step back and shut up. She could have easily been viewd as a dress up doll in a nice dress if one does not look closer to see her leading role in the palace administration and the very thick bone she has in her nose.
- Sonja baner vei for norske kvinner

Hope it helps, it is just oppinions anyway, they of course differ alot, and seeing the welcome she got in Stavanger One could not say she is unpopular, i guess just not as liked as the King and Crown Prince is.

[Her_Majesty]

This dress worn by Märtha-Louise was a recycled one. It was originally worn by Queen Sonja during a State Visit.
Recycled dress

[Kelly]

Originally Posted by Henri M.

By the way, Queen Beatrix is not really loved either. She is immensely respected, even feared. But 'loved', no.

Out of subject here, but I found this interesting. From here it looks like her subjects really love her as well as her daughters-in-law.

[Rebafan81]

I had no idea that Queen Sonja was not beloved in her country. I am not a historian but from everything I have seen and read, I think she is a great asset to the country. She also appears to be an exceptional mother and grandmother. I am glad that she was around to guide her children and allow them to follow their hearts when it came to their marriages. IMO, I think Queen Sonja has set a great example for both ML and MM to follow in their duties and their families. I personally think we need more strong women in the world who aren't affraid to be who they are. I hope that I-A inherited her independent and strong spirit, it will really help her when she takes over as ruler of the country.