Thanks, polyesco, Iceflower & Muhler!
[BTW, be aware that the information in the two above articles is from the controversial/unreliable journalist, Anders Johan Stavseng, who is employed by the even more controversial/unreliable Norwegian gossip magazine ''Se og Hør,'' which is owned by the same company as the Danish version and The Norwegian tabloid Dagbladet, hence why he writes for them as well. And although most of his reporting from Chile seems to be similar to what other journalists have reported, it must be said that he is extremely good when it comes to exaggerations. I.e. sitting in news studios talking about ''wars'' between British/Danish royal family members, etc (stories, most likely, taken from the notorious British tabloid, The Daily Express and the even worse, Danish Se og Hør). He has also been sued (personally) by several Norwegian celebrities.]
And now, let's go in detail about this visit:
March 26th, Santiago:
Video of the official arrival at Santiago International Airport, where Their Majesties were met by The Foreign Minister of Chile, Roberto Ampuero (
link). They arrived with a domestic flight (after coming to the country a few days earlier for a short private stay in the southern harbour city of Puerto Montt) and were driven to the greeting spot in a ''bus,'' which has also been used for other visiting heads of state.
And as one can see, The 82-year-old monarch was (as he usually is these days) a bit unsteady, which is due to his leg problems.
March 27th, Santiago:
English Royal House article with lots of information, including a link to The King's speech at the State luncheon (
link).
Video of the meeting and press conference at The Presidential palace (
link), where The King said that: ''Klimaendringer er uten tvil en av de største truslene verden står overfor slik vi kjenner den'' (Climate change is undoubtedly one of the greatest threats the world faces as we know it).
March 28th, Santiago:
English Royal House article with lots of information, including links to The Regent-Couple's speeches (
link).
It should also be mentioned that The King and Queen, already here, were met by a few but loud protesters who demonstrated against the Norwegian aquaculture industry. One of them (Juan Carlos Cardenas, who heads the organization ''Centro Ecoceanos Chile'' which is part of a coalition working to hold the aquaculture industry in the country responsible) said the following to The Norwegian News Agency, NTB: ''The Norwegian fish-farming companies that are present in Chile have double standards. They have very high standards when it comes to the environment; sanitary, social and working conditions in Norway. But worse conditions here in Chile. Why?''
March 29th: Rest day.
March 30th, Punta Arenas:
English Royal House article with lots of information, including a link to The King's speech at the Seminar on the Antarctic (
link).
And Their Majesties were again met by loud/shouting protesters, demonstrating for the same cause as on the 28th, although now there were dozens of them. Yes, they even managed to block the royal party from walking over the City's square, leading security people to try and move them aside.
So, what happened? Well, The Queen (who along with His Majesty later told Norwegian media that they were not afraid) ended up talking to them, while The King (as the apolitical constitutional monarch he is) stood and listened carefully:
NTB Photo of The Regent-Couple listening to the demonstrators. - The woman in front with The Queen is Norway's ambassador to Chile, Beate Stirø (who also tried to talk to the protesters); the woman with the blue scarf to The King's left is the court's Communication manager, Guri Varpe; while the woman with the blonde curly hair to his right (behind the other guy) is Lord Chamberlain, Gry Mølleskog (
link).
NTB video of Their Majesties walking along, listening and (The Queen) talking to the demonstrators (
link).
It all went well, and The Regent-Couple (who, according to Norwegian reporters present, handled it exemplary) were led safely into the City Hall, where they met the city's mayor, followed by a meeting with the media where The King said: ''Vi har opplevd det som en meningsytring, og det må de få lov til. Det er gledelig å se at demokratiet fungerer. Det er det her et tegn på.
De er helt klart bekymret for egen fremtid. Det må de få lov til. Og de må få lov til å gi uttrykk for det. Det må lages regler og lover som gjør at det blir ordentlig bærekraftig også for dem.''
Translated to: ''We have experienced this as a speech of opinion, and that, they must be allowed to. It is gratifying to see that democracy works. This is a sign of that.
They are clearly concerned about their own future. That, they must be allowed to. And they must be allowed to express it. Rules and laws must be created that make it properly sustainable, also for them.''
And here, I think I would have to explain my translations:
''And that, they must be allowed to''? Yes, I could instead have written, ''and that must be allowed,'' but it was not what he said. And the reason I wrote ''that'' and not ''this,'' is because he said ''det,'' which in this context means ''that'' (in another context, it could also mean ''it'').
''Speech of opinion''? Yes, I could have written, ''expression of free speech,'' but again, that was not what he said.
March 31st, Puerto Williams:
English Royal House article with lots of information (
link).
And again, more demonstrations. This time the protesters, who followed Their Majesties around the town, were pretty aggressive and some of them had to be put to the ground by the police. According to NTB, NRK and TV2, there were about 40-50 of them, while the ''Se og Hør'' dude (mentioned at the beginning of the post) said 30 to 40 (must have been the first time that guy had the lower number). They even managed, as Muhler wrote, to attack the car with The King and Queen, knocking on its roof and shouting slogans. This happened when the royal party were on their way from the airport.
The Regent-Couple were then safely transported to the mayor's house, which was also surrounded by demonstrators. - And although they looked calm when they met with some of the protesters afterwards, when The King was handed a letter from them, it must (according to a Norwegian reporter present) have been a pretty "scary experience" for a couple in their 80s.
BTW: Must say I agree with a Norwegian security expert who is quite surprised that these demonstrations came so out of control. And although these protesters had no intention of harming Their Majesties The King and the Queen, there could always have been some lunatics joining in.
--------------------
And then to a short summary of this state visit: Well, despite all the drama; several business deals have been signed (not sure how many yet), while Their Majesties have smiled, looked interested and been on top form. And apart from the people already mentioned in the above posts (I.e. the ministers and representatives of Norwegian businesses), The King and Queen were also accompanied by a bunch of courtiers. - Including Lord Chamberlain, Gry Mølleskog; and Communication manager, Guri Varpe (both mentioned some sentences above); private secretaries, lackeys (the word still used by the court to describe their butlers/footmen), dressers and God knows whom.
They were also followed by several officers from ''The Norwegian Royal Police Escort.'' A protection unit of around 70 men/women, under the auspices of The Oslo Police District, responsible for safeguarding all NRF members domestically and abroad.
The Norwegian government, OTOH, is protected by PST (The Norwegian Police Security Service).
Media coverage: Although not on par with that on the state visit to China last year, The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) sent down their Royal correspondent, Kristi Marie Skrede, plus a reporter and a cameraperson; the tabloid Dagbladet sent down their ''Se og Hør'' dude (mentioned twice in this post already); while The Norwegian News Agency (NTB) sent down two reporters and two photographers to cover it for all other media outlets, resulting in several television clips and articles. - Which is pretty much standard for state visits; the difference now was that the coverage drowned in news about ''angry protesters.''
And then to the big question, will The Regent-Couple continue with state visits in the future despite their age? According to what The King and Court have said in interviews in recent years, yes, as long as they are up to it! Especially now I think, when the situation is the way it is, I.e. with the Crown Princess. And although The King was operated for bladder cancer in 2003, heart problems in 2005, admitted to hospital for an infection in 2017, suffers from back/leg pain and breathing heavily when walking in stairs; he says he ''feels fine'' and ''likes being busy.'' And The Queen (despite suffering from arthritis) is as fit as a 40-year-old, I mean she's still flying around in Norwegian mountains/woods with her skiing, running and walking.
No more space to write in the previous post, so let's continue here:
