The Royal Palace in Oslo


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When I was in Oslo in the spring this year, I happened to see the guard change. It was very nice. They're so close to the people, unlike Buckingham palace.
 
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The annual summer tours of the Royal Palace started up this weekend:

Royal House article: Summer tours of the Royal Palace - The Royal House of Norway
The summer tours of the Royal Palace started up this weekend, and today there was a guided tour for the media. A special exhibition is mounted every year, and is part of the tour. This year, the exhibition is dedicated to King Carl Johan, who launched the building of the palace, and laid the cornerstone under what was to become the Palace Chapel on 1 October 1825.

Royal Central article: Exhibition about King Karl Johan opened at the Royal Palace in Oslo – Royal Central
Those who will visit Oslo this summer and are interested in royal history have a lot to look forward to. Not only is there a new exhibition in Queen Sonja Art Stable, but there is also a new exhibition in the Royal Palace that you can visit. Every summer the Norwegian Royal Family opens the Royal Palace for visitors who can visit the main rooms of the palace.

Every year there is also a new exhibition that characterises the rooms that are open. This year it is an important anniversary both for Norway and Sweden. It has been 200 years since Karl Johan became King of Norway and Sweden. This marked the establishment of the royal dynasty Bernadotte, which still rules in Sweden today.
As I've written in other threads, I will actually visit the exhibition in Queen Sonja Art Stable later this week, but I'm also planning to visit the palace on the same day (bought tickets and everything).

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In other news: According to Royal experts Kjell Arne Totland & Oskar Aanmoen, the Norwegian State Flag flies over the Royal Palace. That means that neither the King or the Crown Prince is in the country.

Kjell Arne Totland - twitter message with photo

Oskar Aanmoen - twitter message with photo

In Norway, the Royal Standard is flown over the Royal Palace whenever the King is in Norway or Norwegian territories, with the exception for when he is in residence at Stiftsgården in Trondheim or is on board the Royal Yacht (and in Norwegian waters) neither the Royal Standard nor any other flag is flown over the Palace. - The reason for this is that on these occasions the Royal Standard is hoisted either at Stiftsgården or on the Royal Yacht and the Royal Standard is never flown in two places at once.

When the King is abroad, the Crown Prince is Regent. On such occasions the Standard of the Crown Prince is flown over the Palace. If both are abroad, then the Norwegian State Flag is flown above the Palace. The Norwegian State Flag resembles the Norwegian National flag, but is swallow-tailed and has a third tail (the ''tongue'') between the two other tails.

Read more about it here: Flags at the Royal Palace - The Royal House of Norway

But what is flown over the other Royal Residences when the King and other members of the Norwegian Royal House is there? Well, there are no information about it in the English Royal House article above, so let's translate from the Norwegian version: Flagging fra Slottet - kongehuset.no - translation

The Royal Yacht: As mentioned above, the Royal Standard is flown on the yacht when the King is on board, but it's also flown if the Queen is on board without the King.
If the Crown Prince is on board, the yacht will carry the CP Standard - provided that the King is not on board.

Stiftsgården: As mentioned above, the Royal Standard is flown there when the King is in residence.
If the Crown Prince is there, then the CP Standard is flown - again, provided that the King is not in residence.
When other members of the Royal House (including the Queen) is in residence, the Norwegian State Flag is flown. - It's also flown on official flag days.

Bygdø Kongsgård: When the King or other members of the Royal House is in residence, the Norwegian State Flag is flown. - It's also flown on official flag days.

Skaugum, Oscarshall and Gamlehaugen: The Norwegian State Flag is flown when the King or other members of the Royal House is in residence. - It's also flown on official flag days.

Kongsseteren: The Norwegian National Flag is flown every Sunday and on official flag days - in accordance with the flag rules. When the King or other members of the Royal House is in residence, a Norwegian pennant is flown.

Mågerø and Prinsehytta: The Norwegian National Flag is flown every Sunday and on official flag days - in accordance with the flag rules. When the King or other members of the Royal House is in residence, the Norwegian National Flag or a Norwegian pennant is flown.

Ledaal: No information.

BTW: I have no information about what is flown if the non-royal house Princesses Märtha & Astrid is in residence on these estates, but probably just a Norwegian pennant, or nothing at all.
 
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To understand more of this, read post 40:

Well, I was supposed to write this last Monday, but I forgot it.

I visited the exhibition at Queen Sonja Art Stable last weekend, and it was really interesting to see all the bunads. - But the space is minimal, especially since the court were not allowed (by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage) to remove the stalls.
So, I therefore supports the regent couple's wish (also supported by some in the media) for a new-build royal museum where the more than 70,000 royal items, who is now being kept at 4 storages on a secret location, can be exhibited.

Read about the exhibition at the Art Stable here: http://www.theroyalforums.com/forum...ents-part-3-may-2018-a-44726.html#post2125237

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I also visited the Royal Palace:

We were taken around the beautiful reception rooms on the second floor.

You may have seen the photos I posted of these rooms in the ''Annual Gala'' & ''Cambridge Visit'' threads, but some of those were quite old. - So, if you've not done it already, take a look at the post below and see some newer pictures, taken after the rooms went through maintenance work in 2015/2016:
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forum...kia-to-norway-4-6-june-44920.html#post2119170

We were also taken through several other rooms, but to my great disappointment, we were not allowed to see the Yellow Drawing Room (where the King holds his New Years Speeches) or the Red Drawing Room (where King Olav V lay on Lit de parade/open casket, and where the Christmas photographs is taken).

Photos of the two rooms:

Yellow Drawing Room - Red Drawing Room
 
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Well, from flag rules and my experience visiting the palace in the two previous posts, to some news about the royal parks:

Article from June 28th: Norwegian royal properties must stop watering the gardens following drought – Royal Central
After an unusually cold and snowy winter, Norway is now in a heat wave that has been there since the beginning of May.

There has been too little rain, and many farmers are now at risk of losing their crops. It was also announced last week that there is a lack of CO2 to clean the drinking water. This led to the City of Oslo on Monday announcing a ban relating to water use in gardens. It is now forbidden to water in all gardens in Oslo. This is done to ensure enough drinking water for the city.

This also affects the Royal Family. The Norwegian royal family owns three important buildings located in the municipality of Oslo. This is Oscarshall, a small castle on Bygdøy, The King and Queen’s summer residence Bygdøy royal estate, near Oscarshall, and the most central building is the royal palace in downtown Oslo. All of these three properties have large landscaped gardens with many rare trees and flowers that need a lot of water.
No, these residences are owned by the state and placed at the disposal of the monarch.


Article from July 3rd: The Royal Palace in Oslo receives special permission to use water during drought – Royal Central
Following an unusual heat wave that has been over Norway since the beginning of May, the Royal properties in Oslo had to stop their usual watering last week. Now the City council of Oslo has given the palace special permission to use water during the ongoing drought. This was announced by the palace in a statement on Tuesday.

The fountains in the park recycle the water. The royal gardener facilities will now run the watering systems in exposed areas every night. The watering is programmed to prioritize the areas and fields of with planting, while areas that consist only of lawn are omitted.
 
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Gorgeous images,whats the smaller building in the 3rd photo?
 
Thanks eya! :flowers:

And as one can see, The Regent-Couple are not in residence, since there is no light on in their private apartment (left, third floor) which means they are most likely at The Royal Lodge in the outskirts of Oslo (where they celebrated Christmas), or at Nordre Jørstad gård (photo-link) in Lillehammer city/municipality in Oppland county (a residence put to their disposal at Maihaugen museum, where they usually spend time after Christmas - and celebrates New Year's Eve).

They may also be overseas, as the flag flying over the palace (which is very difficult to see BTW) doesn't appear to be The Royal Standard.

Read about Norwegian Royal flag-rules here - English Royal House article (link).

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Gorgeous images,whats the smaller building in the 3rd photo?
The Queen Sonja Art Stable - English Royal House article (link).

??
 
In Norway, the Royal Standard is flown over the Royal Palace whenever the King is in Norway or Norwegian territories, with the exception for when he is in residence at Stiftsgården in Trondheim or is on board the Royal Yacht (and in Norwegian waters) neither the Royal Standard nor any other flag is flown over the Palace. - The reason for this is that on these occasions the Royal Standard is hoisted either at Stiftsgården or on the Royal Yacht and the Royal Standard is never flown in two places at once.

When the King is abroad, the Crown Prince is Regent. On such occasions the Standard of the Crown Prince is flown over the Palace. If both are abroad, then the Norwegian State Flag is flown above the Palace. The Norwegian State Flag resembles the Norwegian National flag, but is swallow-tailed and has a third tail (the ''tongue'') between the two other tails.

Read more about it here: Flags at the Royal Palace - The Royal House of Norway

But what is flown over the other Royal Residences when the King and other members of the Norwegian Royal House is there? Well, there are no information about it in the English Royal House article above, so let's translate from the Norwegian version: Flagging fra Slottet - kongehuset.no - translation

The Royal Yacht: As mentioned above, the Royal Standard is flown on the yacht when the King is on board, but it's also flown if the Queen is on board without the King.
If the Crown Prince is on board, the yacht will carry the CP Standard - provided that the King is not on board.

Stiftsgården: As mentioned above, the Royal Standard is flown there when the King is in residence.
If the Crown Prince is there, then the CP Standard is flown - again, provided that the King is not in residence.
When other members of the Royal House (including the Queen) is in residence, the Norwegian State Flag is flown. - It's also flown on official flag days.

Bygdø Kongsgård: When the King or other members of the Royal House is in residence, the Norwegian State Flag is flown. - It's also flown on official flag days.

Skaugum, Oscarshall and Gamlehaugen: The Norwegian State Flag is flown when the King or other members of the Royal House is in residence. - It's also flown on official flag days.

Kongsseteren: The Norwegian National Flag is flown every Sunday and on official flag days - in accordance with the flag rules. When the King or other members of the Royal House is in residence, a Norwegian pennant is flown.

Mågerø and Prinsehytta: The Norwegian National Flag is flown every Sunday and on official flag days - in accordance with the flag rules. When the King or other members of the Royal House is in residence, the Norwegian National Flag or a Norwegian pennant is flown.

Ledaal: No information.

BTW: I have no information about what is flown if the non-royal house Princesses Märtha & Astrid is in residence on these estates, but probably just a Norwegian pennant, or nothing at all.


Thank you for the explanation. :flowers: If I understand it, the Royal Standard is reserved for the most important residences, and the Norwegian National Flag is flown over residences which are too low in position for the Royal Standard or the Norwegian State Flag.


https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=33470&sek=33469

It is interesting that a royal residence was not constructed in Oslo until the Bernadottes acceded to the Norwegian throne. Perhaps it signifies the degree of importance assigned to Norway by the kings of Denmark and Norway. :ermm:
 
Do the Kings of Norway reside in Oslo's Royal Palace?
 
Do the Kings of Norway reside in Oslo's Royal Palace?
Yes, The Royal Palace is the main residence of the King and Queen. They also use Bygdøy Royal farm, Kongsseteren (the Royal lodge), Mågerö and Prinsehytta (Royal Mountain chalet).
Bygdøy, which is a small country estate, is the King's official summer residence while the other three are privately owned and basically no more than normal Norwegian houses although on a bigger scale.
The Crown Prince and his family live at Skaugum which is also the estate where King Harald and his sisters grew up.

http://www.unofficialroyalty.com/royal-residences/norwegian-royal-residences/
 
Is there a throne room in the Royal Palace of Oslo?
 
A short video of the Bird Room has been shared today.

"Everyone who is going to an audience with the King is waiting to be announced here, and there is a long tradition of official photography in the room.

The decor in the Bird Room was completed by the painter Johannes Flintoe in 1843. The murals give an experience of standing inside an open gazebo and looking out over the Norwegian landscape."


** instagram video **
 
In the NRK documentary on Crown Prince Mette-Marit, there is a scene where the Crown Prince and Princess and their children arrive at the Royal Palace ahead of waving on the balcony.

In the scene, once inside, the Crown Princess is putting in a code on a security lock to unlock these doors. I wonder if this is the entrance and doors and lock to the King and Queen's private apartment at the palace?

Screenshot 2023-03-20 at 9.39.43 PM.jpg

Screenshot 2023-03-20 at 9.40.02 PM.jpg
 
The Palace was described as "bone-white" during the early part of the 20th century, so I can't decide if someone interpreted the wrong color or if it was actually painted yellow at some point.
 
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