The norwegian media has noticed very strongly that king Carl Gustaf and queen Silvia don't attend at the National Day of Norway on 17th May. 2014 is the 200th anniversary of when the country's Constitution was adopted at the Storting in Eidsvoll and thus that this year's celebration is considered as very important by Norwegians.
History professor Ole Kristian Grimnes sees Swedish royal couple's absence as "regrettable" and can't see any reason why the King and Silvia should not attend.
- The royal family should come because it's a major event in the Norwegian nation's history. They should be with and rejoice with the Norwegians. It was, so to say thanks to Bernadotte that we got a constitution.
Denmark's Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik have said they will attend the Norway's National Day celebrations.
According to NRK, it is not known why the Swedish royal couple turned down.
- Of course it would have been very nice that all three monarchs would meet at Eidsvoll dated May 17, but I think the Swedish royal couple must have strong reasons to reject, such a state visit at home or abroad, says TV2 court expert Kjell Arne Totland to Dagbladet.no.
According to the court's acting director of the press department, Annika Sönnerberg explanation is simple:
- The King doesn't visit other countries on the grounds that they are celebrating a special day, such as National Day.
Why not?
- There is a line that the king has when it comes to this kind of invitations. He is in Sweden at the Swedish National Day. I have nothing more to say about this.
What do you say about that this issue has been widely reported in the Norwegian media?
- I have no comment on that.
Kungen och Silvia i norskt blåsväder Nyheter Expressen
Translation
Kungen nobbar Norge Nyheter Aftonbladet
Because one of the main functions of a head of state is to cement good relationships between countries. Not least neighboring countries and perhaps even more so if the heads of states in these countries already have a very good personal relationship.
