Annual County Visits: 2018 - 2023


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ROYAL NORWAY

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About County Visits - The Royal House of Norway
The King and Queen and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess try to visit as many places as possible in Norway.

Visits to individual counties give them an excellent opportunity to meet the people of Norway where they live and work and to gain insight into contemporary life in different parts of the country.

Generally, two counties are visited each year, one by King Harald and Queen Sonja and one by Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

Each journey normally lasts 2-3 days, during which time visits are paid to 4-6 municipalities.

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This year, The Regent Couple will visit Nordland county in the Northern Norway region, between 12 - 14 of June.

I will post more later.
 
It is a lovely tradition. Wasn't something similar done by medieval kings of Norway?

With 19 counties, I suppose each couple visits each county roughly once every decade.
 
From the official calendar and local newspapers:

Day 1 (today, June 12):

Their Majesties The King and Queen visits Sørfold municipality (10:00).

About beautiful Sørfold: Sørfold - Wikipedia

The program translated by me:
The Regent couple arrives at Straumen in Sørfold in the morning. They are welcomed by mayor Lars Evjenth and county governor Hill-Marta Solberg. There will be a people's party at Straumen School, where the mayor will held a welcome speech.
Straumen school and youth corps, Nordbygda school corps and students from the cultural school will play and sing.
Afterwards, the King will give a speech. - The Regent couple will then greet the elderly from the municipality, while youngsters serve coffee and cakes for Their Majesties and the elderly.

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Their Majesties The King and Queen visits Steigen municipality (16:50).

About beautiful Steigen: Steigen - Wikipedia

The program translated by me:
In the afternoon, the Regent coule arrives on Engeløya in Steigen. At Vollmoen, there will be a people's party with a varied program of art and culture.
A piece about today's Steigen, inspired by a scene from "Hagbard and Signe", will be performed. The aim is to provide an insight into Steigen as a diverse municipality.
Afterward, the Queen will give a speech. In the evening, Steigen municipality will be hosting a dinner for the Regent couple and other guests.

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I will post more about day 2 & 3 tomorrow and on Wednesday.

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The Royal Yacht Norge will be used during the entire trip.

Yes, she's a beauty, isn't she? photo

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TV2 follows the county visit with its own team - and there will be a number of entries both on TV2 News Channel and on TV2 (their main channel) Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Their Royal expert Kjell Arne Totlan is already in Nordland county.

Follow his twitter acount here: Kjell Arne Totland - twitter

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Wasn't something similar done by medieval kings of Norway?
Yes, but in a slightly different way then, of course. :flowers:
 
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:previous: Thanks iceflower! :flowers:

More from the Regent couple's visit to Sørfold municipality today:

NRK article with a short video, photo gallery and google translation:
Antoni (4) tapte mot dronningen i videospill: – Hun var flink - NRK - translation

16 min NRK video: Se folkefesten i Sørfold her - NRK

ABC article with google translation: Kongeparet innledet fylkesbesøk i Nordland - ABC - translation

Royal House article with the King's speech - with google translation:
Fylkestur til Nordland: Tale i Sørfold - kongehuset.no - translation

Photos from Scanpix. - From the visit to Straumen school, were a very happy King and Queen enjoyed themselves:

Talking to pupils and enjoying the entertainment.
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea392f
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tce9fede
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea03e2

Here they try their luck at a data game against some local kids, and the Queen won. - Read about it (or watch a video of it) in the NRK article above:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tce9fe41
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tce9fe00

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Royal expert Kjell Arne Totland said on TV2 News Channel that the Regent couple's age and the King's leg problems have been taken into consideration, and the program is therefore lighter than on previous county visits. - But as one can see from the photos, they both look great in the rain today.

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Their Majesties are now on their way to Steigen municipality with The Royal Yacht. - See more information about today's visit in post 3.
 
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The Regent couple are now in Steigen municipality.

The Royal House article about the visit to Sørfold, who iceflower posted in post 4, will be updated with text and photos from Steigen as well.

There are also many local articles with photos and videos, but you must have a subscription to read/watch them.

60 min NRK video: Kongeparet besøker Steigen -NRK

Royal House article with the Queen's speech - with google translation:
Fylkestur til Nordland: Tale i Steigen - kongehuset.no - translation

Royal House instagram gallery

Photos from Scanpix. - From the people's party at Vollmoen on Engeløya in Steigen municipality:

The arrival:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea3b36
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea3b11
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea3b0a
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea3b0c

Watching the entertainment:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea3a8d
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea3ac4
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea3aed
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea3ab3
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea3a92

The Queen gives a speech:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea3a5a

They leave Vollmoen:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea2f5f
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea2f7e
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcea2f81

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The King and Queen are now attending a dinner hosted by Steigen municipality.

They will spend the night on board the Royal Yacht.

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Read/watch the NRK article (with video) in my above post from the visit to Sørfold municipality, and see Their Majesties try their luck at a data game against local kids at Straumen school. The Queen won BTW.
 
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Last night, I updated the two above posts (about yesterday's visits to Sørfold and Steigen) with videos and Scanpix photos.
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Day 2 (today, June 13):

Their Majesties The King and Queen visits Røst municipality (10:00).

About beautiful Røst: Røst - Wikipedia

The program translated by me:
The Regent couple arrives at Glea on Røst, where there will be a big people's party. The royal couple will hear a bit from the Querini Opera, and then meet with several representatives from the municipality's business community.
The King will give a speech, followed by a visit to Røst church, where they will sign a stone to be placed outside the church, next to the stone King Olav V signed in 1963.

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Their Majesties The King and Queen visits Værøy municipality (16:00).

About beautiful Værøy: Værøy - Wikiedia

The program translated by me:
On Wednesday afternoon, they arrives in Værøy.
The main event is added to the village's new kindergarten, which will be officially opened by the Queen.
The royal couple will then learn about Lutefisk (traditional dish) production by the Brothers Andreassen, followed by a people's party at the new kindergarten.
In the evening, Værøy municipality will be hosting a dinner for the Regent couple.

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More about Røst and Værøy:
As two isolated island municipalities, there are no road connections to either Røst or Værøy. - From Wikipedia:

Røst:
As an isolated island municipality, there are no road connections to Røst. It can be reached by boat and airplane. There are ferry connections to neighboring Værøy and also to the town of Bodø on the mainland. Røst Airport has regularly scheduled flights to Bodø.

Værøy:
Helicopter transport is available from Bodø at the Værøy Heliport in Sørland. There was airplane service at Værøy Airport, but it was discontinued after the Værøy accident in 1990 in which five people lost their lives. The airport was determined to be in a bad position, due to the location next to a mountain and the frequent presence of strong and unpredictable winds, which made takeoffs and landings dangerous.[8] Ferry service is also available from Bodø, Moskenes, and Røst.
 
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:previous: Thanks iceflower! :flowers:

More from the Regent couple's visit to Røst:

NRK article with photo gallery and google translation: Ansgar lærte kongeparet å lukte på tørrfisk - NRK - translation

ABC article with google translation: Jubel for kongeparet da de besøkte Røst - ABC - translation

30 min NRK video: Se direkte: Kongeparet besøker Røst - NRK

60 min AN video: Se kongeparets besøk på Røst direkte på ANtv

Royal House article with the King's speech - with google translation:
Fylkestur til Nordland: Tale på Røst - kongehuset.no - translation

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The King and Queen are now on their way to Værøy with The Royal Yacht. - See more information about today's visit in post 7.

The Regent couple are now on Værøy:

The Royal House article about the visit to Røst, who iceflower posted in post 8, will be updated with text and photos from Værøy as well.

Royal House article with the Queen's speech - with google translation:
Fylkestur til Nordland: Tale på Værøy - kongehuset.no - translation

Royal House instagram gallery

Photos from Scanpix. - From inside the new kindergarten:

Looking at stuff:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb00de
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb00b0
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb01a2
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcead5f1

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From the people's party outside the kindergarten:

Watching the entertainment:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcead5e3

The Queen gives a speech:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tcead5e8

She also got a hug from 4-year-old Ella Sørheim:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceac63e

With a dog:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb018e
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb016a
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb0172

The Regent couple leaves the event:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceacc70
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceacc71
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceacc69

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From the dinner this evening:

They look great, as usual:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb010b
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb0143
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb0102

https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb0151
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceae57c
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb0139

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Some photos of the The Royal Yacht today:

Yes, a real beauty she is:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceacd8c
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceacd61
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb0126
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb012e

https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb012b
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb0125
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb0132

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The Regent couple will spend the night on board.

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There are some issues with the google translations again, so in the meantime, use your own.
 
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I have updated the above post from the visit to Værøy with more Scanpix photos of the events there (including the dinner tonight).

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Day 3 (tomorrow, June 14):

Their Majesties The King and Queen visits Moskenes (10.00).

About beautiful Moskenes: Moskenes - Wikipedia

The program translated by me:
On the last day of the county visit, the Regent couple comes to Reine in Moskenes municipality.
The municipality invites to a large cultural people's party on the square in Reine with a view to the characteristic Reinebrinken. - There will be poetry and dance, and the King will give a speech.
After the party, the King and Queen travels to Sakrisøy. There, they will visit the company "Anitas Seafood" and meet representatives for the business community on the island.
The visit to Nordland county ends in Reine, where the Regent couple invites representatives from the 5 municipalities they have visited to a reception on board the The Royal Yacht.
 
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Thank you all for the links and information.
This has been a great visit. The King and Queen look in great form.
 
Thanks iceflower! :flowers:

And polyesco, You're very welcome! :flowers:

More from the Regent couple's visit to beautiful Moskenes:

Nettavisen article with google translation:
Kongeparet avsluttet besøket i Nordland med folkefest i Reine - Nettavisen - translation

Royal House article with the King's speech - with google translation:
Fylkestur til Nordland: Tale i Moskenes - kongehuset.no - translation

Photos from Scanpix. - From the people's party at Reine in Moskenes:

Watching the entertainment:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb7c36
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb7c33

Waving to people:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb7c23
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb7c26
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb7c17

Talking to the press:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tceb504d

See rest of the photos in iceflower's above post.

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Summary from me about this county visit:

The media-coverage:
Live coverage of most of the events on TV2 News Channel.
Articles, videos and live feeds of some of the events on NRK.
Live videos/feeds and articles from all the events in the local papers (you must have a subscription to watch them).

The King: He is quite frail now, and you could easily see that he had trouble standing on his feet, due to his back/leg pains (something both TV2 and the gossip magazine ''Se og Hør'' noticed).
He also seemed tired, and waved and spoke less than he used too, but he was still charming - and you could still see his charismatic personality and his ''magical kindness'' (as Märtha said it on instagram in February).

The Queen: She was on top form, hugging children and everything.

The crowds: Well, almost everyone in these small municipalities showed up (also on the first day when it rained) and cheered their beloved King and his consort.
BTW, The Queen is highly respected and popular in her own right here now (especially after her 80th Birthday last year), but I won't go as far and call her beloved, something she really deserves to be.

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Well, this was it. - And I hope people here have enjoyed it.
 
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Well, here are three Royal Central articles and another NRK article about the visit last week. - None of them, except the first one, was published when I wrote the above post:

King Harald and Queen Sonja visit Nordland – Day 1 – Royal Central
The visit started in Straumen. The King and Queen were welcomed by the county governor of Nordland and the municipality’s mayor. The police were also represented with their police chief. First, the King and Queen travelled to Straumen School. At the school, the whole village had gathered, and the royals received flowers from the children upon their arrival. Everyone brought with them Norwegian flags and shouted “hurray” when the royals walked past.
Then the journey went on with the royal yacht to Steigen. This is an area the Queen has spent a lot of time in on her holidays over the last few decades and knows the area well. However, neither she nor the His Majesty have been there on an official visit, until yesterday. The royal couple were met by musicians and schoolchildren who played and sang when they arrived at Vollmoen in Engeløya. Ten-year-old Amanuel Yemane from Leine’s school and eight-year-old Lea Kristin Nilsen from Nordfold school gave the royal couple flowers.

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King Harald and Queen Sonja visit Nordland – Day 2 – Royal Central
The royals arrived at Røst on the royal yacht “Norge”. This municipality has 365 islands but only 500 inhabitants, and almost all of them were ready to receive the King and Queen. In the municipality’s village of Glea, there was a big party in honour of Their Majesties. The King and Queen saw a number of cultural performances. In addition, the local business community told the royals what they did to make money in such a deserted place.
The King and Queen were welcomed with song and music when they arrived at Værøy. The mayor welcomed the royals and accompanied them to the brand new and modern day care centre. There, many from the local population had met up to join the party. The Queen had the honour of declaring the new kindergarten officially open.

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King Harald and Queen Sonja visit Nordland – Day 3 – Royal Central
When the royal yacht “Norge” arrived at Moskenes, the King and Queen received flowers.
It was the five-year-olds Sigrid and Simen who had the honour of wishing Their Majesties a warm welcome together with the mayor. Local residents were impressed that the two 80-year-old royals have as active a life as they have. Norwegian television NRK spoke to 80-year-old fishermen who said, “The King is in good shape. It is admirable”.
I agree, it's actually quite admirable, especially when you take the King's frailty into consideration.

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Another quote from the last Royal Central article posted above:
King Harald and Queen Sonja took time to speak briefly with the press at their last destination. A special event from the three-day-long visit was that the King and Queen played a video game with the local children on the first day of the visit. The King claimed that the Queen had to have had practised on the game before they arrived because she was too good at playing it. NRK asked the King and Queen if they played a lot of computer games at the Royal Palace. His Majesty replied, “Some may do it, but I do not.”

One can see the short press conference (which Oskar Aanmoen talks about in the above quote) from 08:20 in this NRK video: Se direkte: Kongeparet møter pressen i Moskenes

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NRK article with google translation and some quotes translated by me:
Kongen avslører «hemmeligheten» for å klare hektisk reiseprogram - NRK - translation
When the Regent couple met the press on Thursday, the King pointed out that both him and the Queen are in good health and that this is the "secret" for that they are able to carry out such a hectic program, as they've done in Nordland this week.

"We have both been lucky and stayed healthy. Health is first priority. We don't feel as old as we are, no one does,"said the King with a smile.

The Queen added that being able to travel with the Royal Yacht makes everyday life a lot easier.

''Otherwise we would not have been able to do this,'' she said.
TV2's royal expert Kjell Arne Totland tells NRK that the King probably had a certain need to emphasize that the health was good.

"It's the same week that several weekly magazines have had articles about his painfull legs. The King may have a little trouble with his walking, but considers himself to be in good health.
Read my summary about the county visit in the above post, where I write about the King's more and more visible back/leg pains, and that the press are starting to notice it.

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But as I've written in another thread, the King clearly feels fine, and that's the most important thing.
 
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The CP Couple will begin their annual County Visit tomorrow.

They will visit the municipalities of Svelvik, Holmestrand, Horten, Færder and Larvik in Vestfold County in Eastern Norway between 4 - 6 of September.

The Royal Yacht will be used during the trip.

The programme - translated by me:

September 4th:

Svelvik: The CP Couple will watch excerpts from the play, "Den Gode Hensigt'' (The Good Purpose). They will visit Svelvik Training and Activity Center, and meet local fruit farmers. The visit ends with a people's party.

Holmestrand: They will meet a number of teams and organizations, visit the library where there will be a reading session for children - and take a walk along the dock. They will also visit Hydro Aluminum.

September 5th:

Horten: The CP Couple will visit Edwasd Munch's house and meet children who work with their own art-projects. Then there will be an open event in Munch's garden, where they will meet participants in Horten fruit-community, who volunteerly harvests fruit and berries from Horten's many gardens, making apple juice and other products. The CP Couple then travels to the University of Southeastern Norway, where they will meet students and employees.

Færder: They will visit Bjønnesåsen Living and Treatment Center, meet residents and employees, and see how the municipality has used health technology in its care offer. Then the CP Couple travels to Rosahaug Park, where there will be an open event. Volunteer organizations such as scouts and sailors will demonstrate their activities.

September 6th:

Larvik: They will first visit Kjærra Fossepark (Kjærra Waterfall Park) in Lardal, where they will go for a walk together with children and young people from the village and with representatives from the Kjærrafossen Foundation. The CP Couple will also meet 4H (a global network of youth organizations whose mission is "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development"), the shooting team, the hunter and fishing association and several other organizations, taste local food, and learn about how salmon was caught in the good old days.

The county visit ends at Fredriksvern in Stavern, where there will be an open event.

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TV2 News Channel will follow the visit closely, and their royal expert, Kjell Arne Totland will provide commentary.

BTW: I don't know whether I will have time to follow this visit as closely as I followed the Regent Couple's visit to Nordland County in June, but I'm sure that iceflower, eya and perhaps polyesco will post both photos and articles of the events.
 
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:previous: Thanks eya & iceflower! :flowers:

Read the Crown Princess's speech in Holmestrand here - translation

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Short summary of day 1:

Everything seems to have gone very well.
The CP Couple has been on top form, smiling, talking to people, bending down to children, etc.
Even the meeting with the press, where they talked about literature and young people, went well - and CP MM had left her usual ''not talking to the media face'' back at home.

Media-coverage:
TV2 News Channel with their always enthusiastic royal expert, Kjell Arne totland, have covered everything from MM's shoes to what they were eating.
There have also been some local articles, but far from the extent we saw during the Regent Couple's County-Visit in June.
 
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Thanks polyesco! :flowers:

As one can see in the third photo (and as I saw live on TV yesterday), CP MM even allowed people to take selfies, CP Haakon did too BTW.
Not that surprising, since they are not the types to say no when people ask, and that's a good thing, I think.

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English article: Crown Prince couple is warmly welcomed in Vestfold - Norway Today

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Today they will do what I wrote in post 16.
In addition, the CP couple invites representatives from the 5 municipalities they have visited to a reception on board The Royal Yacht. - And even better, the court has allowed TV2 News Channel to film parts of it.
Well, that new communications director really does a good job, doesn't she?
And let's hope it continues.
 
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The Royal House article about the visit to Horten and Færder, who iceflower posted above, has been updated with more text and photos.

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Here are som photos from the reception at The Royal Yacht this evening (which I wrote about this morning in post 21):
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td228072
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td228044
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td228024
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td227ffa
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/td227ff6

And a photo of the beautiful lady herself in the background (taken yesterday).

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And now let's talk about my favourite yachts or ships (call it what you want):

First place: The Royal Yacht Norge.

Second place: MS Nordstjernen.
She was protected as a national heritage in Norway by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage in 2012.
Look at this photo. Yes, I do LOVE her, even been on board.

Third place: MS Lofoten.
She was declared worthy of preservation in 2001 by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage.
Look at this photo. - Isn't she beautiful?

Fourth place: The Royal Yacht Dannebrog

Beautiful ships with beautiful lines, what more can you give me.
 
I think it's a beautiful line-up of three vessels and a ship, Dannebrog. ?
You win no prize for guessing which one I find the most beautiful. ;)
 
the Norge and Dannebrog are beautiful sights to see. Love that Norway and Denmark uses them.
Not sure about the two other vessels, the black bottom parts.

Its been a nice visit so far.
 
I think it's a beautiful line-up of three vessels and a ship, Dannebrog. ?
You win no prize for guessing which one I find the most beautiful. ;)
If you like very feminine lines, then Dannebrog is your girl. ?

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the Norge and Dannebrog are beautiful sights to see. Love that Norway and Denmark uses them.
Not sure about the two other vessels, the black bottom parts.

Its been a nice visit so far.
IMO, that's what highlights the lines. ?

BTW, I forgot to mention another beauty, The Royal Yacht Britannia: photo 1 - photo 2

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English article about day 2: The Crown Prince Couple's visit to Vestfold - Norway Today
 
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A pity Britannia was retired. :sad:

I love feminine lines! - Also on women.
 
All nice looking ships. However, my favourite is the Dannebrog in looks and love her interiors. I especially love the way the Royal family use her.
She is a home away from home.
 
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