Annual Gala for Stortinget 2003 - 2023

[ROYAL NORWAY]

I'm counting down to the Stortingsmiddag (the Annual Gala dinner for Stortinget) tomorrow with a post about the anual royal state events in Norway:

The 3 biggest:

May 17th (National Day) celebrations:
The CP family is greeting the children's parade at Skaugum in Asker.

The Royal Family stands on the palace balcony in Oslo where they greets the children's parade for three hours. NRK1 sends live from the Palace Square in Oslo and the rest of the country from 08:00 to 14:00 while NRK2 sends live from the Palace Square alone from 10:30 to 14:00. Live on TV2 News Channel as well.

The Opening of the Storting in October:
The King/Queen (in open car) and the Crown Prince (in closed car) is being driven from the palace to the Storting where the King reads the government's speech before they sits in thrones while they are listening to speeches from various politicians before they are driven back to the palace.

NRK1 sends it live in a one hour broadcast, while TV2 News Channel sends live for about two hours.

The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in December:
The King/Queen and the CP couple arrives (in closed cars) at Oslo City Hall where they attend the whole ceremony before being driven back to the palace.

NRK1 and TV2 News Channel sends live for about two hours.

Other events:

The Opening of the Sami Parliament in October:
The King, accompanied by ether the Queen or the Crown Prince opens the Sameting every fourth year. NRK1 sends it live for about one hour.

The Stortingsmiddag in October:
Not covered by NRK, but TV2 News Channel sends the procession and speeches live.

That was it, but I will have coverage of the dinner tomorrow.

[Muhler]

We shall be looking forward to a comprehensive coverage - in the way that you spoil us with.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Thanks, Muhler!

And now, let's go to work:

1. The Stortingsmiddag was established as a permanent tradition by King Haakon VII in 1906. The dinner has been held every year - except for the World War II years and when major maintenance work has made it impossible.

2. The MPs will be greeted by the King/Queen, the Crown Princess and Princess Astrid in Speilsalen (the Music Hall) - photo of the room:
https://dbstatic.no/64220719.jpg?ima...024&height=683

They will then walk into the Smal Dining Room - photos of the room:
https://dbstatic.no/64220751.jpg?ima...024&height=683
http://www.royalcourt.no/aim/kongehu...et:quality=100

They will then walk into the Smal Ballroom - photo of the room:
https://dbstatic.no/64220690.jpg?ima...024&height=683

They will then walk into the The Great Ballroom - photos of the room:
https://dbstatic.no/64220702.jpg?ima...024&height=683
http://www.royalcourt.no/aim/kongehu...et:quality=100

They will then walk into the Banqueting Hall - photo of the room:
https://dbstatic.no/64220705.jpg?ima...024&height=685

3. All the MPs from the republican Socialist Left Party have announced that they will attend the dinner. Only the republican Bjørnar Moxnes from the Red Party dared to decline the invitation from our extremely popular monarch (the most popular head of state in his own country along with QEII).

4. TV2 News Channel (with royal expert Kjell Arne Totland) has been live from the Palace Square for an hour already - I will have Live streams in one of my next posts.

[Kingen]

Thanks Royal Norway for your posts, and now I got a better mental picture of the rooms of the Royal Palace and how they are situated.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Thanks Kingen!

My second post this evening - see the above post for more information of this historical dinner.

TV2 News Channel sends live from the Palace Square again. The Changing of the Guard has taken place and the MPs are now arriving.

Edit: Many of the new MPs are nervous about meeting His Majesty the King.

Edit: Members of the government arrives.

Edit: The MPs are praising Norway's amazing monarch.

[Muhler]

Beautiful rooms, Royal Norway.

I have little respect for republicans who "out of principle" refuse to attend event with royals.
They are IMO showing disrespect not only for the head of state but also the democracy.
It's one thing to be a republican, that's alright. But Norway is a democracy. And a majority of the population prefer Norway to be a monarchy. That's it, the people have spoken.
So like it or not the Norwegian head of state is a king.

On top of that this is an event celebrating the Parliament, and therefore the democracy. Staying away is in my eyes, dismissing the democracy. It's putting their own political view above the will of the people. That IMO is disrespecting the democracy.

The very same republicans would no doubt be pretty miffed, should Norway become a republic and monarchists among the MP's decided to boycott such an event.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

I couldn't agree more, but the funny thing is that all the republican MPs are now attending the dinner (with the exeption of Bjørnar Moxnes, the Red Party's only MP).

Why? Because of the King's enormous personal popularity (approval ratings at above 90%) and the fact the we now have record high support for the monarchy.

Edit: The Prime minister has arrived.

Edit: The MPs are now walking through the beautiful rooms.

[Muhler]

They don't want to miss the show.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

No, they don't.

Live stream from NRK:
https://www.nrk.no/norge/carl-erik-g...ant-1.13751238

Edit: The royals will walk in very soon.

Edit: They've walked in.

Edit: His Majesty will speak soon.

Edit: The King is joking with the fact that NTB declared him dead in september.

Edit: He's funny as usual.

Edit: The King mentioned the controversy with the royal court's economy which was raised by Dagbladet (republican paper) in 2016.

Edit: The president of the storting will speak now.

Edit: The president is praising the King and Queen.

Edit: The MPs are now singing the royal anthem.

[Kingen]

A lot of guests in black tie, and even some in suits. Is it optional with black tie for the dinner?

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Sorry for not responding, but I had to eat.

They are told to wear their finest outfits, wheter it's white/black tie, suits or bunad.

Photos:
https://imbo.vgc.no/users/bildespesi...7a162c990f5cc9
https://imbo.vgc.no/users/bildespesi...3ab26933335959

The King's speech is/was the main story on the NRK, TV2 and VG websites and is all over the TV news here, and I will have more coverage later this evening.

[Kingen]

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

Sorry for not responding, but I had to eat.

They are told to wear their finest outfits, wheter it's white/black tie, suits or bunad.

Oh no worries! If they eat you have to eat yourself! I like that, it is very inclusive and make everyone to feel welcome and appreciated.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

And that's the King's goal, to make everyone feel welcome and appreciated.

Videos from NTB Scanpix:

22 min video of the MPs walking in:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/video/tc528cba

40 min video from the royal procession and speeches.
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/video/tc529486

Photos from NTB Scanpix:

The King/Queen:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tc529f86
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tc529f83

The Crown Princess and Princess Astrid - The Princess had to wear her special corset again due to back pain:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tc529fa9
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tc529f9b

Inside the Banqueting Hall - The woman besides the King is prime minister Erna Solberg:
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tc528e0a
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tc528f85
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tc528e7c
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tc528e4e
https://scanpix.no/spWebApp/preview/editorial/tc529cc0

The TV2 coverage:
The coverage on TV2 News Channel was very pro monarchy (as usual) with political commentator Kjetil Løset and Royal Expert Kjell Arne Totland at the palace square and later in the studio. They sent from 19:00 to 21:00 - not made available on their website, but here's a video of the Kings speech:
https://www.tv2.no/v/1242533/

The NRK coverage:
NRK, which have coverage of all other royal state events on NRK1 (as one can see in my post 103) never uses to send the dinner live on TV, but they gave after for the pressure and sent it live on NRK2 tonight.

They had their royal reporter Kristi Marie Skrede in the studio along with Aftenposten's editor Harald Stanghelle (a republican who likes the King). He interviewed His Majesty at the palace this year and has written many articles where he praises the King. I've in fact translated one of them in the 80th birthday thread, where he writes about the ''enormous position'' the King has among the Norwegian people.

Unlike TV2, they also mentioned the controversy with the royal court's economy, which was raised by Dagbladet (republican paper) in 2016, and by the King during his speech tonight.

They sent from 19:45 to 20:40 - watch the broadsast here:
https://tv.nrk.no/serie/nyheter/NNFA41017617/26-10-2017

About me: Something came up here, so my coverage was a bit slow this evening, but I will translate articles tomorrow.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

More about the Stortingsmiddag yesterday evening:

There are no translated version of the King's (highly praised) speech yet, and I don't bother to do it now, but I will translate some quotes from some of the many articles:

NRK article:
https://www.nrk.no/norge/carl-erik-g...ant-1.13751238

Political suicide to go against the King

Carl Erik Grimstad has only been to the palace to greet old colleagues after he quitted 25 years ago. Tonight he meets the King and Queen again, former bosses he has great respect for.

''The political system (monarchy) itself has passed the test. We can't, as politicians, distance us from that. See the love people show to the King and Queen and the family. To argue against the monarchy is Harakiri for a politician.''

NRK: Yes, if you go against the King, you are not re-elected? We ask.

Grimstad laughs well.

"No, I probably will not.''

Carl Erik Grimstad:
1. I mentioned him in my 3 posts about Norway's 3 monarchs and their popularity in the ''Republic of Monarchy'' thread.

2. He was secretary for CP Sonja in the 1980s and became the King's speechwriter after King Olav died, before he quitted a year later.

3. He then became a critic of the monarchy and treated the King as crap in 1998 ( His Majesty's Annus horribilis) and said that he wanted Norway to become a republic. But he changed his mind last year, and is now known as ''monarchist and Haraldlist''.

4. What do I think about him? That he's a hypocrite.

Political suicide to go against the King?
That's true, many of the republican politicians/commentators have received death threats by people for insulting Norway's amazing monarch.

VG article:
http://www.vg.no/rampelys/kong-haral...et/a/24172659/

In the welcome speech to the MPs at the Palace tonight, King Harald was joking with NTB's misdirected message of his passing.

''As you have understood, the rumor of my passing is considerably exaggerated - although the country's editors got a slightly different impression in September. The only one who has gone out of time here tonight is probably the moose that we'll soon get served,'' said the king when he welcomed the MPs to the annual gala dinner at the Palace.

TV2 article:
Kong Harald fleipet om sin egen død

Joking with the Queen

The King showed more good humor in the speech.

''The Queen also received another nice surprise this year when she received the Trysil Knut Prize. The local newspaper asked the jury for reasons for their choice. The committee member then said: "I will praise Queen Sonja for the handling of King Harald," he said to a great laugh from the hall.

''Dette må jeg bare slutte meg aller hjerteligst til,'' he said (means that he agrees).

He also addressed topics such as climate change, a greener Norway, technology and the importance of maintaining freedom of speech, although modern media can make debates unpleasant.

More from the speech - translated by me:
The King also drew historical lines in the speech, and quoted what King Olav said in the same hall during the dinner for the MPs in 1983:

"Reducing unemployment, reducing tension and limiting contamination are today three of the most important goals for politicians in all continents.

Just the same as we could say today. People's quest for work has gained new topicality when we enter into an era of artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, the world seems to be more characterized by tension and division than by cooperation. And climate change is present every day - most recently during the great flood in southern Norway.

We all have one voice and one language. When we meet and talk to each other, we can create great things together - and jointly solve our challenges. We are people who determine our own future.''

Not easy for a dyslexic like me to translate speeches, but I hope it was readable.

About the speech:
1. Trygve Svensson at the University of Bergen (TV2 speech expert) said that he will use yesterdays speech to teach his students.

2. Read the whole speech in Norwegian here:
Stortingsmiddagen 2017: Kongens tale - kongehuset.no

3. His world famous 2016 garden party speech (called the world's best speech) has become pensum i Videregående skole (Norvegian Upper secondary school).

About the King:
1. He's Norway's superstar and Haakon will in my (and most other Norwegians) eyes, never be able to fill his shoes.

2. And today we heard that he would visit flood-affected municipalities to confort the people there.

3. A new biography about the king was released last Friday - I will make a post about it in the 80th birthday thread in the coming days.

[wartenberg7]

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

More about the Stortingsmiddag yesterday evening:

Political suicide to go against the King?
That's true, many of the republican politicians/commentators have received death threats by people for insulting Norway's amazing monarch.


THey insulted him?! How shameful!!!



About the King:
1. He's Norway's superstar and Haakon will in my (and most other Norwegians) eyes, never be able to fill his shoes.

I´m sorry, but that was said about Harald when his father was still alive, too! I believe Haakon will make a great monarch as he is a great Crown Prince, too!

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Well, it's Stortingsdinner time again, so let's go through it:

History of the dinner: Established as a permanent tradition by King Haakon VII in 1906, and held every year since, at The Royal Palace (except during the WWII-years and under major renovations).
About the dinner: Well, the MPs (including the Prime Minister, other ministers and some representatives of other authorities in Norway) will start walking into the Palace at about 19:00 (18:00 UK time).

They will be greeted by the King, the Queen, the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess (yes, she will be present, so proud of her) & Princess Astrid (suffering from several illnesses, including Parkinson's disease, but still going strong at 86) in Speilsalen (the Music Hall). - Photos of the room: photo 1 - photo 2

They will then walk into the Smal Dining Room. - Photos of the room: photo 1 - photo 2 - photo 3

And then into the Smal Ballroom. - Photos of the room: photo 1 - photo 2

And then into the The Great Ballroom. - Photos of the room: photo 1 - photo 2 - photo 3

And then into the Banqueting Hall. - Photos of the room: photo 1 - photo 2 - photo 3 - photo 4

The royal procession (headed by Lord Chamberlain, Gry Mølleskog) of Their Majesties, Their Royal Highnesses & Princess Astrid will start at 20:00 - and go through the same beautiful rooms.
HM The King will then give a speech (usually a very funny one), followed by the National Anthem, a speech from the President of The Storting (Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen, her first time as president) before the Royal Anthem will be played.

Well, this was it!

--------------------

And to those who might notice that not every male wears white-tie? Well, people are told to wear their finest outfits, and that's exactly what they're doing (white/black-tie or even suits).

--------------------

Television-coverage:

Well, in Norway, we are as crazy as the Brits/Danes (if not even more) - And both The May 17th (National Day) Celebrations, The Opening of the Storting in October, The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in December, The King's New-Years-speeches, milestone Birthdays/Jubilees of the Regent-Couple and other special events such as Weddings & Christenings are always sent live on NRK1 (the state-owned Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's and Norway's largest TV-channel) and on TV2 News Channel (owned by the TV2 Group, Norway's largest commercial media company).

But the Stortingsdinner has always been the exception - and was first covered after TV2 News Channel was launched in 2007. However, that changed last year when NRK2 (Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's second largest TV-channel) started covering it.

This evening: Well, the royal procession and the speeches will be covered live by NRK2 (from 19:45 to 20:30) and TV2 News Channel (from 19:30 to 20:30).
I will, of course, provide live-links if available (about 80% sure that there will be at least one that works outside Norway).

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Oh, went a bit fast in the last sentence there, corrected it now.

TV2-live

--------------------

I will add more to this post, later.

--------------------

Edit: The guy who speaks is TV2's royal expert , Kjell Arne Totland.

Edit: Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen, the President of the Storting arrives.

Edit: The Crown Princess is present, looking great!

Edit: We are currently seeing the greetings in Speilsalen (the Music Hall), the first time the media has been allowed to film from that room during the Stortingsdinner.

Edit: Prime Minister Erna Solberg greeting the royals.

Edit: The royal procession has started.

Edit: The King will speak shortly.

Edit: The King is speaking, funny as usual - and you can hear the Crown Princess laughing.

Edit: HM is talking about his meeting with people on his visits around Norway.

Edit: He's talking about his marriage to the Queen (their Golden Wedding Anniversary).

Edit: He is finished.

Edit: The National Anthem is played, the MPs singing.

Edit: The President of the Storting is speaking.

Edit: The Crown Princess is laughing again, in GREAT spirit.

Edit: The President of the Storting is praising the King & the royal family, and their closeness to the people.

Edit: The Royal Anthem is played, the MPs singing.

Edit: The media is thrown out.

[wartenberg7]

I am crying seeing the CPcss. I went to a church today and lit a candle for her. I hope some of you might join in as joint prayers are very powerful!

[eya]

The King and the Queen

https://dbstatic.no/70371305.jpg?ima...643&height=966

CP Haakon, CP Mette Marit and Princess Astrid

https://dbstatic.no/70371266.jpg?ima...024&height=615


http://www.kongehuset.no/tale.html?t...=26947&scope=0


*and thanks to our reporter ROYAL NORWAY!

[Tirilschatz]

It's maybe only me but in this picture Haakon resembles to his great grandfather, Haakon VII.