Thanks, Eya & Iceflower!
My bunad is on, and I'm ready to party.
Well, no other country is celebrating their Constitution Day like us, it's actually bigger than British royal weddings. I.e. It's an official public holiday; ''children's parades'' around the country, with about the whole population dressed up in their finest outfits out watching it (many in ''bunad'' -
English link); before going to restaurants, cafes, parks and community centres for enjoying some food.
Read about everything in this English Wikipedia article (
link).
And about the royal part of it in this Royal House article (
link).
--------------------
Today's happenings. - BTW, current Norwegian time (CEST) is one hour ahead of current UK time (BST):
08:15 AM to about 09:00 AM: The CP-Family will appear on the steps of their official (but privately owned) residence Skaugum in Asker municipality to greet the children's parade from the Asker schools. That tradition has lasted since 1946, also after King Olav V moved to The Royal Palace following his accession to the throne in 1957 from when Skaugum served as his weekend home until 1968, when the new CP-Couple (Harald and Sonja) moved in. - And after King Harald V acceded to the throne in 1991, when it continued to serve as Their Majesties main home (because the palace was under renovations) until it was transferred to the new CP-Couple (Haakon and MM) in 2001.
10:30 AM to about 13:30 PM: The Regent-Couple and The CP-Family will appear on the balcony at The Royal Palace in Oslo to greet the children's parade from the Oslo schools. Tradition introduced by King Haakon VII and Queen Maud in 1906, and which has taken place every year since, except 1910, when the Royal Family were in the UK for the funeral of King Edward VII (Maud's father), and during the WWII years:
*The Royals will walk to each side of the balcony, before taking centre stage.
*The Staff Band of The Norwegian Armed Forces will march into the Palace Square.
*The leader of the May 17th committee of Oslo will speak.
*The Staff Band will play both the Royal and National anthems.
*The Staff Band will march out of the Palace Square.
*The children's parade will march below the balcony.
*The Marching Band of The King's Guards will march into the Palace Square.
*They will play ''Gud signe vårt dyre fedreland'' (God Bless Our Dear Fatherland), who is often referred to as Norway's "national psalm''.
*The Marching Band of The King's Guards will march out of the Palace Square, while playing Gammel jegermarsj (Old Hunter's March).
* The Royals will walk to the right side of the balcony, where The King will receive parademarsj (Parade march) from the Guard on sentry duty at the Palace Square, before walking to the left side of the balcony.
*The Royals will again take centre stage at the balcony, before walking inside the palace.
BTW: When I talk about right and left, I mean from our viewing point.
And then to the Royals who don't stand on the balcony:
Princess Astrid will watch from a window on the right side of the balcony, where she is sometimes joined by her children/grandchildren, while Märtha and her daughters (and Ari pre-August 2016) sometimes stand in a window beside.
Why aren't these two princesses on the balcony on May 17th? Because they are (since marrying) not members of the Royal House. I.e. no HRH style, no official flag-day for their birthday, no apanage, no exemption from paying tax and no requirement to perform royal duties.
But Sverre isn't a RH-member either? No, he's the first child of a Norwegian monarch/heir to not be so from birth, but since all the others in his position (I.e Ragnhild, Astrid and Märtha) were there before they married, he is too. - And The Regent/CP-Couples didn't want to make any difference between him and Ingrid (''why is my sister out there and not me'' kind of a thing).
And then to the private luncheon in the Small Dining Room (photo
1 2 3) inside the palace:
Their Majesties, The CP-Family, Princess Astrid and members of her family, sometimes Märtha and her daughters (and Ari pre-August 2016) and some of the courtiers enjoy some food after the official part of the day has ended.
BTW, The Regent-Couple also used to make an afternoon visit to an area in Oslo but ended that tradition after 2011, due to their age.
If Märtha attends (with or without her daughters), will the ''shaman'' guy be there? Well, one commentator thinks it's possible (especially since he's now met Their Majesties), while another one thinks not.
--------------------
TV-coverage:
The state-owned Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), Norway's largest media organisation:
''Gratulerer med Dagen'' (Congratulations with the day), the traditional and extensive May 17th broadcast, sent every year since 1959.
NRK1, Norway's largest TV-channel:
Live from 07:50-14:00 at the Palace Square with NRK-presenter, Nadia Hasnaoui [born 1963] (known for her many royal programs/documentaries and previous May 17th broadcasts, she's also very pro-monarchy in her presenting style) and Christian Strand [born 1980] (Oslo-reporter for the day, but known for various programmes on NRK).
NRK's Royal Correspondent, Kristi Marie Skrede is one of the guests (used to be pretty balanced, but has now turned into what I would describe as very pro-monarchy in her style).
Summary of the day from 19:55-21:40.
NRK2, their second largest TV-channel:
Live from 10:20-13:30 at the Palace Square with Ida Kjøstelsen [born 1975] (commentator of the children's parade, known for her NRK-work with The Royal Family and sports).
NRK1 live her (link) [the NRK2 link, which is constantly live from the Palace Square, is unfortunately not available outside Norway]
TV 2 Group, Norway's largest commercial media company:
TV2, their largest and Norway's second largest TV-channel:
Live from 07:00-08:00 and from 11:00-13:00 at the Palace Square with News anchors Yvonne Fondenes and Rune Kjos.
Live from 08:00-11:00 with Jan Thomas [born 1966] (stylist without a surname, hired in to try to steal some viewers from NRK, LOL) and Vår Staude [born 1966] from the Breakfast show ''God Morgen Norge'' (Good Morning Norway) from their studio at Aker Brygge in Oslo.
Also live throughout the day at TV2 News Channel.
TV2's former Royal Correspondent, Anne Fredrikstad [born 1969] (known to be pretty pro-monarchy in her style), is live at Skaugum and the Palace Square, replacing their 74-year-old suuuuuper pro-monarchy (perhaps a bit TOO much for some) Royal Expert, Kjell Arne Totland, who has a day off.
The RH-Calendar was updated right before/after I wrote the above post yesterday, saying: 
