80th Birthday Celebrations of King Harald V and Queen Sonja

[ROYAL NORWAY]

It now looks like It's scenario 2 in my above post that is correct. NRK1's TV schedule now shows that nothing is planned between 19:45 to 20:55 on May 9th and between 19:45 to 20:55 and 21:35 to 22:50 on May 10th.

Not much compared to coverage of previous royal celebrations in Norway, but (if this is correct) both the dinners will at least be broadcasted.

[Kingen]

Confirmation from Sweden, we don't know exactly what they will attend but they are attending the joint celebrations of King Harald and Queen Sonja's 80th birthdays.

The King, The Queen, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia are attending on 9-10 May according to the website.

Kalender - Sveriges Kungahus

[Kingen]

We have it. The Norwegian Government has made a program, released today.

Tuesday 9 May
17.30 Entertainment at the Royal Palace Square, and at 18.30 will the Royal Family and their European guests appear on the balcony.

20.00 Gala dinner at the Royal Palace.

Wednesday 10 May
11.00 Luncheon at Kongeskipet Norge

19.00 Dinner at the Opera House. The dinner is the official gift to the Royal Couple on their birthdays from the Government. The Royals will go in cortege at Karl Johan Street from the Royal Palace to the Opera House.

https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuel...ger/id2550678/

And as well by the Court:
http://www.kongehuset.no/artikkel.ht...216&sek=112472

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Kingen

We have it. The Norwegian Government has made a program, released today.

Tuesday 9 May
17.30 Entertainment at the Royal Palace Square, and at 18.30 will the Royal Family and their European guests appear on the balcony.

20.00 Gala dinner at the Royal Palace.

Wednesday 10 May
11.00 Luncheon at Kongeskipet Norge

19.00 Dinner at the Opera House. The dinner is the official gift to the Royal Couple on their birthdays from the Government. The Royals will go in cortege at Karl Johan Street from the Royal Palace to the Opera House.

https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuel...ger/id2550678/

And as well by the Court:
Feiring av kongeparets 80-årsdager - kongehuset.no

Has the guest list for the gala dinner been released yet ?

[Kingen]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

Has the guest list for the gala dinner been released yet ?

Not yet. We'll probably not get it until the same day, or maybe the day before.

[Mary-Rose]

Originally Posted by Kingen

Not yet. We'll probably not get it until the same day, or maybe the day before.

Yes your are right, we have to wait until the royals houses update their calendars.. It seems King Felipe and Queen Letizia will not attend. The president of Costa Rica will make an official visit( no state visit) on may 8th-9th. i dont think they will attend the dinner on 9th or attend just the gala on 10th. most possible Sofia and JC will attend

[ricarda]

From Denmark the Queen, the CP Couple and (on 10 May only) Prince Joachim&Princess Marie will attend. They will travel and spend the night on their royal yacht Dannebrog.
Fejring af D.M. Kong Harald og Dronning Sonja af Norge | Kongehuset

[ROYAL NORWAY]

I and others are very surprised right now because these celebrations will actually be as big as in 2007. The royal expert Kjell Arne Totland will talk about it shortly on TV 2 news channel.

He has seen the invitation and the gala dinner on May 9th will be white tie with tiaras/orders while the big dinner in the opera on May 10th will be black tie.

Read everything in english here:
https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuel...ays/id2550678/

[polyesco]

How great!
attendance by the Sweden and Denmark royal families
It will be some special days

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Translated by me:
Rekordfeiring av kongeparet: 30-40 kongelige gjester kommer til Oslo - Aftenposten

Aftenposten has information that the number of royal guests from all over Europe is exceptionally high:

Between 30 and 40 majesties, dukes and exellents will be in Oslo. It will be the largest amount of royal guests since the wedding in 2001.

The palace in Oslo gives no information about the royal guest list. Nevertheless, everything suggests that that all of Europe's royal houses will be represented, with the possible exception of Liechstenstein.

Kjell Arne Totland also says that the presidents of Finland and Iceland are invited.

[Kingen]

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

Translated by mee:
Rekordfeiring av kongeparet: 30-40 kongelige gjester kommer til Oslo - Aftenposten

Kjell Arne Totland also says that the presidents of Finland and Iceland are invited.

Nice to hear that. I like the tradition of the Nordic Head of states gather for this kind of celebrations.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by ricarda

From Denmark the Queen, the CP Couple and (on 10 May only) Prince Joachim&Princess Marie will attend. They will travel and spend the night on their royal yacht Dannebrog.
Fejring af D.M. Kong Harald og Dronning Sonja af Norge | Kongehuset

That means they will stay on Danish territory a good deal of the time and Oslo is only a couple of hours sailing time from Danish territorial waters - so perhaps they will dispense with the Rigsforstander rule again?
Anyway it's considerate, since this means less people the NRF have to accommodate.

ADDED: I didn't think of Benedikte.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Originally Posted by Kingen

Nice to hear that. I like the tradition of the Nordic Head of states gather for this kind of celebrations.

I agree! It is said that the security in Oslo (not surprising) will be enormous. There are also rumors that the King and Queen is to be driven to the opera in an open car.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

I agree! It is said that the security in Oslo (not surprising) will be enormous. There are also rumors that the King and Queen is to be driven to the opera in an open car.

Does the Norwegian Royal House still use horse-drawn carriages like in Sweden or Denmark ?

[Blog Real]

Will the Kings of Spain also be present?

[Kingen]

In 2007 I remember that two of King Carl Gustaf's sisters, Princess Desiree and Princess Christina, attended the celebrations as well, as they seems to be close to the Norwegian royal family, and maybe Queen Sonja in particular.

However, this year I don't think that any of them will attend for obvious reasons. Princess Desiree's husband just died, and the funeral will take place 11 May, and Princess Christina is fighting cancer and is not seen very often in public due to this.

[Mary-Rose]

Originally Posted by Blog Real

Will the Kings of Spain also be present?

i dont think so. The President of Costa Rica will pay an oficial visit to spain on may 8/9. Maybe Sofia and JC will attend-.

[Blog Real]

Originally Posted by Mary-Rose

i dont think so. The President of Costa Rica will pay an oficial visit to spain on may 8/9. Maybe Sofia and JC will attend-.

Yes, but it is not known how long it will be in Spain, because the President is also going to Netherlands in those days.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

Does the Norwegian Royal House still use horse-drawn carriages like in Sweden or Denmark ?

No, that has not been done since Queen Maud lived. Both King Haakon (last part of his reign), King Olav and King Harald have used open cars.

These are the two open cars:

The Iconic A1: The roadmaster from 1939 is perhaps the most famous of the royal cars. This is the car that brought King Haakon and Crown Princess Märtha from Honnørbryggen to the palace on June 7, 1945. It was a gift to Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha from General Motors during their trip to the United States in 1939.

It was last used by King Harald and Queen Sonja from Stiftsgården to Nidarosdomen in Trondheim during the Consecration on June 23, 1991.

Pictures:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...OB.F12093b.jpg

http://www.adressa.no/kultur/article..._1_TG4I41K.jpg

A5: This is a Lincoln Continental purchased in April 1966. This is the car used during the wedding between Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja in 1968 - and later at the wedding between Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit in 2001. It was rented for the wedding in 2001 because it had been sold in the meantime. In 2002, the car was purchased back by the Royal Court. The car is still used on official occasions.

Picture:
http://www.royalcourt.no/aim/kongehu...bb83943151.jpg

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Mary-Rose

i dont think so. The President of Costa Rica will pay an oficial visit to spain on may 8/9. Maybe Sofia and JC will attend-.

He may only have lunch with Felipe on the 8th and that's it.