King Harald and Queen Sonja Current Events, Part 2: February 2015 - December 2020 - Page 8

eya · #**141** 08-17-2017, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

The Queen also has two engagements today: She granted representatives from the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet an audience earlier today and will attend a concert and reception hosted by the Queen Sonja International Music Competition at Oscarshall (17:00).

Pics

Klassiske perler på Oscarshall - kongehuset.no

Queen Sonja arrives at the opera to attend the evening's final in Queen Sonja International Music Competition.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BX8V03wH...ic_competition
https://www.instagram.com/p/BX8bPNBl...norskekongehus
https://www.instagram.com/p/BX8sYiiF...norskekongehus

sm1939 · #**142** 08-17-2017, 06:59 AM

gosh the King and Queen are so busy , compare to the crown prince and princess ......they are always doing something visiting places or opening new sites

ROYAL NORWAY · #**143** 08-17-2017, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eya

Article from yesterday - read more:
King Harald attends the World Championship in sailing – Royal Central

Quote:

The World Championship in sailing started Tuesday and will last five days; the last sailing will happen on Saturday. Perhaps the most prominent athlete competing for the championship title is King Harald V of Norway. The King arrived in Østfold in Norway, where the tournament takes place, on Monday. There are 28 boats registered to start. Next to King Harald in “Sira,” there are also five other Norwegian vessels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sm1939

gosh the King and Queen are so busy , compare to the crown prince and princess ......they are always doing something visiting places or opening new sites

1. The CP couple certainly have their faults, and they are nearly as active as Harald/Sonja were when they were the CP couple.

2. Why? Because they want to be there for their children.

3. But Haakon (and to a lesser extent Mette-Marit) has several engagements each year, and the King said this in a interview with NTB earlier this year:
No pause for breath for the royal couple who've reached the grand age of 80 - Norway Today

Quote:

The king said the crown prince occasionally offers to take over some assignments.

King Harald said, ’But I seldom accept the offer, I should emphasise!’

In other news - from NRK:
https://www.nrk.no/buskerud/1.13646128
Queen Sonja comes to Drammen to walk with a group of immigrant women in the woods on Thursday, August 24th. The background for the visit is DNT Drammen's (The Norwegian Trekking Association in Drammen's) work on trips for multicultural people - picture from NRK:
https://gfx.nrk.no/tlv4mwmmP2N8bm3cx...Nbi7LQOvTwun6Q

The Queen also has two engagements today: She granted representatives from the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet an audience earlier today and will attend a concert and reception hosted by the Queen Sonja International Music Competition at Oscarshall (17:00).

ROYAL NORWAY · #**144** 08-18-2017, 01:23 PM

From NTB (the Norwegian News Agency) for TV2 and other news sites - summary by me:
Kong Harald besøker amerikanske elitesoldater

"The King will visit the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Norfolk by invitation," says the palace's Deputy Communications Manager Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen to NTB. The visit to the state of Virginia takes place on Wednesday, August 23th.

Next Friday, August 25th, the King will visit the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM or SOCOM).

Other details of the visit have not been announced, but Haakon is (acording to the royal house's program) regent until at least September 1th.

ROYAL NORWAY · #**145** 08-19-2017, 12:51 PM

The Queen attended the finale of the Queen Sonja International Music Competition at the Oslo Opera House yesterday evening:
South Korean tenor won Queen Sonja's music competition - Norway Today

Pictures from Scanpix:
Søk | Scanpix

Søk | Scanpix

Søk | Scanpix

Søk | Scanpix

Søk | Scanpix

The finale was sent live on NRK - watch it here:

Part 1:
https://tv.nrk.no/serie/dronning-son...117/18-08-2017

Part 2 - HM shows Hans Olav Brenner (the NRK journalist/presenter) around at Oscarshall at 07:20 and presents the diplomas to the winners at 01:11:30:
https://tv.nrk.no/serie/dronning-son...217/18-08-2017

More about the King's visit to the US:

Read more: (The NTB article I wrote a summary of yesterday - now translated by Norway Today)
King Harald touring the US next week - Norway Today

Quote:

– His Majesty the King will visit NATO’s headquarters in Norfolk by invitation, Deputy Communications Manager Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen at the Royal Court tells NTB.

The visit to NATO’s headquarters in the state of Virginia will take place on Wednesday, 23 August. Next Friday, August 25, King Harald will visit the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM), which is one of the nine common main commands of the US Department of Defense. The command is responsible for, inter alia, US special forces and headquartered at the MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

Read more: King Harald of Norway to visit the United States – Royal Central

Quote:

His Majesty King Harald V of Norway will make a visit to the United States next week. The visit will, among other things, mean that the King performs official visits in both Florida and in Virginia. It is uncertain how long King Harald will be in the United States, but the visit will last for at least three or four days.

The visit to Virgina will take place on Wednesday, while the visit to Florida will take place Friday, next week. The King will travel alone, no other members of the royal family will join him.

polyesco · #**146** 08-21-2017, 12:16 PM

The King out sailing
Dramatisk finaledag i seile-VM - kongehuset.no
"His Majesty King and the crew at "Sira" ended up in 5th place in his class, and 6th place in total, during the World Cup in sailing for 8 meters at Hankø in Østfold."

ROYAL NORWAY · #**147** 08-21-2017, 02:19 PM

Thanks polyesco!

As stated in the royal house article and several other news sites in Norway: The mast of "Sira" (Kong Olav's old boat) broke during the last voyage. The mast-haveri sent the King and crew down on the results list, but no people were injured.

His Majesty was not on board during the sailing on Saturday.

A translated quote from Kjell Arne Totland's long blog post about the King and sailing:
Seilerkongen slår til igjen… | Kongebloggen - Kjell Arne Totland

Quote:

A few years ago, I read in a local newspaper about an episode that really shows how sporty our now 80 year old king is:

A former bodyguard in the The Royal Police Escort, who is also an active sailor - who was to attend a local regatta here at home, was told the day before that the skipper had become ill.

Gode råd var dyre (an expression in Norway - in english: good advice came costly) - and the desperate police officer contacted the King's equerry. And King Harald, who then vacated on Mågerø, stepped in for one day!

Helt konge (Totally King), if you ask me ...

And yes - such kings will the old Norway have!

In other news: NRK1 sent a program on saturday about the 25th anniversary of Artscape Nordland and its patron Queen Sonja:
https://tv.nrk.no/program/DNNO520001...e-skulpturpark

wartenberg7 · #**148** 08-21-2017, 02:39 PM

The Queen is such a beautiful person!

Tatiana Maria · #**149** 08-22-2017, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

1. The CP couple certainly have their faults, and they are nearly as active as Harald/Sonja were when they were the CP couple.

2. Why? Because they want to be there for their children.

3. But Haakon (and to a lesser extent Mette-Marit) has several engagements each year, and the King said this in a interview with NTB earlier this year:
No pause for breath for the royal couple who've reached the grand age of 80 - Norway Today

Quote:

The king said the crown prince occasionally offers to take over some assignments.

King Harald said, ’But I seldom accept the offer, I should emphasise!’

That is interesting, Royal Norway. I wonder whether there will be sufficient assignments to employ both couples and Princess Ingrid Alexandra when the crown princely couple's children are mature. King Harald and Queen Sonja's children were in their teens when their grandfather passed away.

ROYAL NORWAY · #**150** 08-24-2017, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

That is interesting, Royal Norway. I wonder whether there will be sufficient assignments to employ both couples and Princess Ingrid Alexandra when the crown princely couple's children are mature. King Harald and Queen Sonja's children were in their teens when their grandfather passed away.

Quote:

Getting a visit from the Queen is not exactly what you get everyday. It is important that the Queen notices DNT Drammen (Norwegian Trekking Association in Drammen's) work, says Aslam.

'' When the Queen comes, we see that our fine job is being seen. That gives very much energy to the others as well.''

The Queen herself had a great time with the multicultural women.

"It's incredibly fun to see how many people with multicultural backgrounds that are here and who are having the pleasure of walking in the woods. I'm impressed with what the women have done and does, said the Queen.

The Queen was also spoiled with good food from different countries.

"There was a lot of love in the food, so thank you, thank you. It's very nice to talk to you. I have had a wonderful nice experience today, said the Queen to the tour group''.

Simon Torgersen, leader of DNT in Drammen, was both nervous and proud during the Queen's visit.

My already great admiration for Queen Sonja has become even greater after her 80th birthday on July 4th, especially after seeing her warmth and kindness in documentaries where she hugs construction workers at the Art Stable etc.

**iceflower** · #**151** 08-24-2017, 02:45 PM

.

Some pics of today's walk in the woods have also been uploaded to the official website:

** kongehuset.no: God tur – god integrering ** translation **

ROYAL NORWAY · #**152** 08-25-2017, 01:33 AM

The King's visit to the US came as a big surprise to the media, and the palace has not provided any information with the exception of a brief comment to NTB on August 18th.

His Majesty visited the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – NATO, Norfolk on August 23th - here is a video of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUNvgYOBxuc

He will visit the United States Special Operations Command in Tampa today. And as I mentioned in post 147: Other details of the visit have not been announced, but Haakon is (acording to the royal house's program) regent until at least September 1th.

**iceflower** · #**153** 08-25-2017, 04:50 PM

.

A few photos and information about the King's NATO visit have been added to the official website:

** kongehuset.no: Kongen besøkte NATO ** translation **

ROYAL NORWAY · #**154** 08-26-2017, 03:04 PM

Read more: King Harald of Norway visits Virginia and Florida – Royal Central

Quote:

His Majesty King Harald V of Norway visited NATO’s headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia last week as well as the United States Defence Base for Special Operations in Tampa, Florida.

The royal visit started on Thursday as The King visited the NATO headquarters after accepting an invitation. Shortly after the welcoming ceremony, The King met the Norwegian contingent assigned to the NATO headquarters. During the visit, The King received a tour of the base and later attended a dinner together with Supreme Allied Commander Transformation of NATO, General Denis Mercier.

On Friday, His Majesty visited the base of the US Special forces, located in Tampa, Florida. King Harald was welcomed by General Raymond A. Thomas III, and Deputy Commander General Charles Brown. Under their guidance, The King received a broad orientation about the strengths and activities at the base. The visit was concluded with a meeting between the King and the Norwegian forces in Tampa.

Continuation of post 154 - An article about the Queen walking with multicultural women in Drammen on August 24th from NTB translated by Norway Today - read more:
Queen Sonja accompanies immigrant women on a trip to the woods - Norway Today

Quote:

With many immigrant women, Queen Sonja took a trip to the woods in Drammen. Turkish and Iranian food specialties featured on the menu.

Thursday’s tour was a collaboration with the Norwegian Tourist Association in Drammen, which has enjoyed great success with its multicultural trips.

‘It’s very pleasing that the queen shows a commitment to our inclusion. In recent years, we’ve been working hard to create multicultural inclusion in outdoor life, and especially for immigrant women who may be out of work, and on the margins of society’, said general manager, Simon Torgersen at DNT Drammen and Omegn.

eya · #**155** 08-31-2017, 10:58 AM

Queen Sonja received the Trysil Knot Prize, she is the first female winner of the Trysil Knot Prize. The prize is given to people who "show roads and inspire others to dry, want and could".

Dronning Sonja fikk Trysil-Knutprisen - kongehuset.no

ROYAL NORWAY · #**156** 08-31-2017, 11:27 AM

A part of the article translated by me:
https://www.nrk.no/ho/dronningen-for...sen-1.13666316

Quote:

''It is a great honor to get this prize and to be in the company of so many wonderful men, all of whom have done great achievements.'' That's what an extra proud Queen Sonja said, when she today as the first woman received the Trysil Knut Prize. Norway's first lady is the 10th winner. The prize was awarded by county governor Sigbjørn Johnsen, chairman of the prize committee.

The reason for giving the award to Queen Sonja is her patience and discretion in the time before she got married to then Crown Prince Harald and her impact on the modernization of the Norwegian monarchy. In addition, she gets the prize for how she has done her royal duties as Queen and her work effort to promote Norway.

The prize committee also states that she's a sporty Queen, who is still active and much out in the nature.

Tatiana Maria · #**157** 09-01-2017, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

A part of the article translated by me:
https://www.nrk.no/ho/dronningen-for...sen-1.13666316

Quote:

''It is a great honor to get this prize and to be in the company of so many wonderful men, all of whom have done great achievements.'' That's what an extra proud Queen Sonja said, when she today as the first woman received the Trysil Knut Prize. Norway's first lady is the 10th winner. The prize was awarded by county governor Sigbjørn Johnsen, chairman of the prize committee.

The reason for giving the award to Queen Sonja is her patience and discretion in the time before she got married to then Crown Prince Harald and her impact on the modernization of the Norwegian monarchy. In addition, she gets the prize for how she has done her royal duties as Queen and her work effort to promote Norway.

The prize committee also states that she's a sporty Queen, who is still active and much out in the nature.

Royal Norway, could you recommend any more articles as regards the issue of Queen Sonja's (and King Harald's) modernization of the monarchy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

The King's visit to the US came as a big surprise to the media, and the palace has not provided any information with the exception of a brief comment to NTB on August 18th.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

"The King will visit the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Norfolk by invitation," says the palace's Deputy Communications Manager Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen to NTB. The visit to the state of Virginia takes place on Wednesday, August 23th.

[...]

Other details of the visit have not been announced, [...]

I wonder by whom the invitation was issued and about the reason for the discretion.

ROYAL NORWAY · #**158** 09-02-2017, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

Royal Norway, could you recommend any more articles as regards the issue of Queen Sonja's (and King Harald's) modernization of the monarchy?

I've posted and translated many articles in the 80th birthday thread and wrote about it in my three post about the monarchy's popularity in posts 116,117 and 118 in the ''Republic Monarchy'' thread.

And as you know, I can't translate entire articles anymore due to forums rules, but I can of course send you a PM with Norwegian articles? And you can use, yes, the very poor internet translations, but some of it will be readable.

Here's a brief explanation from me: The King and Queen took over from an old-fashioned, strict, difficult and authoritarian monarch and spent many years modernizing the monarchy. King Harald has chosen an more open line in terms of speeches, the court's economy, media management and employments of female staffers in the court etc.

And here's an article from NTB translated by Norway Today about Queen Sonja and how she has formed her role as Queen Consort, written on the occasion of her 80th birthday:
http://norwaytoday.info/news/norway-...s-queen-sonja/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

I wonder by whom the invitation was issued and about the reason for the discretion.

The invitation for the visit to NATO’s headquarters in Norfolk was issued by NATO while the invitation for the vist to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in Tampa was issued by the United States Armed Forces. Both invitations were of course issued in cooperation with the Norwegian government.

The official visit was first made public 5 days before the visit, according to the Royal Court because the program for the trip had not been completed before.

The coverage: We only got a video from NATO and some pictures from the the palace because the court didn't had any time to plan for a media-accreditation plan, so therefore, no journalists were allowed to follow the king on his 3 engagements in the US.

Tatiana Maria · #**159** 09-03-2017, 08:51 PM

Thank you! And yes, I have read your very astute posts and have become interested in learning more regarding the King and Queen's reforms.

**iceflower** · #**160** 09-05-2017, 04:36 PM

.

Queen Sonja presented the Kjell Nupen Memorial Grant 2017 at the Queen Sonja Art Stable this evening, September 5:

** royalcourt: Kjell Nupen Memorial Grant 2017 **