80th Birthday Celebrations of King Harald V and Queen Sonja


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The British royals are 'toning' down their pomp and ceremony as much as possible. Inviting royal guests, tiaras and orders, parties at palaces don't look too good or welcoming to the common people.

However, if they do want to go big, they go big.
 
Alisa said:
I still don't understand how she got such a prominent place on the balcony. I get that she has an impressive pedigree but so do other relatives. For ex.Could not her mother attend? Any of the King's Brazilian nieces or nephews. It is a shame Desirée got on the balcony and made a fool of herself. CP Victoria cannot even hide her embarrassment.
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Her mother was in attendance. And she was invited because she is King Harald V's cousin (first cousin once removed to be exact).

That is BTW also the reason why Lady Elizabeth Anson was invited, or so I suppose.
 
I still don't understand how she got such a prominent place on the balcony. I get that she has an impressive pedigree but so do other relatives. For ex.Could not her mother attend? Any of the King's Brazilian nieces or nephews. It is a shame Desirée got on the balcony and made a fool of herself. CP Victoria cannot even hide her embarrassment.?
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Her mother was standing over by the Luxembourg family but she was kind of hidden in the back. I do agree that I would have liked to see Astrid and Ragnild's families on the balcony but we did see them later in the receiving line.
 
I've been so busy watching/following these events, so I haven't had the time to post here since yesterday evening.

The King's speech in english:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSVrUEahwU0
Haakon and Märtha pays tribute to their parents in Norwegian:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtyKF7S6wj8
The Queen's touching speech to her family and Queen Margrethe II in english:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU_nSZ06tGY

The NRK Coverage from yesterday: (Much better better quality
than that YouTube crap from Dagbladet and Billedbladet.)

Live pictures from the Great Dining Room before the guests arrived at 31:50.
Their Majesties and their guests appear on the balcony at 01:12:20.
https://tv.nrk.no/serie/kongeparet-80-aar/NNFA04000117/09-05-2017

Inside the palace - live from the dinner:
https://tv.nrk.no/serie/kongeparet-80-aar/NNFA04000217/09-05-2017

Video of Queen Margrethe's amazing, touching and funny speech in Danish to Norway's beloved King and Queen (as she said): https://www.msn.com/nb-no/video/se/...-til-kong-harald-og-dronning-sonja/vp-BBAWTbk
 
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shereeclaire said:
[...]

However, if they do want to go big, they go big.
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They did not go "big" at William's wedding, or at Charles's in terms of ballgowns and fabulous jewelry. The gala events for the Queen's Golden and Diamond Jubilees had a lower dress code than last evening's dress code in Oslo. The perception is that the British Court goes big but this is perception, not reality.
 
eya said:
:previous: And I was wondering where is our Royal Reporter in Norway?? ;):):flowers:

Thanks ROYAL NORWAY!!
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You're very welcome:

The NRK broadcast starts now - live streem:
https://www.nrk.no/nyheter/kongeparets-80-arsfeiring-1.13508862

TV2 News Channel will have coverage with the eminent Kjell Arne Totland:
https://live.tv2.no/kong-harald-80-aar

All entertainment on the opera roof is canceled due to the weather.

Edit: NRK are now looking back on their life.

Edit: Looking back on the wedding and travels.

Edit: Looking back on the horrible year of 1998 and problems after.

Edit: NRK - Outside the opera - talking to guests.

Edit: Talking to guests inside the opera and the King/Queen is praised as usual.

Edit: More guests arriving
 
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I haven't seen any photos of Frederick and Mary at today's luncheon. Did they attend?
 
 
They traveled directly from Dannebrog to the royal yacht.
 
ROYAL NORWAY said:
They traveled directly from Dannebrog to the royal yacht.
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Thanks. just found a video
"Queen Margrethe, Queen Anne-Marie, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary leaving the Danish royal yacht Dannebrog to join the luncheon cruise aboard the Norwegian royal yacht. "
https://youtu.be/eI9k1MD2018 :flowers:
 
Continuation of post 388: NRK talking to two former prime ministers - praising Norway's beloved King.

Edit: They think that the monarchy is going to be safe under Haakon. (I'm not so sure)

Edit: More guests arriving.

Edit: They talk about the ridiculous criticism from Dagbladet last year about the funding of the monarchy. Nothing to criticize they say. (I agree)

Edit: The guard is walking down the Karl Johans gate - children's choirs are singing and one describe the royal couple as the best King/Queen in the world.

Edit: Entertainment inside the opera - the prime minister arrives.

Edit: Other politicians arrives.

Edit: It is the largest government dinner ever held in Norway.
 
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It's a shame about the weather as it probably deters people from coming out and seeing everyone.

It's a beautiful day here in Surrey, England!
 
Continuation of post 389: NRK is talking to the prime minister.

Edit: The weather is awful.

Edit: The Prime Minister says that the monarchy is important for Norway.

Edit: She was also asked about how it was to plan a dinner for such a beloved King/Queen. (ridiculous question)

Edit: The guard has arrived at the opera - the royals will arrive shortly.
 
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shereeclaire said:
The British royals are 'toning' down their pomp and ceremony as much as possible. Inviting royal guests, tiaras and orders, parties at palaces don't look too good or welcoming to the common people.

However, if they do want to go big, they go big.
Click to expand...

It's an interesting calculation each royal family has to make, and certainly the British family has made different decisions than the Scandinavians. I guess it depends on the way things tend to be seen in the context of each nation's cultural norms. To my point of view, the Scandinavians show that you can keep the glitz and ceremony in a way that welcomes the common people into the celebration, especially with the details of televising the dinners and speeches and such so that everyone can feel they've been a part of it.

I have to admit I sometimes struggle to not harshly judge the British family's approach. To me, the way they keep so much behind closed doors and the way they hold themselves at arm's length from royals of other nations feels very snobbish, setting themselves quite high above the average person or even the average royal. But I'm not from the UK, so I'm not who they need to worry about. Of course they must instead think more about what would be consider too showy or ostentatious in the British popular opinion. And what looks snobby to me may look restrained to them.
 
Best place to watch:
The NRK broadcast starts now - live streem:
https://www.nrk.no/nyheter/kongeparets-80-arsfeiring-1.13508862

TV2 News Channel will have coverage with the eminent Kjell Arne Totland:
https://live.tv2.no/kong-harald-80-aar

Continuation of post 395: The royals are driving down Karl Johans gate.

Edit: Prince Albert and the Finnish president are no longer in Norway.

Edit: Some people have braved the weather to be out - impressive says NRK.

Edit: The royals arrives at the opera.
 
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Another gallery of photos of guests leaving the Royal Yacht, Norge,weather looks dreadful!

PPE Agency
 
Most of the royals are travelling in the mini buses. Just seen Marie and Joadchim too.
 
Continuation of post 398: More royals arrives.

Edit: Norway's beloved King and his Queen is one their way to the opera.

Edit: TV2 is best as usual - with Kjell Arne Totland.

Edit: More royals arrives.

Edit: QMII looks great.
 
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After the royal dancing yesterday at the balcony, Queen Sofia letting Juan Carlos to get wet under the rain might be my favourite image of the birthday :devil: :D :whistling:
 
Continuation of post 402: Our amazing King and his Queen arrives.

Edit: They have arrived - and looks great. The guard is playing.
 
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loonytick said:
I have to admit I sometimes struggle to not harshly judge the British family's approach. To me, the way they keep so much behind closed doors and the way they hold themselves at arm's length from royals of other nations feels very snobbish, setting themselves quite high above the average person or even the average royal. But I'm not from the UK, so I'm not who they need to worry about. Of course they must instead think more about what would be consider too showy or ostentatious in the British popular opinion. And what looks snobby to me may look restrained to them.
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British constitutional essayist Walter Bagehot once wrote, referring to the monarchy, "We must not let daylight in upon the magic"

And even 150 years later, and in the age of social media, it's a maxim The Queen still tries to adhere to.
 
now, how does it works, I see some of the Royals on the balcony with shawls , capes, etc.... but some of them when they entr the palace they have their shawls, some ones they have a different one and some ones not at all. Do tthey have a lady in waiting taking care of that?
 
Continuation of post 404: The prime minister is to speak now.

Best place to watch:
The NRK broadcast starts now - live streem:
https://www.nrk.no/nyheter/kongepare...ing-1.13508862

TV2 News Channel will have coverage with the eminent Kjell Arne Totland:
https://live.tv2.no/kong-harald-80-aar

Edit: The Prime Minister says that 5 million Norwegians feel that we own a bit of the King and Queen.

Edit: The cameras are thrown out - the King/Queen to speak later tonight.
 
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