ROYAL NORWAY
Heir Apparent
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The second article I've translated already this morning - TV2's royal expert Kjell Arne Totland talks about her - really worth a read:
Dronning Sonja fyller 80 år
Dronning Sonja fyller 80 år
Queen Sonja turns 80
Her Majesty The Queen will be celebrated with a picnic in the park and summer festival at Bygdøy.
Happy birthday, Queen Sonja!
Tuesday 4th of July, Queen Sonja is turning 80.
The big day is marked by the royal family with several events in Oslo.
It all starts with the opening of "Queen Sonja art stable" in the old stable buildings in the palace park.
Then there is a picnic in Dronningparken, which is part of the palace Park, for invited guests.
The celebration ends with a summer party in large tents in the garden at Bygdøy Kongsgård for the royal couple's family and friends.
"I would like to congratulate our Queen most warmly on the day. It's hardly possible to believe that this vigorous and youthful lady actually turns 80'', says TV 2's royal expert Kjell Arne Totland.
"I really think it's impressive to see how well she stays and how she follows the new times. The last time I saw her, I noticed that she had received a new digital wristwatch, which she even used to respond to mail and text'', he says.
Joint 80th celebrations
In May, the royal couple had a joint 80th celebration, since King Harald turned 80 years in February.
Then everyone was invited to the celebrations at the palace park, where among other things, free ice cream was given to all the visitors. Later that day there was a gala dinner at the Royal Palace.
The government also invited to a dinner in the Opera in honor of the royal couple with 300 invited guests from home and abroad.
During the dinner, King Harald and Queen Sonja held a common speech, and then the King praised the Queen.
"I had not managed to do this this without her" said King Harald in the speech.
She has brought the royal house into a new era
Totland believes that Sonja shall have a lot of credit for that Norway have a well-functioning and popular monarchy.
"Together with King Harald, she has managed to bring the monarchy into a new era and make it relevant to new generations. But first and foremost, in fact, it's her profit that we have the happy and popular king that we have in this country. King Harald herself says she meant everything to him - and that he would never have handled the role of monarch without her'', Totland says.
TV 2's royal expert has followed Sonja closely since she became Norway's Queen in 1991.
"My admiration and respect for her has always been great - and it has actually only increased over the years. She impresses greatly with her perfectionism and enthusiasm for what she's interested in'', Totland says.
Queen Sonja was born Sonja Haraldsen in Oslo on July 4, 1937. She met (then) Crown Prince Harald in 1959. She became Crown Princess when they married in 1968, and later Queen when King Olav died in January 1991.
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