Norwegian Royal News

[karma chamelion]

I love the glimpses of royals' desks and private rooms.  His mother's photo on one side, an obvious "royal mob" photo on the other from some big event...  The eagle inkstand in the center of his desk looks very American-presidential --maybe from FDR?  Charming!

Harald was at FDR's last inauguration so maybe it is from him

Harald would have been only 7 or 8 years old, maybe you are thinking of Olav? King Olav's wife, Princess Märtha, is rumored to have had an affair with FDR so there is definitely a family connection

[LadyBunion]

I love the glimpses of royals' desks and private rooms.  His mother's photo on one side, an obvious "royal mob" photo on the other from some big event...  The eagle inkstand in the center of his desk looks very American-presidential --maybe from FDR?  Charming!

Harald was at FDR's last inauguration so maybe it is from him

Harald would have been only 7 or 8 years old, maybe you are thinking of Olav? King Olav's wife, Princess Märtha, is rumored to have had an affair with FDR so there is definitely a family connection

Olan stayed in London  - Harald was very young but was at the inauguration - he lived in the States during WW2  - he made this speech at a later date:

   
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Oslo, Norway)
For Immediate Release      November 1, 1999

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND HIS MAJESTY KING HARALD V.
IN EXCHANGE OF TOASTS

The Royal Palace
Oslo, Norway

1:26 P.M. (L)


HIS MAJESTY KING HARALD V: Mr. President, your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Even the longest journey starts with a small step. But your visit, Mr. President, is a giant leap forward for our already excellent bilateral relations. Few people know that you were in Oslo as a student. This time, the whole nation will remember your visit. I wish you a warm welcome to the true and tender north.

I, personally, feel a special affinity for the United States, which dates from my childhood. Following the occupation of Norway in 1940, my mother accepted an invitation from President Roosevelt to take refuge in the United States. One thing I remember quite clearly is standing right behind President Roosevelt when he was sworn in for his first term.

Roosevelt children + Norwegian Royal Children 1945 inauguration day

[karma chamelion]

I love the glimpses of royals' desks and private rooms.  His mother's photo on one side, an obvious "royal mob" photo on the other from some big event...  The eagle inkstand in the center of his desk looks very American-presidential --maybe from FDR?  Charming!

Harald was at FDR's last inauguration so maybe it is from him

Harald would have been only 7 or 8 years old, maybe you are thinking of Olav? King Olav's wife, Princess Märtha, is rumored to have had an affair with FDR so there is definitely a family connection

Olan stayed in London  - Harald was very young but was at the inauguration - he lived in the States during WW2  - he made this speech at a later date:

   
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Oslo, Norway)
For Immediate Release      November 1, 1999

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AND HIS MAJESTY KING HARALD V.
IN EXCHANGE OF TOASTS

The Royal Palace
Oslo, Norway

1:26 P.M. (L)


HIS MAJESTY KING HARALD V: Mr. President, your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Even the longest journey starts with a small step. But your visit, Mr. President, is a giant leap forward for our already excellent bilateral relations. Few people know that you were in Oslo as a student. This time, the whole nation will remember your visit. I wish you a warm welcome to the true and tender north.

I, personally, feel a special affinity for the United States, which dates from my childhood. Following the occupation of Norway in 1940, my mother accepted an invitation from President Roosevelt to take refuge in the United States. One thing I remember quite clearly is standing right behind President Roosevelt when he was sworn in for his first term.

Roosevelt children + Norwegian Royal Children 1945 inauguration day

Thank you for the answer and the photo, I understand the reference now. I've never seen the photo before, it's very sweet.

[getafix]

I love the glimpses of royals' desks and private rooms.  His mother's photo on one side, an obvious "royal mob" photo on the other from some big event...  The eagle inkstand in the center of his desk looks very American-presidential --maybe from FDR?  Charming!

Harald was at FDR's last inauguration so maybe it is from him

there are two eagles on his desk.

what are the round disc things on his desk?

perwinkle ITA! 

G

[Larzen]

Harald has a lightness to him that seems lacking in Haakon. Sonja is also a lighter partner than MM so that might be some of it because I have seen a sparkle in Haakon but he mostly comes across as pleasant and nice but without anything like a rapier wit or a mischievous twinkle. I hope that desk is from FDR that would be a wonderful treasure and nice connection between the US and Norway.

Yes Harald has that now, but he did not really have that when he was crown Prince and early in his reign in his 50s and early 60s, he was grey, correct and boring, his speeches were not memorable. His wife was even more  correct and stiff, not strange considering her difficult start. I would say Sonja has opened up and softened after becomming a grandmother and starting to be more open and personal about her interest in art. I have said it before, other monarchies might long for younger and more glam regents, in Norway the older and closer to the end the better and more popular🥳   Both Haakon and  Ingrid are WAY more outgoing and open than Harald ever was at their age. They just need 20 to 40 years respectivly and we will love them as well🤪🤪

[Lady Adelaide]

Haakon and ML attended the World Para Snow Sports Championships held in Lillehammer

[Larzen]

The royal family is looking forward to the Olympics
This year, the Royal Family will follow the Winter Olympics and cheer on the Norwegian athletes in front of the TV screen. The royal family, like large parts of Norway, will follow the games with great zeal.

18.01.2022
The Olympics and the Paralympic Games in Beijing will not take place with international audiences, and the very strict travel and infection control rules during the Olympics have made a visit to the Games difficult to carry out. As a result, there will unfortunately be no presence from the Royal Family during the Olympic or Paralympic Games in Beijing 2022.

The royal family wishes the Norwegian athletes and support staff good luck in Beijing.

Very, very wise decision and not just because of covid, but because  of the human rights situation in China, many of the athletes has been criticised because they go and compete in China and dont want to comment on the human rights abuses that take place there. Some time ago there were an article where it was said the RF and the goverment would go. Many papers criticise the goverment for not boycotting like the dutch goverment do. Now the RF dont have to be a part of this ongoing discussion..and they can post some photos of the royal watching Norwegian gold medals in the middle of the night to instagram... and host a recpetion for them when they all come home.

[Lady Adelaide]

A Council of State was held at the Royal Palace today

[Principessa]

Including IA this time, so to see 

[Larzen]

Only as an observer, she has no place there until her father is the King. Its held every friday, and is I guess a constant torn in the calendar of the ministers  who have to make time for it in their busy calendars:

[Lady Adelaide]

Sonja and MM attended the premiere of the film "Margrete: Queen of the North"

[Lady Adelaide]

Two weeks ago, The NRF went on a family vacation to the Caribbean to celebrate Harald's 85th birthday

[Lady Adelaide]

Holmenkollen Ski Festival

[Lady Adelaide]

[bumbershoot]

I have always wanted to go to the Holmenkollen festival. Every time I get to Oslo, somehow I end up on the big hill behind the city, looking up at that massive ski jump.