Norway Royal Calendar

[Rearden]

[Rearden]

22.11.2010
Travels abroad
HRH Crown Prince Haakon and HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit are traveling abroad with their children from the end of November 2010 to the end of January 2011.

20.01.2011
Audience
His Majesty The King grants the Minister of Foreign Affairs audience (10:00).

21.01.2011
Council of State
His Majesty the King presides over the Council of State at the Royal Palace (11:00).

21.01.2011
Audience
His Majesty The King grants representatives of the Drapers' Company audience (12:30).

25.01.2011
Grefsen Kjelsås Volunteer bureau
His Majesty The King visits Grefsen Kjelsås Volunteer bureau (12:30).

25.01.2011
World Economic Forum
Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess attends the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, 25 - 30 January.

26.01.2011
World Economic Forum
His Royal Highness The Crown Prince attends the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, 26 - 30 January.

26.01.2011
Norwegian Nordic Ski Championships
His Majesty The King attends the Norwegian Nordic Ski Championships at Steinkjer.

28.01.2011
Council of State
His Majesty the King presides over the Council of State at the Royal Palace (11:00).

28.01.2011
Farewell audience
His Majesty The King grants the Ambassador of India, His Excellency Mr Banbit A. Roy, a farewell audience (12:30).

28.01.2011
Audience
His Majesty The King grants Managing Director Rolf Skår, appointed Officer of the Order of St Olav, audience (12:45).

28.01.2011
Farewell audience
His Majesty The King grants the Ambassador of Iceland, Her Excellency Ms Sigridur Duna Kristmundsdottir, a farewell audience (13:00).

28.01.2011
Audience
His Majesty The King grants Professor Harald Petter Breivik, appointed Officer of the Order of St Olav, audience (13:15).

31.01.2011
Audience
His Majesty The King grants the Chief of Army staff Defence Headquarter audience (11:30).

31.01.2011
Geneva
Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess attends work meetings in Geneva as part of her commitment to UNAIDS (31 January - 1 February 2011).

01.02.2011
The Heart Campaign 2011
His Majesty The King attends the opening of (the Heart Campaign 2011 (Hjerteaksjonen 2011), University of Oslo (13:00).

01.02.2011
Official Dinner
Their Majesties The King and Queen host an official dinner for the Supreme Court at the Royal Palace (20:00).

02.02.2011
Barents Spektakel 2011
Her Majesty The Queen attends the opening of the Barents Spetakel festival, Kirkenes.

[Rearden]

My question is what does Sonja do all the time? 

[Flamingo]

Rearden, you made me laugh.  While I was reading your schedule I kept thinking, "Um, does SONJA ever work?"  I'm sure there are meetings and stuff that the public doesn't see, but seriously.  Then I kept reading and saw you were wondering the exact same thing.

So let's see...to answer your question...um...I have no idea what she does all day.  Somebody has a schedule like this for Waity Katy in the British forums, and I'm sure this won't be nearly as funny as that one, but I'll give it a try.

8:30-9am Breakfast (I assume they sleep late since Harald's engagements/meetings never seem to start before 10 or 11 at the earliest)
9-9:30am Morning run (I think she still runs)
9:30-11:30am Get dressed, with the majority of the time consumed by thinking about what to wear and changing outfits several times (I read a couple years ago that the person on the Norwegian staff who works the most overtime is the person in charge of looking after Sonja's clothes, so she must have quite a wardrobe and it must be quite a priority)
11:30am-12:15pm Have lunch with Harald (which I once read they try to do together everyday).  This activity occasionally shifts forward (encroaching on her wardrobe time) or backward since Harald actually has work to do.  They talk about what they're doing that day (she never has much to contribute here), how glad they are that their heir is Haakon and not Fred, and how much their crazy daughter embarrasses them.
12:15-1pm Wonders whether or not she can get away with spending more money on Palace decorating.
1-1:30pm Decides she cannot, and turns her attention to another property (Oscarshall, Gamlehaugen, Bygdoy, etc.)
1:30-3:30pm Baby-sits for Sverre (since I don't think he has full day school yet) and Ingrid if it's summer vacation while their mother has an engagement, and/or for 2-year-old Emma (plus sisters during school holidays) while their mother goes off to privately commune with angels.  Mustn't leave them with nannies all the time or we all know how strangely they can turn out, and Her Majesty enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, especially since she doesn't have anything else to do.
3:30-4pm Calls Crazy Martha and BEGS her to leave the angels/dead people/special forces be, or at least avoid publicity about her activities.  Also mentions that it would be helpful if Ari would stop borrowing his wife's shoes.
4-5pm Sews or paints.
5-5:30pm Thinks about firing someone else and weighs whether or not she wants to read more articles in the paper about how often she fires staff.
5:30-6:30pm New outfit for dinner!  (Unless it is a rare evening on which she has an official dinner, in which case the dressing/choosing process begins a 4pm.)
6:30-7:30pm Dinner with Harald, at which she thanks him profusely for sticking it out for 9 years and marrying her, thus saving her from having to work for a living.
7:30-8pm Calls Daisy and chats with her.  (Sonja said in an interview once that they call each other every day.)  Listens compassionately to her friend's problems with her son and daughter-in-law and attempts to comfort her.  "At least you have two new grandbabies," Sonja says, trying to be helpful.  For some reason this irritates Daisy.
8-8:15pm Appreciates that she has Mette not Mary, but feels brief irritation over the 6-week India trip since it left her SO MUCH WORK to do in MM's absence.  Sonja has, like, an engagement every 2 weeks now!
8:15-9:15pm Spends more time with Harald.  Possibly while she paints/sews and he...I actually don't know what his hobbies are.  Tells him she loves him and feels really grateful to be one of very few royal women whose husband isn't a dirtbag.  (At least, I hope she realizes this and is nice to him!)
9:15-10:15pm Plans next vacation, since work in Oslo can be pretty exhausting.
10:15-midnight or so Figures out how to kill remaining hours before bed.  Possibly looks at wardrobe some more.

In Sonja's defense, I actually think she did work quite a bit when she was younger and Crown Princess.  But now, if the calendar is any indication, things seemed to have dried up.

[Nattie Lite]

Crying laughing, Flamingo!  A+ post.  

I, too, often wonder what it is that Sonja does.  The hilarious thing about it is that is seems like ever year's "Året med kongefamilien" shows her meeting with her staff, looking like they're discussing very important things.  Anyway, I know she does attend events, but I can never for the life of me remember what they are.  I remember that the palace announced around 2008 or so that she and King Harald would be scaling down their schedules a bit.  The king still looks to have quite a full schedule, though; Sonja not so much.  

As Flamingo pointed out, though, Sonja was the de facto first lady of Norway for more than 20 years before she became queen, so she's put in her fair share of work over the years.

[PeDe]

one from me as well, Flamingo,   this calendar overview is hilarious!  

my favourite:
"3:30-4pm Calls Crazy Martha and BEGS her to leave the angels/dead people/special forces be, or at least avoid publicity about her activities.  Also mentions that it would be helpful if Ari would stop borrowing his wife's shoes."

 

Now thinking about it more seriously...maybe these two months of vacation with ALL children were a "last hurray" for H&MM, before they really step deeper into their royal duties.

Harald and Sonja are getting older, and over short or long will leave the throne to the youngens. And that maybe just be earlier than we all assume.

[Rearden]

I've read Kate's schedule and it's hilarious but yours is good too   

But I don't find that excuse that they are old logical, Phillipe is nearly ninety and does more than Sonja in one month, even Camilla does more and she is considered lazy. Beatrix also "works" harder, the same with JC and Sophia   

I still think that she passes all the time thinking about the new curtains she is going buy

[tigerben]

Rearden  I'm amazed so I am with the calendar Fricking nora if this was  any other country ( Bar Maryland) the gossip on the state of the marraige would be taken up inch's of newspaper column's . Really the royal's in Sweden must be jealous of the Norway and denmark take on their royal's.

[PeDe]

I've read Kate's schedule and it's hilarious but yours is good too   

But I don't find that excuse that they are old logical, Phillipe is nearly ninety and does more than Sonja in one month, even Camilla does more and she is considered lazy. Beatrix also "works" harder, the same with JC and Sophia   

I still think that she passes all the time thinking about the new curtains she is going buy

ha ha ha true dat.....but you also know that everybody in the BRF grows to be a 150 years old right?! 

If it comes to work ethic, I think the SRF is the leading ones, they are working like crazy...all of them.

[Nattie Lite]

I've read Kate's schedule and it's hilarious but yours is good too   

But I don't find that excuse that they are old logical, Phillipe is nearly ninety and does more than Sonja in one month, even Camilla does more and she is considered lazy. Beatrix also "works" harder, the same with JC and Sophia   

I still think that she passes all the time thinking about the new curtains she is going buy

ha ha ha true dat.....but you also know that everybody in the BRF grows to be a 150 years old right?! 

If it comes to work ethic, I think the SRF is the leading ones, they are working like crazy...all of them.

Heaven knows that's the truth.  Wasn't the Queen Mum still doing engagements once she passed 100?  That family's longevity and work ethic is amazing.  It's amazing to thing Charles might be 80 when he finally takes the throne -- and even then, he'll probably reign for a good 20-25 years. 

[Rearden]

 

So waity Katie will have to keep waiting 

[blue j]

Flamingo's post about Sonja schedule is brilliant!
Sonja is lazier than Mette? How it can be?    

[Rearden]

14.02.2011
Audience
His Majesty The King grants the Chief of the Naval Staff audience (11:30).

14.02.2011
Audience
His Majesty The King grants Supreme Court Judge Ms Ragnhild Noer audience (12:30).

17.02.2011
Leira Reception Centre
Her Royal Higness The Crown Princess visits Leira reception centre for asylum seekers, Levanger (08:55)..

17.02.2011
Sjefsgården Adult Eduction Centre
Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess visits Sjefsgården adult eduction centre in Levanger (09:50).

17.02.2011
Audience
His Majesty The King grants the Minister of Foreign Affairs audience (10:00).

17.02.2011
Munkeby Mariakloster
Her Royal Highenss The Crown Princess visits Munkeby Mariakoster, a Cistercian monastery in Levanger (11:05).

17.02.2011
Formal audience
His Majesty The King grants the new Ambassador of Jamaica, His Excellency Mr Anthony Smith Rowe Johnson, a formal audience (11:15).

17.02.2011
Formal audience
His Majesty The King grants the new Ambassador of Cyprus, His Excellency Mr George Chacalli, a formal audience (11:45).

17.02.2011
Official Luncheon
Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess attends an official luncehon at Øyna Parken, Inderøy (12:10).

17.02.2011
Rostad Youth Facility
Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess visits Rostad Youth Facility at Inderøy (13:40).

17.02.2011
Aglo Family Centre
Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess visits Aglo Family Centre at Skatval (15:40).

17.02.2011
Reception
Their Majesties The King and Queen are hosting a reception for members of the diplomatic corps (18:00).

17.02.2011
Lecture ISFIT
Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess gives a lecture on Hiv/Aids at "Studentersamfundet", Trondheim International Student Festival (19:00).

18.02.2011
Theme day on global health
Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess attends a theme day for 10th graders, focusing on global health and individual responsibility, Trondheim (10:00).

18.02.2011
Council of State
His Majesty the King presides over the Council of State at the Royal Palace (11:00).

18.02.2011
Joy of life
Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess attends the event "Joy of life for the elderly" at Lian Restaurant in Trondheim (11:30).

18.02.2011
Norwegian Refugee Council
Her Majesty The Queen visits the head office of the Norwegian Refugee Council (12:30).

18.02.2011
Nordic Music Prize
His Royal Highness The Crown Prince presents the Nordic Music Prize at the by:Larm festival in Kulturkirken Jakob, Oslo (20:00)

21.02.2011
Audience
His Majesty The King grants the Chief of Defence audience (11:30).

21.02.2011
Farewell Audience
His Majesty The King grants the Ambassador of Brazil, His Excellency Mr Sérgio Eduardo Moreira Lima, a farewell audience (12:30).

23.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Opening Ceremony
Their Majesties The King and Queen, Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner attend the opening ceremony of the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships at Universitetsplassen in Oslo (18:00).

24.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Sprint finals
The Nordic World Ski Championships: His Majesty The King attends the Cross-Country Individual Sprint free finals. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will also be in attendance (15:00).

25.02.2011
Council of State
His Majesty the King presides over the Council of State at the Royal Palace (11:00).

25.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Ski jumping
The Nordic World Ski Championships: His Majesty The King attends the ski jumping normal hill, individual ladies. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will also be in attendance (15:00).

26.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Nordic Combined
The Nordic World Ski Championships: His Majesty The King attends the combined ski jumping (normal hill, individual men). Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will also be in attendance (10:00).

26.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Cross-Country
The Nordic World Ski Championships: His Majesty The King attends the cross-country 15 km pursuit ladies. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will also be in attendance (11:30).

26.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Nordic Combined
The Nordic World Ski Championships: His Majesty The King attends the Nordic combined 10 km cross-country. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will also be in attendance (11:30).

26.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Ski jumping
The Nordic World Ski Championships: His Majesty The King attends the ski jumping normal hill, individual men. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will also be in attendance (15:00).

27.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Cross-Country
The Nordic World Ski Championships: His Majesty The King attends the cross-country 30 km pursuit for men. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will also be in attendance (12:00).

27.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Ski jumping
The Nordic World Ski Championships: His Majesty The King attends the ski jumping normal hill, team men. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will also be in attendance (15:00).

28.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Nordic Combined
The Nordic World Ski Championships: His Majesty The King attends the Nordic combined team, normal hill. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will also be in attendance (11:30).

28.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Cross-Country
The Nordic World Ski Championships: His Majesty The King attends the cross-country 10 km for ladies. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will also be in attendance (13:00).


28.02.2011
Hjertebakken housing cooperative
Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise attends the opening of Hjertebakken housing cooperative at Nesodden (14:00).

28.02.2011
Oslo 2011: Nordic combined
The Nordic World Ski Championships: His Majesty The King attends the Nordic combined team, 4 x 5 km cross-country. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will also be in attendance (15:00).

The queen has two events 

[Flamingo]

Three, actually: the diplomatic reception, the refugee thing, and the opening of the ski championships.  Plus, she had a bonus surprise event this weekend in Paris.  Yay for Sonja - that's one a week!

[norwegianne]

If you look at the calendar now, and compare it to how it used to be, both King Harald and Queen Sonja have trapped down drastically over the past couple of years, on advice from their doctors.

The reason his calendar looks so expansive compared to hers, though, is because he has all the audiences and meetings that are "mandatory" for the head of state. Outside of those, this month, he has the World Championships in Nordic skiing in Oslo - and if he wasn't at the arena, it is a pretty fair bet that he would be at home watching it on the telly anyway... So nice when duties and interests combine into one, no?