SOCIETY / BUSINESS

Norway: King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon inspect the Norwegian Royal Yacht

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – King Harald, accompanied by his son Crown Prince Haakon, announced the end of this year’s season for the Norwegian Royal Yacht “KS Norge”. This year, the ship has not been used as much in official contexts, due to the virus. In return, the ship has been used much more than usual by the royals privately, especially during the summer holidays. The ship was also in use last week, when Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit travelled along the southern Norwegian coast.

During the now ended summer season, the crew consisted of 53 people, 17 officers and 36 other crew members. During winter, the crew is reduced to a minimum of approximately 25 people. The duties are mainly guarding the ship and maintenance during the winter. In February, the vessel receives new officers and military crew who undergo theoretical and practical training for the upcoming season.

During the ceremony, on September 24th 2020, the King inspected this year’s crew. He also examined the ship and made sure everything was as it should be before having a short chat with the captain and another military commander on board the boat. The King then announced with his official approval that everything was as it should be and that the royal ship is officially ready to spend the winter in dock before the next season which will begin mid-May 2021.

The Royal Yacht has been used for many large celebrations before. When King Harald and Queen Sonja celebrated their 60th anniversary in summer 1997, royals from all over Europe participated in the event. The guests were invited on a trip from Trondheim to Lofoten and were accommodated aboard the Royal Yacht.

The Norwegian Royal Yacht is one of the world’s two remaining royal yachts. The other is the Danish Royal Yacht, Dannebrog; the British Royal Yacht, Britannia was decommissioned in 1997. The Royal Yacht was a gift from the people of Norway to King Haakon VII in 1947, purchased in the wake of a nationwide collection effort. The ship is owned by His Majesty The King but is manned and maintained by the Royal Norwegian Navy.

In July 1947, the British ship “Philante” was bought for 1.5 million Norwegian crowns and would later become the “Norge.” Before the King could use the boat, the ship had to be rebuilt. In the years that followed, King Haakon used the vessel on his journeys along the long Norwegian coast and travelled to foreign countries on board it. In June 1955, King Haakon used to ship on a visit to Molde. This was King Haakon’s last trip with the ship; he died in 1957.

King Olav took over the ship after his father’s death in 1957. King Olav followed his father’s traditions and used the royal boat both privately and officially. In the winter of 1985, the ship was to be repaired and upgraded at Horten Naval Base. During welding work, there was a fire that spread rapidly to the entire ship. When the fire was put out, the ship was completely scorched. The King decided that the vessel should be rebuilt.

One year after the fire, King Olav again took over the ship which was in far better technical condition than it had been before the inferno. King Harald took over the yacht upon King Olav’s death in 1991. King Harald actively uses the ship both in official journeys at home and abroad and as a private home when he participates in international regattas.

Featured image: His Majesty King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon during the inspection. (Sven G. Gjeruldsen / The Royal Court)

Denmark: Prince Joachim promoted to Brigadier General

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Prince Joachim of Denmark has been promoted to the military rank of Brigadier General. The event happened in a small ceremony in the Royal Danish Embassy in Paris on September 21st 2020. It was Ambassador Michael Starbæk Christensen who presented the Prince with the document confirming his new military rank.

Prince Joachim has received a permanent degree of Brigadier General, and as defence attaché, he will report to the Danish Ministry of Defence. The ambassador in Paris is still the daily commander of the Royal Defence Attaché.

Since September 2019, Prince Joachim has followed the highest-ranking military leadership training in France at the French École Militaire following on from a long career in the Danish defence. The prince began his military training in 1987 as a recruit in the Queen’s Regiment. Since then he has been a Platoon Commander in a tank squadron at the Prince’s Life Regiment, Lieutenant of the Reserve Regiments and Captain of the Reserve Regiments. In April 2015, Prince Joachim was appointed Colonel of the Danish Reserve Army.

After a difficult summer Prince Joachim, the younger son of Queen Margrethe, began his first working day as defence attaché at the Danish embassy in Paris on September 18th. The first day in the office on Friday went well. Because the Prince receives a grant from the Danish government, he will not receive a salary in his new position or be covered for housing or similar expenses, which would otherwise come with the position.

“The appointment of Prince Joachim will strengthen cooperation in the area of ​​security policy between France and Denmark, and the position is for three years”, said the Danish Minister of Defence when the prince was announced as new Defence attaché.

Brigadier General is the lowest ranking general officer sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. Denmark, a NATO member, has for many years been following NATO standards and adapting its rank system to closely relate. As in the armies of most other NATO nations, Brigadier General is the lowest of the general ranks, usually a brigade commander.

Featured image: Prince Joachim of Denmark (Alex Berger/CC/Flickr)

Norway: Princess Martha Louise and boyfriend Shaman Durek reunited after six months apart

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – For Princess Martha Louise’s birthday, her boyfriend Shaman Durek has made a surprise visit to Norway. The couple has been separated due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and has not been able to meet for the last six months. The birthday visit was announced on her Instagram by Princess Martha Louise as she turned 49 on September 22nd 2020.

Princess Martha Louise wrote on Instagram: “I love surprises. And the best surprise ever was you turning up for my birthday, Shaman Durek, after 6 long months of being apart. It has been so challenging yet wonderful to see how, even when not seeing each other, we have deepened our connection and understanding for each other. One of the main things this corona period has shown me, is that we humans are tougher than we think and can prevail anything, but it’s better when we have our loved ones close.”

Sham Durek posted the same photo of him and Princess Martha Louise on his Instagram with the following message: “I’m so happy to see you. It’s been really difficult for me being away from the woman I love. There were times where I struggled emotionally, however my love for you is enduring and I’m blessed by God to be with my angel on her birthday. Love you forever. Happy Birthday, baby.”

It is not known how long Durek will stay, but he will start his visit with a 10 day-long mandatory quarantine as he is coming from USA.

In June, the Princess posted a picture of herself and her boyfriend on her official Instagram account where she dealt with racism. The Princess then wrote: ” Being Shaman Durek ‘s girlfriend has given me a crash course in how white supremacy is at play and the way I have consciously and subconsciously thought of and acted towards black people. How I have taken my rights for granted – never looked properly at what racism really is, because it has been comfortable for me that the system is in place.”

Martha Louise of Norway is the daughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja and was born on September 22nd 1971 in Oslo.

Featured image: Princess Martha Louise and boyfriend Shaman Durek  (Instagram/@iam_marthalouise)

Norway: Norway’s Crown Prince and Princess visit Florø and Stavanger

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – With events on Wednesday and Thursday this week, Crown Prince Haakon has concluded his tour of southern Norway to learn more about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected Norway.The Crown Prince’s goal is to learn more about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected various Norwegian industries and the Norwegian people.

Last week the journey started in Østfold, when the Crown Prince visited a virus test station. On Wednesday and Thursday the journey continued to Vestfold and Telemark. This week has been dedicated to Western Norway. Following a visit to Kristiansund on Tuesda, where the Crown Prince was accompanied by the Crown Princess, the couple also visited Florø together on Wednesday.

The royals, upon arrival in Florø, were given a briefing on how the pandemic has been handled in western Norway and the help provided through volunteering in the municipality. Afterwards, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess met with representatives of voluntary organizations. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess met a wide range of people involved in handball, football, local politics, games and hiking teams and heard about their experiences.

The Crown Prince Couple’s Fund launched the project “Move” in 2019. It is a life program for young people who want to use their free time to prepare for the future. Young people in the transition to upper secondary school meet in their spare time and get to test activities, make friends and become better acquainted with their own strengths. The Crown Prince Couple could, in Florø, see the results of parts of this project.

On Thursday the visit continued to the city of Stavanger. Oil and energy industries employ over 40,000 people in Rogaland, and the pandemic has affected the industry in many ways. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess visited Stavanger to listen to the experiences they have had and how they look at the future. Crown Prince Haakon met with representatives of the Business Association in the Stavanger region. Here, the Crown Prince heard presentations and entered into dialogue with representatives of various parts of the industry.

Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess joined the Crown Prince for the second part of the day`s program, when the trip went to Equinor, Rogaland’s largest and most important employer, and operator of around 60 % of all oil-production on the Norwegian shelf. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess heard directly from the oil-platform Johan Sverdrup, which has now been in operation for one year.

Featured image: The Crown Prince Couple in Florø. (Simen Sund / The Royal Court)

Denmark: Crown Prince Frederik meets winners of the Danish Championships and European Championships 2020 in Entrepreneurship

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Young entrepreneurs from across Europe were honoured by Crown Prince Frederik at a lunch in Copenhagen on Monday when he met the winners of the Danish Championships and European Championships 2020 in Entrepreneurship.

The event, which took place at Industriens Hus in Copenhagen, welcomed top teams of student entrepreneurs along with judges and business partners. The team “Bubbles” from Herning, who won both the Danish and European Championships in Entrepreneurship, presented their technological system to help students with ADHD.

“Every year, thousands of students from youth educations across the country participate in the teaching program Company Program, which the Foundation for Entrepreneurship is behind,” according to the Danish Royal House. “Here, students learn, among other things, to translate ideas into practice, market research and business start-up. The most innovative student companies qualify for the Danish Championships in Entrepreneurship.”

Frederik was received at the event by CEO of DI Lars Sandahl Sørensen, CEO of the Foundation for Entrepreneurship Christian Vintergaard, and Chairman of the Board of Representatives of the Foundation for Entrepreneurship André Rogaczewski. After lunch, team Bubbles delivered their award-winning presentation to the Crown Prince.

After winning the Danish Championship in Entrepreneurship, team Bubbles represented Denmark at the European Championships in Entrepreneurship where they competed against 39 other teams. Team Bubbles was then named European Champion for their innovative technological solution for classrooms.

The product, called MotherBubble, allows children with ADHD or ADD to concentrate and follow lessons more easily by connecting “teacher and student in a noise-free communication channel, where sound-insulating headphones eliminate the noise around the student and only shut the teacher’s voice through.”

Crown Prince Frederik learned more about the system, which gives children the opportunity to concentrate better through the sound-insulating headphones while the teacher wears a microphone. MotherBubble eliminates outside distractions for children who have difficulty focusing and get distracted easily, allowing them to focus on the lesson at hand.

In addition to Bubbles, Frederik also met students from the teams Cemima, Ergonomic Comfort, Leathery, Pack Me Up and Get Up.

Featured image: Crown Prince Frederik (Mogens Engelund – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=38905130)

Norway: Crown Prince Haakon celebrated Rygge Church’s 900th anniversary

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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Norway – Crown Prince Haakon has celebrated Rygge Church’s 900 years anniversary. During the visit to the church, the Crown Prince saw the portal that dates the church to the year 1120. Rygge church is thus the Norway`s oldest church that is still in use.

The current altarpiece in Rygge church came into place in 1740. Between 1786 and 1867 the church was privately owned by local wealthy farmers. The baptismal font is estimated to be from the year 1225 and the pulpit is from 1675. The oldest church bell that is still in use dates from the beginning of the 15th century.

On the church hill, on September 8th, the Crown Prince met Bishop Atle Sommerfeldt, Priest Tor Bjørn Osberg and parish priest Ingvild Osberg. On the way to the church, the local trumpeter, Stian Omenås, played the anniversary fanfare in honour of the Crown Prince`s arrival.

Rygge church is a single-ship church from the Middle Ages, and in 1967 the church went through a major restoration. Mayor Hanne Tollerud opened the exhibition with pictures from the anniversary book and the bishop welcomed the Crown Prince for a tour inside the stone church.

The church is an important institution for many people. A 900th anniversary tells a lot about the church’s place in Norway’s history. The church anniversary is also part of Moss city’s 300th anniversary and the celebration of the amalgamation of municipalities in south-east Norway.


Rygge church in Kirkegrenda* village. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Recent research indicates that it may have been King Sigurd Jorsalfare who started construction of the church in 1120. Sigurd Jorsalfare ruled the Norwegian kingdom from 1103 together with his brothers, Olav Magnusson and Øystein. From 1123, he was sole king of Norway. He is otherwise famous for leading the Norwegian Crusade to Jerusalem, and was the first European king to personally participate in a crusade.

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visited the old curch just before he started on a tour on Tuesday this week which will see him travel around large parts of Norway to see how the coronavirus pandemic has affected the country. The journey will eb partly done on board the royal yacht “KS Norge”. The first stop on the journey was Østfold, Norway’s southeastern region.

Featured image: Crown Prince Haakon celebrated Rygge Church’s 900th anniversary (Simen Sund, Det kongelige hoff)

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*Kirkegrenda is a village in the municipality of Rygge in Østfold, Norway. Its population (SSB 2005) is 294.

The village was built up around Rygge Church (Rygge kirke), hence the name Kirkegrenda which means church hamlet. Rygge church is a medieval era church. The church belongs to Vestre Borgesyssel deanery in Diocese of Borg. Rygge church is one of the county’s better preserved medieval stone churches. The Romanesque church was built around the year 1170. Rygge church was originally a chapter church, which had income from a larger area than a parish and contained several villages. The building material is stone and brick. The building is characterized by the use of large stones, partly of granite, with parts of the facade carved, including large parts of the north portal. It has long nave and lower and narrower choir. The church was restored in 1967.

 

Denmark: Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary attended Flag Day comemmorations

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary attended Flag Day commemorations at Kastellet in Copenhagen on the first weekend of September.

Flag Day, which honours the Danish soldiers, foreign ministry and emergency services personnel who have been sent abroad for military or other missions, was established in 2009 and has been attended by members of the Danish Royal Family every year since 2011.

Upon arrival, Crown Prince Frederik inspected the troops while Crown Princess Mary walked behind. At the wreath-laying ceremony, several dignitaries laid wreathes and spoke, including Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and the Minster of Defence, Trine Bramsen.

Other dignitaries who laid wreathes, according to the Royal House, included “the Folketing, the Government, the Armed Forces, the Police, the Danish Emergency Management Agency, the Defense Attachés, Danish Veterans, Danish Soldiers and Navy Associations, the Armed Forces’ Main Cooperation Committee, the Police Association and the Emergency Management Association.”

According to the Danish Armed Forces’ website, Flag Day is “the day when Denmark’s emissaries are recognised for the efforts they have made and where the fallen are remembered. The day includes everyone who is or has been sent out from the Armed Forces, the Emergency Management Agency, the Police, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Health Service.”

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary also observed a flypast of F-16 jets and a performance of the song ‘I Was Born in Denmark’ by singer Pernille Rosendahl. Following the outdoor service, the couple attended a church service at Holmen’s Church.

The monument at the Kastellet (or Citadel, in English), was opened by Queen Margrethe in 2011 and includes an inscription that reads “A Time— A Man— A Place.” It honours the efforts of Danish personnel since 1948 and was inaugurated on Flag Day in 2011.

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary usually attend the Flag Day service in Copenhagen, while Prince Joachim and Princess Marie attend events outside the capital city. However, since the couple moved to France, they have not taken part in events.

Flag Day also typically includes speeches from military personnel at the Christiansborg Castle Square, however this portion of the event had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, video greetings were pre-recorded and shared online.

Featured image: Denmark’s Crown Prince Couple (FRANKIE FOUGANTHIN (OWN WORK) VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS)

Sweden: Queen Silvia receives Butterfly Prize for her work towards addiction issues and drug-free policies

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Queen Silvia received the Butterfly Prize on Monday for her work towards addiction issues and drug-free policies from an organisation in Sweden.

The Butterfly Prize is awarded by the Women’s Organisations’ Co-operation Council on Alcohol and Drug Issues, and Queen Silvia’s citation read: “…for her many years of work and personal commitment to the drug issue and for children’s right to a drug-free upbringing. The Queen’s commitment to exploited children is innovative and has given the issues increased attention.

“Throughout her interest in substance abuse issues, HM Queen Silvia has raised the issue of addiction both nationally and internationally.

“Thanks to the Queen’s knowledge and efforts to influence attitudes, new opportunities to improve public health have been opened up. The Queen remains a source of inspiration and support for girls and women of all ages, with different social backgrounds. HM Queen Silvia contributes to a society where health and care are in focus.”

Queen Silvia accepted the prize via video call and delivered a speech. Her Majesty first thanked the organisation, saying, “I will wear this fine necklace with pride.”

She continued: “The butterfly award goes, of course, not only to me, but also to all employees and enthusiasts in Mentor and Childhood. Two foundations that I have founded and which both work for children’s and young people’s right to a safe and positive upbringing.

“When I, together with the WHO, founded Mentor 25 years ago, it was, among other things, to prevent drug abuse among young people. The many trips that the King and I had made, both in Sweden and abroad, had opened my eyes to how brutally alcohol and drugs harm children and young people. Directly and indirectly. Worldwide. And in all social classes.

“Also in Childhood’s work against sexual abuse, we see how children’s vulnerability increases in environments where there is abuse.

“Today’s young people face great challenges. Mental illness is increasing. Drugs and alcohol can be a dangerous consolation. Police also report that drug use among our young people is increasing during the coronavirus pandemic. These are reports that we must take very seriously.

“Working on these issues requires time, patience, and perhaps most importantly: cooperation. Therefore, it feels especially nice to receive this award from an organisation that works as broadly and long-term as you do.

“Ladies, we have a lot left to do, and I’m glad we’re doing it together.”

The Butterfly Prize is awarded in the form of a butterfly necklace, which Queen Silvia wore during the video call with representatives from women’s unions and groups, medical professionals and more.

Featured image: HM Queen Silvia of Sweden (Anna-Lena Ahlstrom/Kungliga Hovstaterna)

Sweden: Princess Sofia to continue working in healthcare in the autumn

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Sweden’s Princess Sofia is to continue working in healthcare through the autumn, the Royal Court has confirmed. The 35-year-old Princess began helping at Sophiahemmet hospital in Stockholm after undergoing training at Sophiahemmet University in an effort to help out during the ongoing pandemic. She helps with cleaning and does shifts in the kitchen.

The Royal Court’s Head of Information, Margareta Thorgren, confirmed to Expressen that Sofia would continue this work in the autumn. She said: “Princess Sofia continues her work at Sophiahemmet and will start her part-time job again in September. She is very much looking forward to it.”

Prince Carl Philip will be undertaking royal duties.

Princess Sofia is the Honorary Chair of Sophiahemmet and has called her work there during the pandemic “extremely rewarding.”

This summer, she gave an online speech about her work and said: “The last few months have been tough for very many, not least in healthcare. All efforts have been needed, and I know that several of you have gone in and supported in different parts of healthcare. I, myself, got an opportunity to come in and work at Sophiahemmet and still do. In fact, with some of you.”

Sofia added: “But to see healthcare from the inside in this way, to meet patients myself, and to see safe, well-trained nurses ‘in action,’ it is rare that I have been so impressed.”

Featured image: Princess Sofia (Linda Broström, The Royal Court of Sweden)

Sweden: Crown Princess Victoria awards Stockholm Junior Water Prize

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Young people making a difference for the environment were honoured by “a very proud patron” when Crown Princess Victoria delivered a special video message for the Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2020 on Tuesday (25.08.2020).

Participants from about 30 countries took part in the competition, an international science prize for young people aged 15 through 20. The digital award ceremony was held in conjunction with World Water Week.

“This past half-year during the Covid-19 pandemic, I have spent a lot of time reminding my children to wash their hands,” Crown Princess Victoria said in her speech. “At the same time around the world, 785 million people do not have access to clean water. Nor are three billion people able to wash their hands with soap and water.”

“This is just one example of how access to water is brutally unequal,” Victoria continued. “Indeed, when it comes to water, we as a world face some major challenges. There may be too little water, too dirty, or too much – all causes of disease, poverty and conflict.”

This year’s winners of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize were announced by the Crown Princess as Hiroki Matsuhashi and Takuma Miyaki from Japan. The duo “came up with a creative solution to combat soil erosion,” according to the Swedish Royal Court.

Crown Princess Victoria praised the drive of the winners as well as all the finalists she’s met during her time working with the Prize, saying she was “not at all surprised that many ideas that started as Stockholm Junior Water Prize projects have proved to be important innovations, changing many lives for the better.”

“Over the years, as patron of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, I have had the privilege of meeting many young finalists and winners from all over the world,” Victoria, who has served as patron of the Prize since 1994, said. “I always cherish those meetings because they fill me with hope. Hope that when bright young minds come together, even the most complicated problems can be solved.”

World Water Week 2020 is being held digitally this week from 24-28 August with the title “WWWeek At Home.” Organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute, the event welcomes experts, decision-makers, and innovators from across the globe to discuss water-related issues.

Featured image: Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (Screenshot/YouTube/Kungahuset)

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