Once I was a clever boy learning the arts of Oxford... is a quotation from the verses written by Bishop Richard Fleming (c.1385-1431) for his tomb in Lincoln Cathedral. Fleming, the founder of Lincoln College in Oxford, is the subject of my research for a D. Phil., and, like me, a son of the West Riding. I have remarked in the past that I have a deeply meaningful on-going relationship with a dead fifteenth century bishop... it was Fleming who, in effect, enabled me to come to Oxford and to learn its arts, and for that I am immensely grateful.


Monday, 17 January 2011

The King of Norway


Today is the twentieth anniversary of the accession of King Harald V to the throne of Norway.


H.M.The King of Norway, H.M. the Queen of Norway, H.R.H. The Crown Prince and H.R.H The Crown Princess

There is a biography of the King here and an article about the Norwegian monarchy here.
In recent years the marriages of the King's children have attracted rather more international media coverage than might have hitherto been expected, and have helped to keep the Norwegian monarchy in the public gaze. The official website on the monarchy can be viewed at Norwegian Monarchy.

Today I join my Norwegian friends in expressing good wishes to their King on this anniversary.

On June 23 1991 the King and Queen attended the service for their benediction at Trondheim Cathedral, which replaces the traditional Coronation rite.

Regrettably, very regrettably in my opinion, in 1908 the Norwegian parliament removed the clause from the Constitution making coronation at Trondheim mandatory. The argument was that in a democratic age the rite of coronation marked the King out as having a superior authority. True. In consequence the Coronation was no longer required, although not abolished. It perhaps an early example of Scandinavian secularism, rather like the decision in Sweden in 1907 not to have a coronation for King Gustav V. At the accession of King Olav V in 1957 he was able to arrange a service of Benediction at Trondheim, and I understand that that in 1991 was a more elaborate occasion. There is a good article about the history of the Norwegian coronation and the modern benediction rite here.

There is an article about the Norwegian regalia - which is kept at Trondheim, expressing the concept that the King holds the Kingdom from St Olav - here, and one about the King's crown here.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c303/FredrikBergow/Kroner/Norgeskongekrone.jpg

The Crown of the King of Norway


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c303/FredrikBergow/Kroner/Norgesdronningkrone.jpg
The Crown of the Queen of Norway

photo

The Crown of the Crown Prince of Norway


King Haakon VII and Queen Maud after their Coronation in 1906.



The Royal Arms of Norway

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What lovely work within and jewels upon their high recognition of leadership! It would be interesting to peruse a history of the crown: who designed it? what jewels were chosen and by who? what do they represent/ why were they chosen? etc

15 May 2012 at 21:13

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