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.
The Crown of the King of Norway
The Crown of the Queen of Norway
The Crown of the Crown Prince of Norway
King Haakon VII and Queen Maud after their Coronation in 1906.
The Royal Arms of Norway
