Category Archives: Royal Ceremonies, Events

Nobel Peace Prize Events – Norway – December 10

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate President Barack Obama delivers his Nobel Lecture during the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony at Olso City Hall on December 10, 2009. Seated in the chairs on the right are King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and Crown Prince Haakon; Credit – Wikipedia from The Official White House Photostream

On December 10th of each year, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896, the Chairperson of the Norwegian Nobel Committee presents the Nobel Peace Prize at the Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway. Each recipient, known as a laureate, receives an 18-carat green gold medal plated with 24-carat gold, a diploma, and a monetary award. In attendance are the Norwegian Monarch, his/her spouse, members of the Norwegian royal family, officials of the Norwegian government, representatives of the Storting (the Norwegian legislature), and an invited audience. Later the same day, the Norwegian Nobel Committee hosts a banquet in honor of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate(s) also attended by the Norwegian royal family.

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Who was Alfred Nobel?

Alfred Nobel; Credit – Wikipedia

Alfred Nobel (1833 – 1896) was a Swedish chemist, inventor, engineer, and businessman, known for inventing dynamite. His invention of dynamite in 1866 was developed with the idea of using it for mining, not for war. However, just four years later, dynamite was used by the Prussians and the French in the Franco-Prussian War (1870 – 1871). In 1891, Nobel commented about his dynamite factories, “Perhaps my factories will put an end to war sooner than your congresses: on the day that two army corps can mutually annihilate each other in a second, all civilized nations will surely recoil with horror and disband their troops.” Alfred Nobel died in 1896, so he was not alive during World War I to see how wrong his idea was.

Nobel’s friend Countess Bertha von Suttner; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1876, Austro-Bohemian Countess Bertha von Suttner became Nobel’s secretary. She left the position after a short time to marry but corresponded with Nobel until he died in 1896. During the 1880s, von Suttner began developing pacifist ideas, ideas her friend Nobel was also considering due to the effects of more powerful weapons. In 1889, von Suttner became a leading figure in the peace movement when her pacifist novel, Die Waffen Nieder! (Lay Down Your Arms!) was published. It is believed that von Suttner had a major influence on Nobel’s decision to include a peace prize among the prizes provided in his will. Bertha von Suttner was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 “for her audacity to oppose the horrors of war.”

On December 10, 1896, 63-year-old Alfred Nobel died in his villa in San Remo, Italy, from a cerebral hemorrhage. In his will, Nobel left instructions that his fortune be used to create a series of prizes for those who develop the “greatest benefit on mankind” in physics, chemistry, physiology, medicine, literature, and peace. Nobel bequeathed 94% of his total assets to establish the five Nobel Prizes. A sixth prize for Economic Sciences, endowed by Sweden’s central bank, Sveriges Riksbank, was first presented in 1969.

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The Nobel Peace Prize

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai displays her medal and diploma during the Nobel Peace Prize awards ceremony at the City Hall in Oslo, Norway, on December 10, 2014

Alfred Nobel’s will states that the Peace Prize shall be given “to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” Nobel’s will further state that the Nobel Peace Prize laureate will be selected by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a five-member committee appointed by the Storting (the Norwegian legislature). Sweden administers the other Nobel Prizes. Why the Swedish Alfred Nobel decided that Norway should administer the Peace Prize is unclear. When Nobel died in 1896, Norway and Sweden were still the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway with Sweden in charge of foreign policy. There is speculation that Nobel may have considered Norway better suited to awarding the Peace Prize because it did not have the same militaristic traditions as Sweden.

Each year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee invites eligible people to submit nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. According to the statutes of the Nobel Foundation those eligible to submit nominations are:

Unlike the Nobel Prizes, the Peace Prize is occasionally awarded to an organization.

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Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies and Events

The Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony takes place at Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway on December 10th of each year, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. The Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee presents the Nobel Peace Prize in the presence of the Norwegian monarch and the Norwegian royal family.

Several ceremonies occur on December 10 which Norwegian royal family members may attend.

Save the Children Peace Prize Party in 2015. Crown Princess Mette-Marit and her son Prince Sverre Magnus are on the right

  • Save the Children Peace Prize Party
  • December 10 at 11:00 AM
  • Location: Nobel Peace Center

The Save the Children Peace Prize Party is a show made by and for children with representatives of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate(s) as guests of honor. Children from 5th, 6th, and 7th grade are in the audience.

2023 Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony. King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and Crown Prince Haakon sit in the four chairs in the aisle.

  • Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony
  • December 10 at 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
  • Location: Oslo City Hall

The ceremony starts with musical performances, followed by the speech of the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate(s) receive their diploma and gold medal from the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in the presence of the Norwegian monarch and the Norwegian royal family, and then they give their Nobel Lectures.

Torchlight procession from Oslo Central Station to the Grand Hotel in 2023; Credit – Wikipedia by Kimberli Mäkäräinen

The torchlight procession, organized by the Norwegian Peace Council, starts at Oslo Central Station and ends in front of the Grand Hotel, where the Nobel Peace Prize laureate(s) greet the parade from the Grand Balcony of the Nobel Suite.

2009 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama wave from the Grand Balcony of the Nobel Suite at the Grand Hotel.

Left to Right: Crown Prince Haakon, Queen Sonja, Ali Rahmani, Kiana Rahmani, King Harald V, Crown Princess Mette Marit, and Taghi Rahmani arrive at the Nobel Banquet on December 10, 2023. The 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi was imprisoned and was represented by her 17-year-old twin children and her husband, who live in exile in Paris. Narges Mohammadi received the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and the fight for human rights and freedom for all.

  • The Nobel Banquet
  • December 10 at 7:30
  • Location: Grand Hotel

More than 200 guests attend the Nobel Banquet at The Grand Hotel in Oslo. Seated with the laureate(s) are the Norwegian monarch and his/her spouse the President of the Storting, the Prime Minister, and members of the Nobel Committee. Other guests usually include the Crown Prince or the Crown Princess and his/her spouse, government ministers, members of the Storting, and representatives of public institutions, non-profit organizations, and cultural and commercial life.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bertha von Suttner. (2022). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertha_von_Suttner
  • Bidragsytere til Wikimedia-prosjektene. (2004). svensk kjemiker, ingeniør, oppfinner og filantrop. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Nobel
  • Nobels Fredspris. (2021). Wikipedia. https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobels_fredspris
  • Press Program for the Nobel Peace Prize Events 2023 – Nobel Peace Prize. (2023). Www.nobelpeaceprize.org. https://www.nobelpeaceprize.org/press/press-releases/press-program-for-the-nobel-peace-prize-events-2023
  • Royen, Ulrika. (2021). The Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies and Banquets – NobelPrize.org. NobelPrize.org. https://www.nobelprize.org/ceremony/the-nobel-prize-award-ceremonies-and-banquets/
  • ‌Royen, Ulrika. (2024). The Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony 2024 – NobelPrize.org. NobelPrize.org. https://www.nobelprize.org/ceremony/the-nobel-peace-prize-award-ceremony-2024/
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2019). Alfred Nobel. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Nobel
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2019). Nobel Peace Prize. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Peace_Prize

 

Nobel Prize Events – Sweden – December 10

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

1950 Nobel Prize medal in Physiology/Medicine awarded to researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota; Photograph: Erik Lindberg –  File:NobelPrize.JPG, PD-US, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=58432969

Except for the Nobel Peace Prize, presented in Oslo, Norway, the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences are presented in Stockholm, Sweden. On December 10th of each year, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896, the Swedish monarch presents the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences at the Stockholm Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden. Each recipient, known as a laureate, receives an 18-carat green gold medal plated with 24-carat gold, a diploma, and a monetary award. The ceremony is followed by a banquet at the Stockholm City Hall for about 1,300 people, including 250 students.

Queen Silvia, Prince Daniel, King Carl XVI, and Crown Princess Victoria attend the 2023 Nobel Prize Award Ceremony

In attendance are the Swedish Monarch, his/her spouse, members of the Swedish royal family, representatives of the Swedish Riksdag (the Swedish legislature), representatives of the Swedish Government, international guests especially those who represent the sciences and cultural life, and Swedish citizens who participate in Nobel Prize-related functions.

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Who was Alfred Nobel?

Alfred Nobel; Credit – Wikipedia 

Alfred Nobel (1833 – 1896) was a Swedish chemist, inventor, engineer, and businessman, known for inventing dynamite. His invention of dynamite in 1866 was developed with the idea of using it for mining, not for war. However, just four years later, dynamite was used by the Prussians and the French in the Franco-Prussian War (1870 – 1871). In 1891, Nobel commented about his dynamite factories, “Perhaps my factories will put an end to war sooner than your congresses: on the day that two army corps can mutually annihilate each other in a second, all civilized nations will surely recoil with horror and disband their troops.” Alfred Nobel died in 1896, so he was not alive during World War I to see how wrong his idea was.

On December 10, 1896, 63-year-old Alfred Nobel died in his villa in San Remo, Italy, from a cerebral hemorrhage. In his will, Nobel left instructions that his fortune be used to create a series of prizes for those who develop the “greatest benefit on mankind” in physics, chemistry, physiology, medicine, literature, and peace. Nobel bequeathed 94% of his total assets to establish the five Nobel Prizes. A sixth prize for Economic Sciences, endowed by Sweden’s central bank, Sveriges Riksbank, was first presented in 1969.

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The Nobel Prizes

The Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences, are administered by five Nobel Committees, one for each Nobel prize. These committees come from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (for the prizes in physics, chemistry, and economic sciences), the Karolinska Institute (for the prize in physiology or medicine), and the Swedish Academy (for the prize in literature).

Nomination forms are sent by the Nobel Committees to about 3,000 individuals, usually in September the year before the prizes are awarded. These individuals are generally prominent academics working in an area relevant to each Nobel Prize. The Nobel Committees prepare reports reflecting the advice of experts in the relevant fields. The reports and a list of preliminary candidates are then submitted to the prize-awarding institutions: the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for the prizes in physics, chemistry, and economic sciences, the Karolinska Institute for the prize in physiology or medicine, and the Swedish Academy for the prize in literature. Each institution then meets to choose the laureate(s) in for each Nobel Prize by a majority vote.

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Nobel Prize Ceremonies and Events

The Nobel Lectures

Jon Fosse, Norwegian author, playwright, and 2023 Literature Nobel Prize Laureate, gives his Nobel Lecture at the Swedish Academy in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 7, 2023.

The Nobel Foundation statutes state that each laureate is required to give a public lecture on a subject related to the topic of their Nobel Prize within six months of receiving the prize. The Nobel Lectures usually occur during Nobel Week, the week leading up to the award ceremony and banquet. The lectures are organized by the same association which selected the laureates.

The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony

The Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony on December 10, 2023. Queen Silvia, King Carl XVI Gustaf, Prince Daniel, and Crown Princess Victoria can be seen on the right.

The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony takes place at 4:00 PM at the Stockholm Concert Hall in Stockholm, Sweden on December 10th of each year, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. While at the Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony in Oslo, Norway, the Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee presents the Nobel Peace Prize in the presence of the Norwegian monarch, in Sweden, the Swedish monarch presents the Nobel Prizes to the laureates.

King Carl XVI Gustaf presents the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Moungi Bawendi in 2023

The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony begins with the Swedish Royal Anthem Kungssången followed by a short piece of music played by the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra while the Nobel Laureates take their seats. The Chairman of the Board of the Nobel Foundation makes an introductory speech followed by a short piece of music.

Each of the five Nobel Prizes – Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Economic Sciences – is introduced by an academic in that field of study. The laureates then receive their diploma and gold medal from the Swedish monarch. After each Nobel Prize presentation, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra plays a short piece of music. The ceremony ends with the playing of the Swedish National Anthem Du gamla, Du fria. As the guests leave, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra plays a lively piece of music.

The Nobel Banquet

The Nobel Prize Banquet at Stockholm City Hall on December 10, 2023

The Nobel Banquet is held on December 10th of each year in the Blue Hall of Stockholm City Hall after the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony. The Nobel Banquet is a formal affair, and for men, the dress code is white tie, and orders and decorations should be worn. Approximately 1,300 guests attend including 200 students. The Swedish royal family attends as guests of honor. The Nobel Prize laureates are usually accompanied by their entire family.

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Astrid Söderbergh Widding, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Nobel Foundation and Queen Silvia and Vidar Helgesen, Executive Director of the Nobel Foundation descend the Grand Stairway into the Blue Hall of the Stockholm City Hall in 2023

The banquet begins with the entry procession of the Swedish royal family and guests of honor down the Grand Stairway and into the Blue Hall at 7:00 PM.

During the banquet, which lasts four hours, each Nobel laureate gives a speech, usually of a lighter nature. Two ceremonial toasts are given – one to the Swedish monarch and one the Swedish monarch gives in memory of Alfred Nobel. The speeches and toasts are presented by the banquet’s toastmaster, traditionally a Swedish student who holds the job for four years. Musical interludes are performed in between courses.

Golden Hall in Stockholm City Hall; Credit – Av Holger.Ellgaard – Eget arbete, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5820905

The banquet ends at around 11:00 PM. Dancing then begins in the Golden Hall of Stockholm City Hall.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsgivare till Wikimedia-projekten. (2005). Bankett Hållen i Blå Hallen i Stockholms Stadshus efter utdelningen av Nobelpriset. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobelbanketten
  • Royen, Ulrika. (2021). The Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies and Banquets – NobelPrize.org. NobelPrize.org. https://www.nobelprize.org/ceremony/the-nobel-prize-award-ceremonies-and-banquets/
  • Royen, Ulrika. (2023). The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony 2023 – NobelPrize.org. NobelPrize.org. https://www.nobelprize.org/ceremony/the-nobel-prize-award-ceremony-2023/
  • Stockholm Award Ceremony Program 2023. (2023). Bawendi, M., Brus, L., & Yekimov, A. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2023/12/stockholm-award-ceremony-program-2023.pdf
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2019). Alfred Nobel. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Nobel
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Nobel Banquet. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2018). Nobel Prize. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobel_Prize

Sweden – Accession to the Throne

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

King Carl XVI Gustaf sitting on the Silver Throne of Queen Cristina during the Royal Affirmation Ceremony on September 19, 1973

The last accession to the Swedish throne occurred when 27-year-old King Carl XVI Gustaf succeeded his grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf who died on September 15, 1973.

At the time of Carl Gustaf’s birth in 1946, the current King of Sweden was his great-grandfather King Gustaf V (reigned 1907 – 1950). On January 26, 1947, when Carl Gustaf was only nine months old, his father Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten died in an airplane crash at Kastrup Airport near Copenhagen, Denmark. Prince Gustaf Adolf had been second in the line of succession behind his father, the future King Gustaf VI Adolf (reigned 1950 – 1973) and his son four-year-old Prince Carl Gustaf had been third in the line of succession. When his father died Carl Gustaf became second in the line of succession behind his grandfather. Carl Gustaf’s great-grandfather King Gustaf V died on October 29, 1950, and his grandfather became King Gustaf VI Adolf while four-year-old Carl Gustaf became Crown Prince.

History

King Oscar II, wearing the Regalia of Sweden, was the last monarch of Sweden to have a coronation (1873); Credit – Wikipedia

King Eric X was the first King of Sweden known to have a coronation. He was crowned in November 1210 in Uppsala, then the religious center of Sweden, by Archbishop Valerius of Uppsala. Coronations were held in various cities during the 13th and 14th centuries. From the middle of the 15th century onward, coronations were held at Uppsala Cathedral or the Storkyrkan (The Great Church) in Stockholm. The only exception is the coronation of King Gustav IV Adolf, which took place in Norrköping in 1800, where the Riksdag (Swedish legislature) was located because the political atmosphere in Stockholm was considered too uncertain.

Following the coronation of King Oscar II in 1873, all subsequent Swedish monarchs chose not to be crowned although there is no law preventing a coronation.

Since 1594, all Swedish monarchs have issued the required Konungaförsäkran (King’s Declaration). The King’s Declaration stated that the Swedish monarch would fulfill the duties required but not exceed them. For example, this meant that the Swedish monarch promised not to start a war without consulting the Riksdag and the Government and would follow the statutes of the constitution. The royal declaration also included the more solemn royal oath. However, the current Basic Laws of Sweden no longer mandate a King’s Declaration.

The Royal Affirmation, a eulogy for the deceased monarch and the announcement of the new monarch’s accession to the throne, is usually the new monarch’s first public statement. The new monarch also announces their royal name, title, and motto and gives a speech.

What Happened?

Minister for Justice Lennart Geijer administering the King’s Oath to King Carl XVI Gustaf in the Council Room at the Royal Palace; Credit – Photo: TT

On September 19, 1973, King Carl XVI Gustaf took the then-required King’s Declaration and Oath during a meeting of the Council of State, was enthroned in a simple ceremony, and made an accession speech.

The King’s Declaration and Oath

The Council Chamber at the Royal Palace of Stockholm; By Øyvind Holmstad – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45911100

King Carl XVI Gustaf swore The King’s Declaration and Oath before the Council of State in the Council Chamber at the Royal Palace of Stockholm on Wednesday, September 19, 1973, at 2:00 p.m. The King’s paternal uncle Prince Bertil also participated in the council. Prime Minister Olof Palme read King Gustaf VI Adolf’s death certificate. Minister for Justice Lennart Geijer administered the King’s Oath to King Carl XVI Gustaf. After the oath was sworn, King Carl XVI Gustaf signed it.

King Carl XVI Gustaf’s King’s Declaration and Oath read as follows:

“We, Carl Gustaf, King of Sweden, solemnly swear that as it pleased the most high God, to call upon the formerly Most Mighty High Prince and Lord Gustaf VI Adolf, King of Sweden, Göte and Vende, and We, according to and by virtue of the Estates of the Kingdom of Sweden established on September 26, 1810, and the established Order of Succession, ascend to the Royal Swedish Throne.

Therefore, We hereby solemnly and most strongly affirm that We will govern the Kingdom according to the literal form of government established by the Estates of the Kingdom on June 6, 1809, and adopted by the King and the Estates of the Kingdom for compliance, as well as the Kingdom’s other valid constitutions, general laws, and make statutes.

We will, in accordance with the just-mentioned form of government, make laws, as a righteous King, and be a devoted father to the Swedish people, through a legal, just, and gentle government. May We with the help of God the most high, and with a clear conscience, to the best of Our ability, be able to defend, seek, and promote the true benefit and good of the kingdom and every citizen. Through free will and after mature consideration, We therefore confirm with the signature of Our name and with this oath, that We will comply with and fulfill this. So true, God help me for life and soul.”

The King then announced his royal name, title, and motto: “Since my dear ancestor, King of Sweden, the Goths and the Wends, Gustaf VI Adolf has died, I have succeeded Him as King of our nation. My regnal name shall be Carl XVI Gustaf, my regnal title shall be King of Sweden, and my motto shall be For Sweden – With the Times.”

Royal Affirmation

King Carl XVI Gustaf reading his Royal Affirmation; Credit – Bernadotte Library’s image archive

King Carl XVI Gustaf then appeared before the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament), the diplomatic corps, and other Swedish officials, for a ceremony in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.

The impressive Hall of State in the Royal Palace in Stockholm and Silver Throne of Queen Cristina; Photo Credit: © Susan Flantzer

In the Hall of State, sitting on the Silver Throne of Queen Cristina, King Carl XVI Gustaf gave a speech in remembrance of his grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf. Like his two predecessors, King Gustaf V and King Gustaf VI Adolf, King Carl XVI was not crowned. The Regalia of Sweden were displayed on cushions to the right and left of the Silver Throne but were never given to the king.

King Carl XVI Gustaf with his four sisters on the balcony of the Royal Palace of Stockholm

After the ceremonies, King Carl XVI Gustaf waved to the crowds from the balcony of the Royal Palace of Stockholm. He was joined by his four elder sisters Princess Margaretha, Princess Birgitta, Princess Désirée, Princess Christina and his paternal uncle Prince Bertil.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Bidragsgivare till Wikimedia-projekten. (2005). Anger kungens förpliktelse vid trontillträdet. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konungaf%C3%B6rs%C3%A4kran
  • Bidragsgivare till Wikimedia-projekten. (2011). Kröningar av Sveriges regent. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svenska_kr%C3%B6ningar
  • Carl XVI Gustaf. (2022). Wikipedia. https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_XVI_Gustaf
  • HM The King. (2016). Kungahuset.se. https://www.kungahuset.se/english/royal-house/hm-the-king#h-Biography
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Coronation of the Swedish monarch. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Spain – Solemn Opening of the Cortes Generales, Spain’s Legislature

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

The Palacio de las Cortes in Madrid, Spain decorated for the Solemn Opening of the Cortes Generales; Credit – Wikipedia

The Solemn Opening of the Cortes Generales, the legislature of Spain, occurs approximately two weeks after the investiture of the Prime Minister of Spain, after the holding of general elections and the formation of a new government. It takes place at the Palacio de las Cortes in Madrid Spain, the meeting place in the chamber of the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the Cortes Generales, the Spanish legislature. The newly elected members of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate of Spain, the upper house, are summoned to attend. Also attending are the members of the Constitutional Court of Spain and the General Council of the Judiciary, regional presidents, the Presidents of the legislative assemblies of the Autonomous Communities, and the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

The Spanish Monarch, wearing the Gold Medal of the Senate and the Gold Medal of the Congress of Deputies, his or her spouse, and members of the Spanish royal family attend the Solemn Opening of the Cortes Generales. They are accompanied to the Palacio de las Cortes by the Royal Escort Squadron, the cavalry unit of the Spanish Royal Guard.

Embed from Getty Images
Infanta Leonor, The Princess of Asturias (heir presumptive to the throne), King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stand during the National Anthem as they arrive for the Solemn Opening of the Cortes Generales on November 29, 2023, in Madrid, Spain

The official ceremony begins with the welcoming of the Spanish Monarch, his or her spouse, and members of the Spanish royal family by the Prime Minister and the Chief of the Defense Staff. The national anthem is played and the Spanish Monarch receives military honors and reviews the troops.

The Spanish monarch and his/her spouse and members of the Spanish royal family approach the steps of the Palacio de las Cortes where they are greeted by the Speakers of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate and other legislative officials. After entering the Palacio de las Cortes through the Puerta de los Leones (Doors of the Lions), used on only solemn occasions, the royal party and the government officials make their way to the Chamber of Congress of the Deputies.

All stand during the playing of the national anthem. In the middle, left to right are King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and their elder daughter Infanta Leonor, The Princess of Asturias, the heir presumptive to the throne of Spain; Credit – Spanish Royal House

After the Spanish monarch, his/her spouse, royal family members, and those accompanying them arrive in the Chamber of Congress of the Deputies, the national anthem is played. The President of the Congress of Deputies gives a speech.

King Felipe VI giving his speech at the 2023 Solemn Opening of the Cortes Generales; Credit – Wikipedia

Next, the Spanish monarch gives his/her speech and then declares that the Cortes Generales is open. Finally, official photos are taken with the Spanish monarch and government leader, and guests are greeted. Outside the Palacio de las Cortes, a military parade caps off the day’s events.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Casa Real pide la apertura solemne de las Cortes antes del 6-D para blindar el Día de la Constitución. (2023). Vozpópuli. https://www.vozpopuli.com/espana/casa-real-apertura-cortes.html
  • Edificio en Madrid, sede del Congreso de los Diputados. (2005). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palacio_de_las_Cortes
  • Solemn Opening of the Parliament of Spain. (2024). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solemn_Opening_of_the_Parliament_of_Spain
  • Solemne Apertura de las Cortes Generales del Reino.  (2016). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solemne_Apertura_de_las_Cortes_Generales_del_Reino
  • The King of Spain presides over the solemn opening of the XV legislature – Jose A Martin – United States Press Agency News (USPA News). (2023). United States Press Agency News (USPA News). https://www.uspa24.com/bericht-23874/the-kings-of-spain-preside-over-the-solemn-opening-of-the-xv-legislature.html

Accession to the Throne – Spain

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Throne Room in the Royal Palace of Madrid; Credit – Wikipedia

The last accession to the Spanish throne occurred when King Juan Carlos I abdicated in favor of his son King Felipe VI on June 19, 2014. On June 18, 2014, King Juan Carlos I signed the law granting the abdication which would take effect just after midnight. King Felipe VI was sworn in and proclaimed King of Spain on June 19, 2014, in a ceremony in the Palacio de las Cortes in Madrid Spain, the meeting place of the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the Cortes Generales, the Spanish legislature. After the abdication, the former king and his wife retained their titles, His Majesty King Juan Carlos and Her Majesty Queen Sofia.

History

A tapestry showing the wedding of Isabella and Ferdinand; Credit – Wikipedia

The crowns of the Kingdom of Castile and the Kingdom of Aragon were united for hereditary purposes by the 1469 marriage of their monarchs, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. Although some consider this union as the formation of the Kingdom of Spain, the two kingdoms continued to exist separately for more than two centuries. It was not until the Nueva Planta Decrees of 1707 and 1716 signed by Felipe V, the first Bourbon King of Spain, that the two kingdoms were formally merged into a single state.

No monarch of Spain or any part of Spain that previously was an independent kingdom has been crowned since King Ferdinand I of Aragon in 1414, Queen Isabella I of Castile in 1474, and Queen Catherine of Navarre in 1494. After the 17th century, all Spanish monarchs were proclaimed and acclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church. Since the 18th century, all Spanish monarchs have been proclaimed before the Cortes Generales, the Spanish legislature. During these ceremonies, the Spanish royal regalia was displayed but not worn.

What Happens?

The Captain General’s Sash

King Juan Carlos placing the red sash of the Captain General of the Armed Forces on his son King Felipe VI

At 9:30 AM on June 19, 2014, in the Audience Room of the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, King Juan Carlos placed the red sash of the Captain General of the Armed Forces on his son King Felipe VI. The new king assumed supreme command of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Several members of the Royal Family, the Minister of Defense, the Chief of the Defense Staff, the Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the Director General of the Civil Guard were present.

The Oath Before the Cortes Generales

The Palace of the Cortes, home of the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the Spanish Legislature, where the Proclamation Ceremony took place; Credit – De Luis García, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73304264

Title 2 Article 61 of the Spanish Constitution states that the Spanish monarch “on being proclaimed before the Cortes Generales, shall take an oath to discharge their duties faithfully, to abide by the Constitution and the law and ensure that they are abided by, and to respect the rights of citizens and the Autonomous Communities.”

King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, their elder daughter Infanta Leonor, now heir presumptive to the throne with the title The Princess of Asturias, and their younger daughter Infanta Sofía arrived at the Palace of the Cortes in Madrid, home of the Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the Spanish legislature at 10:30 AM. Regarding Infanta Leonor being the heir presumptive and not the heir apparent, currently, Spain’s succession law is male-preference cognatic primogeniture. This means that Leonor, as the elder of King Felipe’s two daughters, is first in line to inherit the throne, and she is the heir presumptive. However, if her parents have a son, which seems unlikely at this point, he would be the heir apparent and Leonor would forfeit the title of Princess of Asturias and the other titles to her brother. There have been discussions of changing the succession law to absolute primogeniture, where the eldest child, regardless of gender, inherits the throne, but no legislation has been forthcoming. If Leonor ascends to the throne, she will be Spain’s first queen regnant since Queen Isabella II, who reigned from 1833 to 1868.

King Felipe VI receives military honors with his wife Queen Letizia and his daughters (left to right) Infanta Sofia and Leonor, Princess of Asturias; Credit – By Ministry of the Presidency. Government of Spain, Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33488717

The King, Queen, and their daughters were received by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Chief of the Defense Staff Admiral General Fernando García Sánchez. They were then given military honors, the national anthem was played and the King reviewed the troops present.

Jesús Posada, President of the Congress of Deputies (left), and Pío García-Escudero Márquez, 4th Count of Badarán, President of the Senate (right) greet the King, the Queen, and their two daughters

At the entrance to the Palace of the Cortes, the King, the Queen, and their two daughters were greeted by Jesús Posada, President of the Congress of Deputies, and Pío García-Escudero Márquez, 4th Count of Badarán, President of the Senate. After entering the Palace of the Cortes through the Puerta de los Leones (Doors of the Lions), used on only solemn occasions, the King, the Queen, and their two daughters were greeted by Francisco Pérez de los Cobos (in Spanish), President of the Constitutional Court, Carlos Lesmes Serrano President of the General Council of the Judiciary, and leaders of the Government.

Members of the Congress of Deputies (the lower house) and the Senate (the upper house) were gathered in the chamber. Former Prime Ministers of Spain, Presidents of the Autonomous Communities, and other government officials were in the guest gallery.

Also present were relatives of King Felipe VI: his mother Queen Sofia, his eldest sister Infanta Elena and her son Felipe de Marichalar, his paternal aunt Infanta Pilar, his paternal aunt Infanta Margarita and her husband Carlos Zurita y Delgado, Duke of Soria, his maternal uncle the former King Constantine II of Greece and his wife Queen Anne-Marie (born a Princess of Denmark), his second cousin once removed Prince Carlos of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Infante of Spain, Duke of Calabria and his wife Princess Anne of Orléans. Queen Letizia’s family also attended.

The Spanish Regalia; Credit – Wikipedia

During the ceremony, the Spanish regalia were displayed but not worn. Jesús Posada, President of the Congress of Deputies began by offering thanks to the previous monarch King Juan Carlos and his wife Queen Sofia, and expressed his hopes that the new reign would be fruitful.

King Felipe VI of Spain takes the oath before the Cortes Generales during the proclamation ceremony at the Palacio de las Cortes in Madrid; Credit – Wikipedia

Jesús Posada, President of the Congress of Deputies then proceeded to swear in King Felipe VI, who said the following oath: “I swear to faithfully carry out my duties, to uphold and ensure the upholding of the Constitution and the laws, and to respect the rights of citizens and autonomous communities.”

King Felipe VI giving his speech during the proclamation ceremony

Jesús Posada, President of the Congress of Deputies then made the proclamation: “In compliance with the Constitution, Don Felipe de Borbón y Grecia is hereby proclaimed King of Spain and will reign under the name of Felipe VI. Long live the King! Long live Spain!” After the proclamation, the new King was cheered and the national anthem was played. King Felipe VI then gave a speech to the Cortes General, ending the speech by giving thanks in Spanish, Catalan, Basque, and Galician.

Other Events Relating to the Accession

Left to Right: King Juan Carlos, The Princess of Asturias, King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Infanta Sofia, and Queen Sofia greet wellwishers from the balcony of the Royal Palace

Outside the Palace of the Cortes, a military parade was held in honor of the new King of Spain. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia traveled by car through the streets of Madrid, lined with thousands of people. Upon arriving at the Royal Palace, King Felipe, Queen Letizia, King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia, and members of the royal family went out onto the central balcony of the Royal Palace to greet the people. Afterward, King Felipe and Queen Letizia held a reception for 2,000 guests.

During previous proclamations, a crucifix and the Book of the Gospels had been displayed but this was not done during King Felipe VI’s proclamation. The traditional Mass of the Holy Spirit was not celebrated in the Church of San Jerónimo el Real. However, a few days later a Mass was celebrated in the chapel of the Zarzuela Palace, attended by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, King Juan Carlos, and Queen Sofia.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Acto de proclamación del rey de España el 19 de junio de 2014. (2014). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proclamaci%C3%B3n_de_Felipe_VI
  • King Felipe VI calls for “New Spain” as he is sworn in. (2014, June 19). BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27918094
  • Spain’s New King Felipe VI swears Oath. (2014, June 19). Syracuse. https://www.syracuse.com/news/2014/06/spains_new_king_felipe_vi_swears_oath.html
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Felipe VI. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2019). Monarchy of Spain. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy_of_Spain

Monaco – National Day of Monaco – November 19

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Prince Albert II of Monaco (center window) and the Princely Family of Monaco greeting the citizens of Monaco on November 19, 2010; Credit – Par Santiago Puig Vilado…, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53325247

The National Day of Monaco, also known as the Sovereign Prince’s Day, is celebrated on November 19. It is a celebration of the Sovereign Prince or Sovereign Princess and the people of Monaco.

History

Prince Charles III of Monaco; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1857, Prince Charles III of Monaco (reigned 1856 – 1889) decided to establish November 4, the feast day of Saint Charles Borromeo, his patron saint, as Sovereign Prince’s Day to reaffirm the sovereignty of the Principality of Monaco. The day was celebrated with a Te Deum, a Latin hymn of praise, in the Church of Saint Nicholas, the first parish church in Monaco, dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of sailors. The Church of Saint Nicholas was on the site of the current Cathedral of Monaco. During the reign of Prince Charles III, other celebrations were added including a procession to the church, the playing of the national anthem in the church, a military parade on Place du Palais, fireworks, a concert, and games.

When Prince Charles III died and was succeeded by his son Prince Albert I (reigned 1889 – 1922), Sovereign Prince’s Day was celebrated on November 15, the feast day of Saint Albert the Great, Prince Albert II’s patron saint. In 1922, when Prince Albert I’s son Prince Louis II (reigned 1922 – 1949) succeeded him, Louis departed from tradition. The feast day of his patron saint, Saint Louis (King Louis IX of France), was celebrated on August 25, during the summer, not an ideal time for celebrations. Instead, Sovereign Prince’s Day was held on January 17, the feast day of Saint Anthony the Great, the patronal saint of his granddaughter Princess Antoinette of Monaco. During the reign of Prince Louis II, the term National Festival began to be used which morphed into National Day.

Prince Louis II was succeeded by his grandson Prince Rainier III (reigned 1949 – 2005). Prince Rainier set National Day on November 19, the feast day of Blessed Rainier of Arezzo. When Prince Rainier III died in 2005, his son and successor Prince Albert II (reigned 2005 – present) decided to keep National Day on November 19 In memory of his father.

Celebrations

 

Celebrations start with a fireworks display over the harbor the night before.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene leaving the Cathedral of Monaco

On the morning of November 19, the extended Princely Family of Monaco attends a Te Deum (a Latin hymn of praise) and a Mass at the Cathedral of Monaco. After the Te Deum is sung, the Archbishop of Monaco says a prayer for the Sovereign Prince (or Sovereign Princess) in Latin, currently, Domine, salvum fac princem nostrum Albertum (Lord, Save our Prince Albert). During the prayer, all stand except for the Sovereign, who remains seated.

Princess Caroline of Hanover, Princess Gabriella of Monaco (Albert’s daughter), Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Jacques of Monaco (Albert’s son), Princess Stephanie of Monaco (Albert’s sister) and Prince Albert II of Monaco watch the Presentation of Arms at the Cour d’Honneur

Afterward, the Princely Family watches the Presentation of Arms at the Cour d’Honneur, the large horseshoe staircase in the Palace Courtyard at the Prince’s Palace. The Minister of State then conducts ceremonies to award Labor Medals and Medals of Honour.

The military parade

The extended Princely Family gather to watch a military parade on the Place du Palais. After the parade, a cannon salute is given by artillery dating back to the 1600s.

The extended family: Kaia-Rose Wittstock and Bodhi Wittstock, Gareth Wittstock, Sean Wittstock, Camille Gottlieb, Pauline Ducruet, Marie Chevallier, Louis Ducruet, Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Beatrice Borromeo, Francesco Casiraghi, Pierre Casiraghi, Stefano Casiraghi, Raphael Elmaleh, Charlotte Casiraghi, Balthazar Rassam, India Casiraghi, Tatiana Santo Domingo, Maximilian Casiraghi, Sacha Casiraghi and Andrea Casiraghi

The Stade  Louis-II; Credit – By V&A Dudush – Panoramio, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19960683

In the afternoon, a friendly football (soccer) match takes place at the Stade Louis-II.

Princess Caroline of Hanover (Albert’s sister), Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Princess Alexandra of Hanover (Caroline’s daughter), Sean Wittstock (Charlene’s brother) and his wife attend the Gala at the Grimaldi Forum during the Monaco National Day 2023 on November 19, 2023 

In the evening, the annual Monaco National Day Gala Performance by the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra is held at the Grimaldi Forum.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Contributeurs aux projets Wikimedia. (2021). Fête du prince, fête nationale à Monaco. Wikipedia.org; Fondation Wikimedia, Inc. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%AAte_du_Prince
  • Monaco’s National Day or Sovereign Prince’s Day. (2024). HelloMonaco. https://www.hellomonaco.com/event/monacos-national-day-or-sovereign-princes-day/
  • Monaco’s National Day. (2023). The Royal Watcher. https://royalwatcherblog.com/2023/11/19/monaco-national-day-2023/
  • Monaco National Day Mass & Parade – Royal Attendance (2018-Present). (2022, November 18). Blogspot.com. https://gertsroyals.blogspot.com/2022/11/monaco-national-day-mass-parade-royal.html
  • National Day of Monaco. (2023). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Day_of_Monaco
  • Palais Princier de Monaco. (2012). National Day celebration. Palais.mc. https://www.palais.mc/en/news/h-s-h-prince-albert-ii/event/2012/november/national-day-celebration-2888.html

Norway – Constitution Day, National Day of Norway – May 17

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

The Children’s Parade in Oslo in 2010; Credit – By evelinagustafsson@live.se – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10407995

In Norway, May 17 is Constitution Day and the National Day of Norway. The celebrations focus on Norway as an independent state governed by the rule of law with democratic rights for all. Unlike other countries’ National Days, Norway’s National Day is not celebrated with military parades, but with local children’s parades in which music bands and school children march together.

History

The Norwegian Constituent Assembly meeting at Eidsvoll, Norway in 1814 by Oscar Wergeland; Credit – Wikipedia

The Constitution of Norway was adopted on May 16, 1814, and signed on May 17, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll, Norway. The constitution declared Norway an independent kingdom in an attempt to avoid being ceded to Sweden after Denmark-Norway‘s defeat in the Napoleonic Wars. The attempt failed and Norway was part of the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway until 1905.

The first celebration of May 17th took place in Trondheim in 1815, one year after the Constitution was drafted and adopted. The French-born Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte who was elected Crown Prince of Sweden in 1810 by the Riksdag, the Swedish parliament, ruled over Norway and Sweden from 1818 to 1844 as King Karl III Johan of Norway and King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden. He regarded the May 17th celebrations and Norway’s independent Constitution as revolutionary acts against Sweden. In 1828, celebrations of Constitution Day were prohibited. However, his son and successor King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway had a different opinion. Starting in 1845, the year after he became King, Oscar I attended the May 17th celebrations, and greeted the parade from the royal estate, now called the Royal Palace of Oslo.

In Norway, holidays and festivals were often celebrated by parades with banners, music, and singing. Peter Qvam, a school headmaster, came up with the idea of holding a children’s parade, Barnetog (children’s train). In 1869, the first Barnetog was held on May 17th with about 1,200 boys participating. Girls began participating in 1889.

What Happens?

Bunads

Credit – Av Ingen maskinlesbar opphavsperson oppgitt. Leifern er antatt opphavsperson, basert på opplysninger om opphavsrett. – No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=371104

It is common for Norwegians to wear bunads on May 17th. The term bunad refers to clothes designed in the early 20th century, loosely based on traditional costumes. Bunads are often worn at folk dances, weddings, baptisms, confirmations, Christmas, and graduations.

Children’s Parades

A kindergarten class with their class banner marching in a children’s parade; Credit – By Ranveig Thattai – Ranveig Thattai, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=162695

Children’s parades, Barnetog in Norwegian which translates to children’s train, are organized in  Norwegian communities and many communities where Norwegians live abroad. In Norway, each elementary school district arranges its own parade with marching bands between schools. The children are dressed festively and carry small Norwegian flags. The children’s parades vary in size from tens of people in small villages to several tens of thousands of participants in Oslo, Norway’s capital.

The children’s parades follow certain routes in towns and are organized so that the children walk by class behind their school banner. Many classes also have their own homemade banners. The parade ends with children and adults gathering in a large space where speeches are given. After the speeches, many people join the parade on the march back to the starting point. Some communities also have separate citizens’ trains or people’s trains where everyone can participate.

The Children’s Parade in Oslo going past the Royal Palace in Oslo; Credit – By Morten Johnsen – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1514702

In Oslo, about 70,000 children and adults and 1,700 bands march in the children’s parade. The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces leads the Oslo children’s parade. The parade passes the Royal Palace where the royal family wave from the palace balcony.

The Royal Family on the Balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo

Left to Right: Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Queen Sonja, and King Harald V wave Norwegian flags from the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo, on May 17, 2021

Each May 17, the Norwegian royal family gathers on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo to greet the Oslo children’s parade. King Haakon VII and Queen Maud began the tradition in 1906 and subsequent monarchs have continued the tradition. There have been two exceptions. Queen Maud’s father King Edward VII of the United Kingdom died on May 6, 1910, and the Norwegian royal family was in mourning and attending the funeral in the United Kingdom. Norway was under German Occupation during World War II from 1940 – 1945. During the occupation, Norwegians were forbidden to celebrate May 17th, participate in parades, or use the colors of the Norwegian flag on clothes.

Crowds gather in front of the Royal Palace during the Norwegian Constitution Day celebrations on May 17, 2014 in Oslo, Norway

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty

Works Cited

  • Bidragsytere til Wikimedia-prosjektene. (2005, May 19). Norges nasjonaldag. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/17._mai_(grunnlovsdag)
  • Celebrating May 17th. (2020, May 17). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=78630&sek=27262
  • Constitution Day (Norway). (2022). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Day_(Norway)

Accession, Coronation, Benediction – Norway

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Benediction of King Harald V and Queen Sonja at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim; Credit – Royal House of Norway

A Bit of History

The Kingdom of Norway was established in 872 as a merger of many small kingdoms. During the Kalmar Union from 1397 until 1523, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway were ruled together under one monarch until Danish rule was overthrown in a rebellion led by nobleman Gustav Vasa, who became King Gustav I of Sweden. From 1537 to 1814, Norway was a part of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway, and from 1814 to 1905, it was in a personal union with the Kingdom of Sweden.

In 1905, when the union between Sweden and Norway was dissolved, the Norwegian government began searching for candidates to become King of Norway. Prince Carl of Denmark, the second son of King Frederik VIII of Denmark, was the overwhelming favorite because of his descent from prior Norwegian monarchs and the British connections of his wife Princess Maud, daughter of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. Before accepting, Prince Carl insisted that the voices of the Norwegian people be heard regarding retaining a monarchy. Following a referendum with a 79% majority in favor, Prince Carl was formally offered, and then accepted the throne and reigned as King Haakon VII of Norway until he died in 1957.

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Accession

When the Norwegian Sovereign dies, the accession is automatic. The last Norwegian accession took place on January 17, 1991, when King Olav V died and his son immediately succeeded him as King Harald V. The Constitution of Norway requires the new Norwegian Sovereign to swear an oath before the Storting, the Norwegian legislature. If the Storting is not in session, the new  Sovereign swears the oath before the Council of State and again before the Storting once it is in session.

On January 21, 1991, King Harald V swore an oath during a formal ceremony in the Storting. President of the Storting Jo Benkow read the announcement of King Olav V’s death before King Harald V swore the oath: “I solemnly swear to reign in the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its Constitution and laws, so help me Almighty God.”

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History of Coronations

Coronation of King Karl III Johan of Norway in Nidaros Cathedral 1818; Credit – Wikipedia

The first coronation in Norway occurred in 1163 or 1164, in Bergen, then the capital of Norway, at Christ Church (Old Cathedral).  Christ Church was razed to the ground In 1531, by Eske Bille, a Danish diplomat and statesman, and commander of the Bergenhus Fortress.  Bille was famous for demolishing the churches in Bergen and became known by the nickname “Church Breaker”. Churches and other buildings in Bergen had to be removed to enable a better defense of Bergen and its port. When King Haakon V came to the throne in 1299, Norway’s capital was moved from Bergen to Oslo, which is still Norway’s capital. After 1299, some coronations were held in Oslo but most took place at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.

During the Kalmar Union (1397 to 1523), when a single monarch ruled Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, the monarchs were crowned in all three monarchies. After the Kalmar Union was dissolved, Norway remained unified with Denmark under the King of Denmark until 1814. Throughout the Danish Union, the Kings of Denmark-Norway had one ceremony in Denmark in which the King placed the crown upon his own head and was anointed. During the Swedish Union (1814 – 1905), the 1814 Constitution of Norway required the monarch of Norway to be crowned in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway.

The first King of Sweden-Norway, King Karl II of Norway who was also King Carl XIII of Sweden, never visited Norway and was never crowned. When King Karl III Johan of Norway/King Carl XIV Johan of Sweden ascended the throne in 1818, the coronation at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim continued in accordance with the 1814 Constitution of Norway with him and his successors.

King Haakon VII and Queen Maud seated on their thrones during their coronation in 1906; Credit – By Municipal Archives of Trondheim from Trondheim, Norway – Kroningen i Trondhjem 1906Uploaded by Anne-Sophie Ofrim, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18901728

When the Swedish union was abolished in 1905, and Prince Carl of Denmark was elected King of Norway and reigned as King Haakon VII, he and his wife Queen Maud (born Princess Maud of Wales, the daughter of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom) were crowned at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, in accordance with the 1814 Constitution of Norway. So far, this was the last coronation held in Norway.

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A Change

In 1908, just two years after the coronation of King Haakon VII and Queen Maud, the Storting, the Norwegian legislature, repealed the provision in the Constitution of Norway requiring a coronation with only two Storting members voting against the repeal. Many Norwegians felt that a coronation was undemocratic and archaic. Norwegian law does not expressly ban coronations but the Norwegian monarchs since the 1908 repeal have opted for a different ceremony, a benediction.

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History of the Benediction

King Olav V of Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

When King Olav V came to the throne in 1957, upon the death of his father King Haakon VII, he desired to have a religious ceremony as he embarked on his roles as King of Norway and the Head of the Church of Norway. Olav proposed a ritual known in Norwegian as Signing til kongsgjerning – Blessing the King for His Reign – a benediction rite. There was and still is no constitutional prohibition against arranging a ceremony for a new monarch of Norway, even a coronation if any future monarch of Norway desires to have one.

King Olav played an active role in developing the Benediction, also called the Consecration. However, Prime Minister Einar Gerhardsen and his Government showed little enthusiasm for the Benediction. The Government decided that only three members of the Storting’s Presidium, a committee of six members chaired by the President of the Storting, three members of the Government, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court should attend the Benediction. However, Arne Fjellbu, Bishop of Nidaros sent a letter to all members of the Storting informing them that seating would be reserved for all those who wished to attend. Within a short time, most of the Storting members had accepted the invitation.

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King Olav V’s Benediction – June 22, 1958

King Olav V’s Benediction; Credit – Royal House of Norway

King Olav V’s wife and first cousin, born Princess Märtha of Sweden, sadly died of cancer on April 5, 1954, so Olav came to the throne without a Queen Consort, and he never remarried. For his Benediction, Olav chose the date June 22, 1958, exactly 52 years after the coronation of his parents in the same cathedral, Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway. The ceremony was carried live by radio throughout Norway.

Arne Fjellbu, Bishop of Nidaros and Johannes Smemo, Bishop of Oslo, who gave the sermon, officiated at the Benediction. The new ceremony retained some of the religious elements of earlier rites and eliminated elements considered to be undemocratic. There is no law preventing a coronation from occurring so any future monarch of Norway can choose to have one. During the ceremony, the Norwegian royal regalia was displayed but not worn.

Bishop Fjellbu consecrating King Olav V; Credit – Royal House of Norway

King Olav V sat on the 1818 coronation throne in Nidaros Cathedral. Following the sermon, Olav knelt before the high altar. Bishop Fjellbu laid his hand on the king’s head and recited a special prayer of consecration and blessing which formed the climax of the ritual:

Eternal, Almighty God, Heavenly Father, we thank thee whose grace in need has always gone over our land in woeful and good times to this day. Hear, today, our king’s and our prayer. We pray thee, send thy grace to King Olav the Fifth, assist him by thy Spirit and give him wisdom and peace from thee that his reign be a benefit and a blessing on Norway’s land and people. Deceitful and burdensome days will come; may truth and goodness from thee be his power and gladness. Eternal, powerful God, bless our king, be thou always his Lord and his King and grant his House all good days in time and eternity. Amen.

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Benediction of King Harald V and Queen Sonja – June 23, 1991

Benediction of King Harald V and Queen Sonja; Credit – Royal House of Norway

King Olav V died on January 17, 1991, and his son King Harald V succeeded him. King Harald V and his wife Queen Sonja, a commoner,  born Sonja Haraldsen, expressed their desire to both participate in a Benediction ceremony like King Olav V’s. On June 23, 1991, their Benediction ceremony was held at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway, officiated by Finn Wagle, Bishop of Nidaros and Andreas Aarflot, Bishop of Oslo.

King Haakon VII and Queen Maud in 1906 with the Norwegian regalia; Credit – By Peder O. Aune, 1906 Uploaded by Anne-Sophie Ofrim, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23926801

The royal regalia was displayed during the ceremony but not worn. The King’s Crown and the Queen’s Crown were placed on either side of the high altar. The bishops met King Harald V and Queen Sonja as they entered the cathedral. Bishop Wagle greeted King Harald: “May the Lord bless your going in and your coming out now and for evermore.” King Harald V and Queen Sonja proceeded up the aisle and sat in the 1818 coronation thrones.

Bishop Wagle consecrating King Harald V; Credit – Royal House of Norway

After scripture readings and the sermon, King Harald V knelt before the high altar. Bishop Wagle put his right hand on his head and said the consecration prayer which included: “Consecrate King Harald V, strengthen and lead him in his work as King of Norway. Let his service to the people and the Church be a blessing.”

Queen Sonja then came forward and knelt beside King Harald. Bishop Wagle lay his right hand on her head and said: “Let her work be in support of the King’s deed. Help her use abilities and forces for the joy and benefit of Norway’s country and people.”

Bishop Wagle then said a prayer over the kneeling King and Queen and turned and knelt at the high altar as the Royal Anthem, the Kongesangen, was sung:

God bless our good king!
Bless him with strength and courage
bless home and castle!
Guide him with your Spirit,
Forge with your strong Hand
Holy bonds of allegiance
Around people and king!

Loudly pledge men of Norway
Each in his calling, his station,
Loyalty to his king.
Loyal in life and death,
Courageous in war and distress,
Always our Norway obeyed
God and its king.

Bishop Wagle said a final blessing over the kneeling King and Queen: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you. Amen.” The Lord Chamberlain then came forward as the King and Queen rose, and conducted them back to their coronation thrones.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Accession of the New Monarch in 1991. (2016). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=131423&sek=27262
  • Consecration. (2011). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=35248&sek=35247
  • The Consecration of King Harald and Queen Sonja. (2013). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=28733&sek=27278
  • The Consecration of King Olav V. (2007). Royalcourt.no. https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=35246&sek=35244
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Coronations in Norway. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). Monarchy of Norway. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation.

Spain – Princess of Asturias Awards – Mid to Late October

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

2015 Princess of Asturias Awards Ceremony at the Teatro Campoamor, a performing arts theater in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias in Spain; By Ruben Ortega – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=44642313

The Princess of Asturias Awards (or the Prince of Asturias Awards if the heir to the throne is male) are annual monetary prizes awarded by the Princess of Asturias Foundation (or the Prince of Asturias Foundation if the heir is male) in mid to late October. The prizes are awarded in several categories.

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Who is the Prince or Princess of Asturias?

Leonor, Princess of Asturias; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince or Princess of Asturias is a title used by the heir apparent or heir presumptive to the throne of the Kingdom of Spain. The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community and province in northwest Spain. The title originated in 1388 when King Juan I of Castile granted the title and the jurisdiction over the territory of Asturias to his first-born son, the future King Enrique III of Castile.

The current holder of the title is Infanta Leonor of Spain (born on October 31, 2005), the elder of the two daughters of King Felipe VI of Spain. Leonor is the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne. Infante (male) and Infanta (female) is the title given in Spain (including the former Kingdoms of Aragon, Castile, Navarre, and León) and in the former Kingdom of Portugal to the sons and daughters of the reigning monarch.

Currently, Spain’s succession law is male-preference cognatic primogeniture. This means that Leonor, as the elder of King Felipe VI’s two daughters, is first in line to inherit the throne, and she is the heir presumptive. However, if her parents have a son, which seems unlikely at this point, he would be the heir apparent and Leonor would forfeit the title of Princess of Asturias to her brother. There have been discussions of changing the succession law to absolute primogeniture, where the eldest child, regardless of gender, inherits the throne, but no legislation has been forthcoming. If Leonor ascends to the throne, she will be Spain’s first queen regnant since Queen Isabella II, who reigned from 1833 to 1868.

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What are the Princess of Asturias Awards?

King Felipe VI as Prince of Asturias giving a speech at the creation of the Prince of Asturias Foundation in 1980; Credit – Facebook page of the Princess of Asturias Foundation

The Princess of Asturias Awards are given to individuals, entities, and organizations from around the world who made notable scientific, technical, cultural, social, and humanistic achievements. Spanish journalist Graciano García, who was born in Asturias, originated the idea of the awards to establish a link between the Principality of Asturias and the heir to the Spanish throne, who holds the title of Prince or Princess of Asturias, as well as rewarding scientific, technical, cultural, social, and humanistic accomplishments. The Prince of Asturias Awards were established on September 24, 1980, with the creation of the Prince of Asturias Foundation, in a ceremony presided over by King Felipe VI of Spain, then Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias, the heir to the throne of Spain, in the presence of his parents King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia.

In 2014, after King Felipe VI acceded to the Spanish throne when his father King Juan Carlos I abdicated, it was announced that the foundation and the awards would be renamed using “Princess of Asturias” to reflect the new heiress presumptive to the Spanish throne, Leonor, Princess of Asturias. Beginning in 2019, Leonor attended the awards ceremony, handed out the awards, and delivered a speech. However, King Felipe VI continued to preside over the awards ceremony until Leonor turned 18 on October 31, 2023.

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What are the categories of the Princess of Asturias Awards?

Currently, the Princess of Asturias Awards have eight categories. Click on this link, Wikipedia: Categories and Laureates, to see all the winners, who come from all over the world.

  • Award for Communication and Humanities: Awarded since 1981, “aimed at the work of cultivating and perfecting the sciences and disciplines considered as humanistic activities and those related to the mass media in all its expressions.”
  • Award for Social Sciences: Awarded since 1981, “aimed at creative and/or research work in history, law, linguistics, pedagogy, political science, psychology, sociology, ethics, philosophy, geography, economics, demography and anthropology, as well as the disciplines corresponding to each of these areas.”
  • Award for the Arts: Awarded since 1981, “dedicated to the work of cultivating and perfecting cinematography, theatre, dance, music, photography, painting, sculpture, architecture and other artistic manifestations.”
  • Award for Literature: Awarded since 1981, “dedicated to the work of cultivating and perfecting literary creation in all its genres.”
  • Award for Scientific and Technical Research: Awarded since 1981, “aimed at the work of cultivating and perfecting research, discovery and/or invention in mathematics, astronomy and astrophysics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, medical sciences, Earth and space sciences and technological sciences, as well as the disciplines corresponding to each of these fields and the techniques related to them.”
  • Award for International Cooperation: Awarded since 1981, “aimed at individual or collective work, with another or others, to develop and promote public health, universal education, the protection and defense of the environment and the economic, cultural and social advancement of peoples.”
  • Award for Concord: Awarded since 1986, “destined to the work of defending and generalizing human rights, the promotion and protection of peace, freedom, solidarity, world heritage and, in general, the progress of humanity.”
  • Award for Sports: Awarded since 1987, “aimed at those careers that, through the promotion, development and improvement of sport and through solidarity and commitment, have become an example of the possibilities that the practice of sport brings to the benefit of human beings.”

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How are the winners of the Princess of Asturias Awards determined?

All previous winners of the Prince/Princess of Asturias Awards, people and institutions invited by the Princess of Asturias Foundation, Spanish embassies, diplomatic representations in Spain, members of the juries for the other awards, and prestigious people and institutions may submit proposals for candidates for the Princess of Asturias Award. Award juries meet during April to June at the Hotel de la Reconquista in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias, in Spain.

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Princess of Asturias Awards Ceremony

Teatro Campoamor; Credit – By Denissf – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18700474

The awards are presented by Leonor, Princess of Asturias in mid/late October in a ceremony at Teatro Campoamor, a performing arts theater in Oviedo, the capital of the Principality of Asturias in Spain. People from the cultural, business, and sporting worlds of Spain and Spanish government officials attend the awards ceremony. Leonor’s parents, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and her younger sister Infanta Sofia often attend the awards ceremony.

Leonor, Princess of Asturias delivers a speech at the 2023 awards ceremony

Awards week begins a few days before the awards ceremony, always on a Friday, when the award winners arrive at the Hotel Reconquista in Oviedo. On the days before the ceremony, the winners participate in public events – talks and meetings in cultural centers, universities, schools, sports centers, etc. – in towns in Asturias. The night before the awards ceremony, the Principality of Asturias’s Symphony Orchestra presents a concert in the Oviedo Auditorium.

Sculptures designed by Joan Miró waiting to be awarded to winners of the Princess of Asturias Award; Credit – Wikipedia

At the awards ceremony, each winner is presented with a diploma, a badge with the coat of arms of the Princess of Asturias Foundation, a sculpture designed by Joan Miró (1893 – 1983), a Catalan-Spanish painter, sculptor, and ceramist, and a cash prize of 50,000 Euros. If a prize is shared, each winner receives a proportional share of the prize. If a winner does not attend the awards ceremony, they will not receive either the prize money or the sculpture, even if the absence is due to reasons beyond his control.

Princess of Asturias Foundation Coat of Arms; Credit – By Buho07 – [1], CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11913798

A diploma given to Claudio Magris, an Italian writer in 2004; Credit – By Kippelboy – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15798954

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Fundación Princesa de Asturias. (2024). Www.fpa.es. https://www.fpa.es/en/2024-special/
  • ‌‌Premios Princesa de Asturias. (2003). Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premios_Princesa_de_Asturias
  • Princess of Asturias Awards. (2022). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_of_Asturias_Awards
  •  Princess of Asturias Awards. (2022) The Princess of Asturias Foundation. https://www.fpa.es/en/princess-of-asturias-awards/

King’s Day – April 27 (April 26 if April 27 is a Sunday) – Netherlands

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

King Willem-Alexander visiting Emmen, the Netherlands on King’s Day in 2024; Credit – Door Erikt – Eigen werk https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=147787647

King’s Day (Koningsdag in Dutch) is a national holiday, marking the birth of King Willem-Alexander on April 27, 1967. It is celebrated on April 27 or April 26 if April 27 is a Sunday. When the Dutch monarch is female, the holiday is known as Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag in Dutch).

History

Queen Wilhelmina on Queen’s Day, August 31, 1946, two years before her death. Left to Right: Princess Juliana (later Queen), Prince Bernhard (Juliana’s husband), Queen Wilhelmina, unidentified man, Princess Beatrix (later Queen), Princess Margriet (sitting on step), and Princess Irene; Credit – Wikipedia

King Willem III, who reigned from 1849 to 1890, was an unpopular ruler. Faced with an unpopular monarchy, the States-General, the Dutch legislature, considered ways to promote national unity. Although King Willem III was disliked, his young daughter, only surviving child, and successor, Princess Wilhelmina (born 1880, later Queen Wilhelmina) was not. Intermittently, a holiday had been held on King Willem III’s birthday. J. W. R. Gerlach, editor of the newspaper Utrechts Provinciaal en Stedelijk Dagblad, proposed that Princess Wilhelmina’s birthday be observed for patriotic celebration and national reconciliation.

On the first Princess’ Day in 1885, celebrations occurred only in Utrecht where the five-year-old Princess Wilhelmina was paraded through the streets, waving to the crowds. Eventually, other towns and cities held celebrations, many organizing activities for children. Queen Wilhelmina (reigned 1890 – 1948, abdicated in favor of her daughter Juliana) rarely attended Queen’s Day celebrations after reaching adulthood.

Queen Juliana  (second from the left) and the Dutch royal family standing on the steps of  Soestdijk Palace on Queen’s Day in 1960; Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Juliana (reigned 1948 – 1980, abdicated in favor of her daughter Beatrix) spent each Queen’s Day at Soestdijk Palace in Baarn. The Dutch royal family stood on the palace steps watching a procession of Dutch people in a flower parade. Many Dutch people left flowers and gifts for the royal family on the palace steps. The flower parade was broadcast on television from the mid-1950s.

Queen Beatrix on Queen’s Day in 2010

Queen Beatrix (reigned 1980 – 2013, abdicated in favor of her son Willem-Alexander) decided that rather than remaining at a palace and letting the Dutch people come to her, she would instead visit two towns or cities each year for Queen’s Day celebrations, accompanied by members of the Dutch royal family.

Date Changes

The holiday was originally held as Princess’ Day (Prinsessedag in Dutch) on August 31, 1885, the fifth birthday of Princess Wilhelmina, the only surviving child of King Willem III of the Netherlands and the heir presumptive to the Dutch throne. When ten-year-old Wilhelmina ascended the Dutch throne after her father died in 1890, the holiday became known as Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag) and was first celebrated on August 31, 1891.

In September 1948, when Queen Wilhelmina died, her daughter Juliana became Queen of the Netherlands and Queen’s Day was moved to April 30, Queen Juliana’s birthday. Queen Beatrix, Queen Juliana’s daughter and successor, opted to keep Queen’s Day on April 30 as a tribute to her mother. Queen Beatrix’s birthday was January 31, in the middle of winter, not a time conducive to outdoor activities.

Queen Beatrix abdicated on Queen’s Day in 2013, in favor of her son Willem-Alexander, the first King of the Netherlands in 123 years. The holiday became known as King’s Day (Koningsdag) and was moved to April 27, King Willem-Alexander’s birthday.

What Happens?

Princess Caterina Amalia, Queen Máxima, King Willem-Alexander, Princess Alexia, and Princess Ariane on King’s Day on April 27, 2024, in Emmen, Netherlands

The older generation of the Dutch royal family usually no longer attends events on King’s Day. Instead, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and their three daughters Princess Catharina-Amalia (The Princess of Orange), Princess Alexia, and Princess Ariane make appearances. The King’s brother Prince Constantijn and his wife Princess Laurentien, the four sons of Princess Margriet, first cousins of King Willem-Alexander, and their spouses also make appearances.

King Willem-Alexander visits only one city or town on King’s Day. That city or town is given the opportunity to present itself to the rest of the Netherlands, focusing on music, sports, visual arts, design, technology, business, historical heritage, social initiatives, or dreams for the future.

People dressed in orange on Amsterdam’s canals on Queen’s Day in 2010; By Carmelrmd – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21023947

There are many celebrations throughout the Netherlands. Participants in King’s Day often dress in orange and dye their hair orange in honor of the House of Orange-Nassau. The vrijmarkt (free market) is a nationwide flea market. King’s Day is the only day of the year that the Dutch government permits sales on the street without a permit or the payment of value-added tax. Many large-scale celebrations are held on King’s Day with many concerts and special events in public spaces, particularly in Amsterdam. An outdoor concert is held on Amsterdam’s Museumplein, where as many as 800,000 people attend.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Koningsdag (Nederland). (2024). Wikipedia. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koningsdag_(Nederland)
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2019). Koningsdag. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koningsdag
  • Zaken, M. van A. (2014). Geschiedenis Koningsdag – Koningsdag – Het Koninklijk Huis. Www.koninklijkhuis.nl. https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/onderwerpen/koningsdag/geschiedenis-koningsdag