The Royal Correspondent

On October 13, 2011, Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway visited Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.  During the 30 minute royal convocation, held at the Center for Faith and Life, the reigning couple were treated to fantastic performances by the Luther College Symphony Orchestra and Nordic Choir. The reigning couple were also presented with the Spirit of Luther Award which “…recognizes individuals who have provided significant sustained service to the college. Nominees should be persons who have demonstrated a personal commitment to Luther’s mission, quality, and character.” 

A highlight during the ceremony was His Majesty King Harald’s speech in front hundreds of students as well as faculty:

Distinguished guests,
Dear friends,

It is indeed a great joy and privilege to be back here at the beautiful campus of Luther College. The Queen and I have fond memories of earlier visits here, and find it quite appropriate to start our tour of the Midwest together with you. The peaceful and inspiring atmosphere of Luther College, however, is a striking contrast to the acts of terrorism that hit Norway so hard on 22 July. I would like to thank you, the American people, for your support and compassion in the wake of these terrible events.

Over the years I have had the great pleasure of visiting the United States many times. My first visit, however, was under trying circumstances. During the Second World War my mother, my sisters and I came here, while my father and grandfather took refuge in London together with the Norwegian Government. I was three years old when I arrived, and by the time I returned to Norway five years later, I had come to view this country as a second home.

There are a number of common values that bind America and Norway together. Both of our countries share a fundamental respect for dignity, liberty and social responsibility of the individual. We honour self-determination, and we pay tribute to our founding fathers, and those who have fought to defend our shared history.

Both our countries work for world peace, justice and human rights. Every year there is a tremendous focus on the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo. I know that this is reflected here at Luther College and the other Norwegian American Colleges in the Midwest, through the Nobel Peace Prize Forum. Who knows, one day Luther College might even offer the world a candidate for the Nobel Prize, as a result of this important work.

In a globalized world, where we all are interdependent, we need each other in our common struggle for lasting peace based on justice and dignity of all. Let us never forget that it is after all easier to wage war than to make peace. As our great explorer Fridtjof Nansen once said: “We do not get war unless people want it themselves. War is not an effect of a natural catastrophe. It is a result of man’s will. It is their own shame.”

Immigrants who came from Norway to America took a grand portion of Norway with them. This is perhaps more obvious in Decorah than any other place in America. Thanks to institutions like Luther College and Vesterheim Museum you have managed to preserve this heritage.

The Vesterheim Museum tells the stories, dreams and hardships of the thousands of Norwegian immigrants who settled in the New World to build a better life for themselves and their families. I see a clear parallel between their stories and the stories of the refugees from poor countries that are dreaming about a better future in our two countries today.

Part of the Vesterheim Museum is dedicated to Elisabeth and Vilhelm Koren, who founded Luther College 150 years ago. The history of this college is truly impressive. At the same time you have formed a powerful intellectual and emotional link between the United States and Norway since the beginning of the Civil War. And it continues to do so, as the University of Oslo and Luther College continuously are exchanging students and ideas, cultures and traditions.

The Queen and I are grateful and honoured to be here today and to receive the Spirit of Luther Awards. Thank you for preparing such an impressive program for us and for giving us such a wonderful reception.

Let me congratulate Luther College with the first 150 years, and wish you every success for the next 150!

Tusen takk!

Soon, it was time for King Harald and Queen Sonja to visit the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum where they were given a tour of the exhibit by Norwegian-American sculptor, Sigbjørn Asbjørnsen.

Tomorrow, their majesties will visit St. Olaf College as well as the Mayo Clinic.

To view photos please click the links below:

• Gallery One 
• Gallery Two 
• Gallery Three
  
• VIDEO

Sources and photo courtesy of: Luther College and Kongehuest.no

I’m not sure what the heck this is all about, but it appears that H.R.H.Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark will make a guest appearance on Prince Joachim’s new show about go-cart racing entitled, Cortina Racing: Petrol Blue Blood.  

Click here to watch a video clip.

This new show with Prince Joachim will focus on (rough translation):

… the prince’s passion for racing cars, viewers will also be allowed to look inside the walls of Møgeltønder with his wife Princess Marie and children Henrik, Felix and Nikolai.

This morning in lovely old Paris, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco was at the Institut Océanographique to participate in the ‘The Deep Seas: Challenges And Opportunities’  (rather Grands Fonds Marins) Conference.

This international conference — organized by the French Institute for Exploitation of the Sea, Foundation for Biodiversity in partnership with Foundation Prince Albert II de Monaco and the International Union for Conservation of Nature —  focused on the future of the deep seabed and sustainable management of the deep sea from scientific and industrial viewpoints.

To view photos please click here. 

Photo courtesy of: Daylife/M.Piasecki

The members of the royal house of Sweden have been quite active these past few weeks so here is a short wrap-up of what they have done so far.

First, on October 12, 2011, T.M.s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia  visited Västmanland (a rough translation):

Their majesties day began in Köping where Governor Ingemar Skogö met up and welcomed the King and Queen. This was followed by a morning where the King and Queen briefed on important issues in Västmanlandslän, including the business community and the talent. Then followed a program of car museums in Köping where Per-Olof Johansson, who is chairman of the Automotive and Technology Historical Society showed round.

 After lunch came the King and Queen to the ABB high school where the King and Queen had the opportunity to meet students and get a tour.  Then there was a visit to the Automation Center which is part of Västerås Science Park, where business and academia can meet. The royal couple were asked to see samples of industrial robots that can perform elderly care in the home.

 This was followed by a presentation on the integration of the countries in which employees from both the County Board, Housing and Municipal Commissioner told us about their work. The evening ended with a dinner at Västerås castle with the governor as a host.

This afternoon, October 13, King Carl XVI Gustaf and H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria attended a symposium on the Royal National City Park held at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm.  To view photos please click here. 

And, finally as you know by now H.R.H. Princess Madeleine of Sweden was in Brazil earlier this month as part of a working trip with the World Childhood Foundation.  New photos were released so please click here and here to view.

Source and photo courtesy of: Kungahuset

On October 13, 2011, in Punakha, Bhutan His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namagyal Wandchuck married the beautiful Jetsun Pema in a traditional Buddhist ceremony.

To view photos please click here and here.

Photo courtesy of: Daylife/AP/K.Frayer

On October 13, 2011 T.R.H.s Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias were in Armilla, Spain to attend the inauguration of the Campus Party Milenio.  Per Casa de Su Majestad el Rey (a rough translation):

T.R.H.s Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia were in Armilla, Spain to preside over the inauguration of the Campus Party Milenio as part of celebrations for the millennium of the founding of the Kingdom of Granada, where he encouraged the generation of so-called ‘digital natives’ to ‘contribute significantly to the effects of ICTs” are geared increasingly towards sustained economic development, promoting entrepreneurship, international cooperation and a culture of universal respect for human rights.’

‘For several days going to share and exchange knowledge, experiences and ideas, not only in the field of new technologies and communications, in fact, become runway and an instrument of your projects-but in all it has to do with your concerns with your life and professional goals,’ said His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias, accompanied by Minister of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Miguel Sebastián, the government delegate in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Luis Garcia Garrido, the Mayor of Armidale, Antonio Ayllon, Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Information Society, Juan Junquera, and the Minister of Presidency of the Junta de Andalucía and president of the Consortium for the Commemoration of the First Millennium Foundation the Kingdom of Granada, Mar Moreno, among other authorities.

Prince Felipe explained that ‘the model of ‘Campus Party’, an event that promotes networked digital culture in its broadest expression, innovation, technology, creativity, leisure is a splendid framework to implement and promote these objectives.’ He also warned of ‘power and influence of new forms of communication’ and ‘you have assumed responsibility toward others and toward yourself, in the strict and proper use of tools so influential.’

‘Meetings such as the” Millennium Campus Party are, in short, excellent opportunity to promote talent and innovation in a multicultural environment as shown in this room,’ said His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias, who recalled that ‘this format singular meeting-virtual and real at the same time, just gave his first steps in Andalucía for nearly fifteen years, probably reflecting the important position achieved by Spain in the field of ICT, as shown particularly high rates of our band access wide.’

After the inauguration, Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess of Asturias, began a tour of the Millennium Campus Party, where they could visit the area of Science, the Millennium Mod visited the Millennium Balloons project, the area of computer stations and innovation area, where they explained certain projects to be funded by the incubator Wayra. Subsequently able to visit the so-called “campus future”, where they saw the Icub humanoid robot and photovoltaic power, and in the Expo area, visited the stands of the consortium Science Park, Granada, GAES Hearing Centres, Guadalinfo and Movistar.

This event served as a meeting point and crossroads of cultures, where they come together innovation, technology, internet, science, democracy and peace. During the event were released the latest in technology, robotics and astronomy, and will showcase our entrepreneurs and an opportunity for the future.

According to organizers, Campus Party is today, the event technology and world’s largest internet in the areas of Innovation, Creativity, Science and Digital Entertainment. After 15 years of existence, has become the standard and essential event for understanding the new information technologies. In addition to editing known by all to be held in Valencia, the event went international with celebrations in cities around the world.

Millennium Campus Party, held at the fairgrounds in FERMASA (Armilla, Granada) between 12 and 16 October, addressed issues affecting the social reality that is experiencing the globalized world, focused on the Mediterranean. Millennium Campus Party spoke of innovation and leisure, democracy, social realities that occur in Mediterranean countries, the environment, cultures and put in relation with the common and unifying axis of digital culture and innovation.

Granada was for five days, the focus of the digital world, with the concentration of more than 600 guests that will ensure their presence through its work in the digital world in their respective countries. It has also undertaken a selection process through a collaborative network in which the value placed on innovative projects that were presented at this event.

The province of Granada already have work and experience in innovation and technology, examples such as the Sierra Nevada Observatory, the Health Technology Park, the resort Andasol, the Institute for Astrophysics and others too numerous to mention, make Granada provinces is more implementation has the ICT sector in economic activity.

In turn, thanks to internet and online video, Internet users could follow the event and interact in the same through social networks. The contents are spread not only in Spanish but also English and French. It also housed an exhibition area of the technology companies brought into contact with the participants of this issue and other public area of exhibition of scientific and technological, open to the public.

On October 13, 2011, H.R.H. The Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg visited the successful company, Airtech Europe, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary.  During his time at the company headquarters he had a chance to review the production lines as well as the warehouses.

Source: Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg

Photo courtesy of: Daylife/ P. Le Segretain

Last evening Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II, H.R.H. Prince Henrik, along with T.R.H.s Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark hosted a concert at lovely Fredensborg Slot north of Copenhagen.   After the event there was a gala dinner at the palace.

Click here to view photos.

On Wednesday October 12 H.R.H. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark attended the ’2011 Consortium for Global Talent’ held at AP Moller-Maersk headquarters.

During the event the crown princess met with many of Denmark’s leading company CEOs including Maersk CEO Niels Smedegaard, as well as the Finance and Interior Minister Margaret Vestager. According to the official site for the event, Consortium for Global Talent, Denmark’s largest and most successful companies work together to attract highly educated foreign workers to Denmark.  “The attraction of global talent is of great importance for the maintenance and development of Danish companies opportunities for economic growth and productivity.” source 

Photo courtesy of: TV2.dk

Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja arrived in St. Paul, Minnesota on Wednesday October 12, 2011 to begin their ten-day official visit to the United States.  Per the Norwegian newspaper, Aftenposten:

Twenty minutes behind schedule but finally Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway finally arrived in St. Paul, Minnesota.  The reigning couple were greeted by a young lady  who presented Queen Sonja with flowers.

During the official welcoming committee which included Norwegian American former Vice President Walter Mondale, the governor of Minnesota, Mark Dayton and the city’s own mayor, Chris Coleman.

King Harald paused for one minute to answer a question from the Norwegian media about what he is looking forward to the visit. The king replied, “It’s good to be back here again, pure and simple. It will be interesting”  Another reporter asked, “What do the king’s most forward to visiting?”

“To get the old haunts and visit the Norwegian-Americans among other things…” said the King before he disappeared into the hotel.

King Harald lived here during the Second World War in the United States and has characterized America as their second homeland. He has several times visited the country and the crown prince has taken part of her education in the United States.

During the war, lived King Harald with his mother and his sisters in the White House. Probably he is the only monarch in the world who have been part of growing up in the White House.

The king and queen to rest on Wednesday before their official program begins with a visit to Decorah, Iowa on Thursday. There, they visit the Luther College and Vesterheim Museum.

They will visit several universities, the famous Mayo Clinic (a world leader in cancer treatment) before they travel to New York where the stay ends with visits to Ground Zero and together with other heads of state from the north to the delta at the anniversary celebration of the American Scandinavian Foundation before the 22 October return home to Norway.

Click here to watch a video clip.

Photo courtesy of: Aftenposten