On Sunday, June 26, 2022, the Norwegian royal court announced that His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway has tested positive for COVID-19.
At this time, the crown prince has mild symptoms.
Photo courtesy of the Norwegian royal court
On the morning of Saturday, June 25, 2022, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway released a statement regarding the tragic shootings in central Oslo last evening.
“My family and I are horrified by the night’s shooting tragedy in central Oslo, where two people were killed and many injured. We sympathize with all relatives and affected and send warm thoughts to all who are now scared, restless, and in grief.
We must stand together to defend our values: Freedom, diversity and respect for each other. We must continue to stand up for all people to feel safe.
Now we have to take good care of each other.
Harald R”
Last evening, a 42-year-old Norwegian citizen of Iranian origin, who was believed to be a radicalized Islamist with a history of mental illness, opened fire outside three locations in central Oslo, including the nightclub, London Pub, killing two people and injuring twenty-one. The suspect has been arrested and detained.
This morning the Norwegian Security Service PST said they, “…became aware of the suspect in 2015 and later grew concerned he had become radicalized and was part of an unspecified Islamist network.” The PST also announced that the suspect has been charged with terrorism.
On Thursday, June 23, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attended the VNO-NCW conference held at the Deloitte in Rotterdam.
During today’s conference, held under the theme, Financial Health of Employees, Her Majesty Queen Maxima gave a speech whereupon she spoke about the financial stress amongst employees in the Netherlands and internationally:
“Eight percent of all households in the Netherlands have problematic debts. Almost half of them have a working breadwinner. And that is very often employees! Four out of five employers have to deal with financial problems among their staff and this is even common in a quarter of the employers!
And this is happening in all sectors. We see the problem in all types of businesses.
The urgency is great. Think of the price increases for energy and food that households are confronted with. They make it even more difficult for many to make ends meet.
Also think of the digitization of the economy and the payment system. Buying is getting easier. The temptations get bigger, the overview gets smaller.
When there are financial problems, households wait an average of five years before they dare to knock on the door for help. Then there are on average 14 different creditors and the debt has risen to an average of 43,000 euros. Of this, 67 percent consists of additional costs and interest!
Early detection is therefore crucial. And you can play an important role in this. In the interest of your employees. And for your own sake!
After all, we know what financial stress does to people’s productivity. It drops by 20 percent. We know the consequences for absenteeism due to illness: seven extra days of absenteeism per year. We also know the mental consequences. Lack of concentration, gloominess, isolation and increased risk of dropout and burnout.
At a time when many companies are struggling with staff shortages, the financial health of employees deserves full attention. You want to keep your people healthy and motivated.
You can do a lot because you are close to your employees. Who does not have a colleague who no longer goes on holiday, or who withdraws from social contacts. Someone to whom you can see that there are concerns. We know the signs: loss of job satisfaction, irritability, less productivity, more frequent calls in sick, up to a wage garnishment.
During this meeting I would like to achieve the following together with you.
First: Awareness. This problem concerns all of you. And you can really do something!
Second, to form a platform that helps each other pick up signals early. That develops data, so that we know whether we are going in the right direction. And above all: in which we learn from each other which interventions work. Think of coaching, or savings options or a quick referral to external care providers.
I know we have to respect the privacy rules. But let’s see what is possible with respect for privacy to support employees more.
I am very pleased that a large number of companies are joining forces and forming a platform to get started with this. Really amazing.
It will be a platform for companies by companies.
My wish is that in a few years’ time I will be able to proudly tell abroad how Dutch companies have made a difference in their own country. How they formulated goals for themselves. And how they arrived at national objectives together.
But above all, I wish you healthy, motivated and productive employees, without financial stress. People who feel committed to your company and who want to continue to work for it.
Thank you.“
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Photo courtesy of RVD
On Friday, June 17, 2022, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway appointed His Royal Highness Prince Daniel of Sweden with the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav in a private ceremony at the Royal Palace in Oslo.
On Friday, June 17, 2022, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg inaugurated the new 25,000-meter Arthur Welter Logistics warehouse at the Parc Logistique Eurohub in Dudelange.
After the opening, Grand Duke Henri was given a tour of the facility, met with staff, and ate cake in celebration of the new warehouse.
On June 17, 2022, in a private ceremony at the Royal Palace in Oslo, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark presented the Order of the Elephant to Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway. The Crown Prince presented the Order on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on the occasion of Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s 18th birthday.
Originating in the 15th century, the Order of the Elephant is the oldest and noblest Danish Order of Knights traditionally presented to royalty and Heads of State; moreover, the Order of the Elephant is only “on loan” to the recipient. Once an Elephant Knight passes away the Order must be returned to the Chapter of the Order; thus most of the Elephants have been in use several times.
The concrete Elephant has undergone a minor restoration for the occasion, where it has, among other things, been affixed to the Queen’s monogram, as an Elephant always wears the sitting monarch’s monogram when awarded.
Photos courtesy of the Danish royal court.
“The Crown Prince:
Your Majesties
Your Royal Highnesses President of the
Storting
Prime Minister
Justitiarius
Dear all
Dear Ingrid
Now that you have turned 18, 4 months, 26 days and 16 hours, we are very happy to finally be able to celebrate you, and have a few words to say to you. We have been looking forward to this celebration with so many that mean a lot to you, and a lot to us.
In connection with your birthday in January, you gave more people the opportunity to get to know you a little better. You gave your first interviews, had meetings with the government and received deputations here at the Palace.
For me, all this was a little special. Because I myself have been in a similar situation as you are in now, and meet an 18-year-old version of myself a little at the door.
In preparation for everything you were going to do in January, we watched videos from my 18th birthday in 1991. It starts, believe it or not, to be a while ago. And I was a serious young man who spoke slowly, and thought a lot. Especially during the interview I had with Geir Helljesen on NRK, you struggled to stop laughing.
That’s why I’m extra happy to see who you are. You have a security in you, Ingrid, which will be a strength for you all your life.
And then it’s important for me to say to you today. You have many people around you who will help and support you. You have all of us who love you. Marius and Magnus – who will always be there for you – just as you will always be there for them. Mom – who you can go to when it’s difficult, who is good at listening, putting problems into words and finding solutions. And then you have your whole extended family – and then you have me .
The Crown Princess:
Dear Ingrid. The day you were born 18 years ago, my dad and I drove in from Skaugum to Rikshospitalet. Later that day, after an absolutely beautiful birth, we came home with the miracle that is you. Today you are a beautiful young girl – ready to take the plunge into the future. A wise young lady, strong and clear. Dad and I are so infinitely proud of you and in love with you.
And as Dad said, now the two of us stand around you with Marius and Magnus, grandma, grandpa and grandma and your whole big family. All those who love you the most. You are also surrounded by good wishes from people around our country, who wish you all the best for both today and the rest of your days. You are in a historic line of heirs to the throne in this country.
Today we celebrate your authority day, our beautiful Ingrid, but also the authority day of the country’s hereditary princess. Norway consists not only of mountains, forests, plateaus, fields and seas – but of the dreams, hopes, joys and sorrows of all the people who live in our country.
Norway is the sum of all the knowledge, thoughts, actions and perhaps most importantly: the values of the people in this country. One of your most important tasks will be to stand together with all northern women and men through the joy and sorrow they will experience. Seeing them, understanding who we are together and making sure everyone feels they have a place here. As King Haakon did for his people, as Dad’s grandfather King Olav did and as your fine fine grandfather Our King has done for his people. You are walking on a path that many wise people have walked before you.
You have to find your own way, Ingrid. But none of us who know you doubt that you have what it takes to do what you want in your life.
The Crown Prince:
So on this important day in your life, I would like to talk a little bit about freedom. For all people have the opportunity to find their freedom. And so do you. I hope you feel free to take an education you want.
That you find something you want to be good at and that you find exciting. That you feel free to find the friends who are good for you. Which you can trust and be yourself with. You are lucky, Ingrid, who has many good friends around you. Many of them are here tonight.
There is also great freedom to be found in nature, in sports and in mastery. The physical mastery combined with both the magnificent and the forces of nature can give a feeling of great freedom. I have been lucky to share many such experiences with Marius, Magnus and with you. And I hope you will continue to find points of freedom in nature and sports throughout your life.
Bjørn to Berit has spoken to me several times about duty as a value, as something positive. I’m a little unsure if he said that to me the most or if he talked to others. Even in duty, it is possible to find a sense of freedom. At the same time, I understand that this is a little too violent to say to an 18-year-old. At least I did not have a great understanding of it when I was 18. But I think there might be something in it. And that’s why I wanted it today.
The Crown Princess:
Both Dad and I are concerned that you should be allowed to make mistakes, it’s part of growing up to find your own way. It is important to us that you feel confident that you are good enough just the way you are. As an 18-year-old, it is not always easy to take on what is on your shoulders. But as Dad said, I also want you to know that there is a great deal of freedom in your destiny.
We who know you know how happy you are in your country. How happy you are to travel around Norway. When you walk around with your NORWAY sweater and feel extra proud. Skiing and surfing have taken you on many trips, both with your family and with friends. It has made you famous in nooks and crannies all over the country.
Ingrid, I could not have been more proud of the girl I have been allowed to follow since your clear brown eyes looked up at me when you were born. You have always had an enormous sense of justice in you, and a strength to stand in things. You have protected your brothers with beaks and claws and great power if necessary.
I am so grateful for the trust you show me, by sharing so much of what is happening in your life, that I am allowed to know you and your gang so well and all that you stand for.
Most of all, I’m so grateful for what you teach me about your world. It makes me a wiser person.
Our Ingrid, it’s not just you who turn 18 this year. So do 57,000 other young people around our country. Who has as many dreams and expectations for what the future will bring as you, who have already experienced great sorrow and great joy. The web of life is like that for all people, you know that, Ingrid, and sometimes I can be completely knocked to the ground by the expectations you young people face. Both from yourself, from the society around you and from each other. And sometimes I want to wrap you all in a big duvet, and give you a big cup of tea and say that it’s going to go well.
So today I would like to send a greeting not only to you Ingrid, but to all the young people in our country and especially all the 04s. Remember that you must all take care of each other and have faith in you when you create what will be the Norway of the future. It is your opportunity and responsibility to create the society you want. And you should know that both Haakon and I will cheer you on.
The Crown Prince:
In all people’s lives there are hard days. When expectations feel high and the weight feels heavy, keep in mind everyone who loves you, Ingrid. Everyone who wants you well. And we who are closest must be allowed to participate and carry. Especially mom and me. Do not be afraid that we will worry too much. That’s our job, that. We both want and will be with and carry with you.
Dear Ingrid, you are a whole, contrast-filled and wonderful person. Remember that there is room for everything that is you. Both weakness and strength, vulnerability and coping. Thank you for everything you are to us. We are so proud of you and very much in love with you.
The Crown Princess:
One of the things we appreciate about you Ingrid is the joy that lives in you, and all the life you fill our home with. With friends, laughter and loud music. Now we look forward to celebrating you with family, friends, lots of laughter and maybe some loud music as well.
Our dear Ingrid, congratulations on the day.“
The Royal Correspondent 