In June, the temporary summer exhibition opened at the Royal Palace in Oslo. This is an excellent exhibition that anyone who visits Norway’s capital should see. For those of you who cannot visit Oslo this summer, you can see the presentation here:
The backyard of the Royal Palace. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
Those who enter the palace during the summer months must go via the public entrance, which is at the back of the building. The first thing that meets you here is a great backyard, but you should watch out for the gulls that have made bird nests in the King’s flowerpots.
Welcome to the Palace. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
Pictures are not allowed while touring the palace. Therefore, it is especially lovely to be welcomed by Queen Maud and take a picture with her before the tour begins.
Loneliness in the stairs. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
Queen Sonja has been open about her loneliness when she first became a member of a male-dominated Royal Family. In the grand staircase, this is portrayed beautifully through the Queen’s white dresses and a painting that otherwise hangs in the Queen’s audience room.
The two queens in front of the exit of the iconic balcony. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.
The balcony of the Royal Palace has always been and remains the most important place where royalty and people meet in Norway. Here, Queen Sonja and Queen Maud also meet.
Two Queens for tea. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.
Afternoon tea has been a big part of the everyday life for both the Norwegian and British royal families. In one of the many lounges of the palace, tea is served for the two queens. The dishes are from Maud’s British home, Appleton House. The photo of Queen Sonja above was taken for the occasion by Royal Central and has not been published before.
A dress is made. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
The Queen is a recognised artist, and she has, therefore, been active in the creation of several of her dresses. At the palace, you get some insight into how she has created some of her own dresses.
Grand Gala. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
You also have a unique opportunity to see the one of the Queen’s gala dress. It hangs in front of a huge portrait painting of Queen Sonja. The Queen actually wore this dress when the picture was unveiled at the time.
Many of Queen Sonja’s and Queen Maud’s beautiful dresses are exhibited in a spectacular way in the many ballrooms and dining rooms. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.
This year, the Royal Palace is marking the 150th anniversary of the birth of Queen Maud at Marlborough House in London.
In the large banquet hall, it is set up for lunch in the styles of Queen Maud, Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Crown Princess Märtha and Princess Ingrid Alexandra. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.
Every summer the Norwegian Royal Family opens the Royal Palace for visitors who can visit the main rooms of the palace. Every year there is also a new exhibition that characterises the places that are open. This year’s public season opened on Saturday, 22 June. The last chance to see the display will be 22 August.
There are separate guided tours in English for foreign guests several times a day, as well.
