Norwegian Royal Orders & Medals


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In his blogpost on the Royal Court's annual report for 2021, Norwegian royal expert Dag Trygsland Hoelseth has written an English summary of the information about orders and medals conferred in 2021.

As usual many orders and medals were awarded during 2021. The section for the recipients of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav lists 17 people, compared to 13 the previous year. King Willem Alexander received the Grand Cross during his visit here, while the Lord Chamberlain Gry Mølleskog was among the three recipients of the Commander with star. 56 people received the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, all classes combined, compared to 89 in 2020 and 57 in 2019. The Order of Merit «is conferred on foreign and Norwegian nationals as a reward for their outstanding service in the interest of Norway». Most of the recipients were diplomats, and some of the orders were awarded to representatives of the Dutch Royal Court in connection with the official visit. No-one received the Medal of St. Olav in 2021, while 47 persons received the King's Medal of Merit, compared to 46 in 2020. The medal is conferred as «a reward for service in the fields of art, science and industry and for outstanding public service».

The King's Commemorative Medal, which is conferred for particularly meritorious service to the king, was in 2021 given to 32 people, compared to only 9 people in 2020.
 
In 1986, during the West German State Visit from Norway, Marianne Freifrau von Weizsäcker was awarded with the Order of St. Olav instead of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, as as usual for first ladies. Why?
 
Princess Astrid currently is the only Norwegian royal lady to have 3 Royal Family Orders

The Royal Family Order of Haakon VII of Norway
The Royal Family Order of King Olav V of Norway
The Royal Family Order of King Harald V of Norway

Princess Märtha Louise of Norway has2
The Royal Family Order of King Olav V of Norway
The Royal Family Order of King Harald V of Norway

Queen Sonja of Norway also has 2
The Royal Family Order of King Olav V of Norway
The Royal Family Order of King Harald V of Norway

I've only ever seen Princess Astrid wearing 2 of them in the past.
 
The King has made a rare promotion of a non-head or state or royal to St. Olavs Grand Cross, he has promoted author Jon Fosse after he recieved the Nobel Prize in litterature in desember 2023.

In 2018 he also gave it to May Britt and Edvar Moser after they got the Nobel prize in medisin, so it seems to be the new norm that you get the grand cross if you get a Nobel prize.

Other than royals and heads of state he has only given it to very senior people at the court the last years, after the govement again stopped accepting norwegian orders in 2005 (They did a short period between 2004(?) and 2005).

He has also made VGs press photographer (specialising in war and disaster photographys mostly) Harald Henden Knight 1. klass of St. Olavs order. He is the first ever press photographer that has gotten this order, he is now very sick with pancreatic and liver cancer.

Tverli said that in his work as a press photographer, Henden has shown great respect for humanist ideals and, above all, respect for the individual.

- With great commitment to the weakest, and with high credibility, you have worked to ensure that victims retain their dignity.

Tverli said that the moments Henden has captured in the pictures are there forever.

- Your life's work has probably never been more valuable to our society than it is today. You are one of those who were there when it happened. Today's award is a confirmation that you are valued by society and your country, said the head of the chancellery.
 
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