King and Queen met by western weather, but still got a warm welcome

Queen SonjaStavanger.Queen Sonja.Photo : Carina Johansen / NTB scanpix

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Queen Sonja had to wear her yellow west and lit up an otherwise gray and slightly cold Stavanger on Thursday. Along with King Harald and the Crown Prince couple, she still got a warm welcome.

On the tenth day of their anniversary  journey the royal couple were greeted by around hundred inhabitants and a mild version of the typical western weather in the oil city of Stavanger. They went straight to the garden party at the representation residence Ledaal. After speeches and cultural performances  the 300 specially invited guests got the chance to meet the Royal couple and the Crown Prince couple, before the royal family headed to lunch.

Unsafe times

In a way the unsafe weather and the gray sky reflects  the economic situation in the region, in the aftermath of the drop in oil prices over the past two years.
The challenging times was also the subject of King Harald’s speech at the party:
– Many people are living with uncertainty. An uncertainty that affects the country, but which have been felt particularly strongly in reach region. And which has had a strong effect on people’s everyday lives.
– The thing that can give us hope – when we look back – is that Rogaland has undergone major restructuring in the past. The whole country is now facing a necessary restructuring, the king continued.
Mayor of the City, Christine Sagen Helgø, assured that they are doing the best they can:
– This is  a tough time. Now we are working every day on  restructuring and creating new jobs.

Celebrating

Sagen Helgø also opened the event, by reading the poem “Rain” by the townsman sigbjørn obstfelder, who was born 150 years ago.

– I thought it suited the occasion.
On Monday afternoon there will be festivities in the amphitheater at the Stavanger Concert Hall, with mini concerts and other cultural performances. The Guards will also be playing.
All of the six towns and cities that the Royal couple have visited on their anniversary journey have held a closed garden party and  festivities open to everyone in their honour. The anniversary journey, which started in Tromsø on 17 June, will arrive at its final stop, Kristiansand, on Thursday.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today

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