The royal regalia are symbols of the king’s power and majesty, and of the monarchy as a form of government. The word “regalia” is derived from the Latin “Rex” meaning “worthy of a king”. The most important function of the regalia was associated with coronations, the formal investiture of the sovereign to his status as king. The first Norwegian king to be crowned was Magnus Erlingsson in 1163.
The original Norwegian regalia have been lost. They are mentioned in several sources including Sverre’s Saga, but the trail of their whereabouts ends in 1537. Legend has it that Norway’s last Roman Catholic archbishop, Olav Engelbrekston, took the King’s crown and sword of state with him when he fled the country following the Reformation. He died shortly after, and it is not known what became of the regalia.
During Norway’s union with Denmark, coronations of the Dano-Norwegian kings were held in Denmark. Consequently, when Carl Johan was preparing for his coronation in 1818 Norway did not have its own regalia. The king solved this problem by paying for the making of the essential items himself.
In 1908 the Storting amended the Constitution, abolishing the Article on coronation. Thus, the last king and queen to be crowned were King Haakon VII and Queen Maud. However, both the King’s Crown and the Queen’s Crown were placed on the high altar during the Service of Consecration and Blessing for King Harald and Queen Sonja in 1991.
The Norwegian royal regalia and other coronation objects are now on permanent display in the Archbishop’s Palace in Trondheim. The Dano-Norwegian royal regalia from the 1600s are kept at Rosenborg Palace in Copenhagen.
The royal regalia consist of nine items: The King’s Crown, The Queen’s Crown, The Crown Prince’s Coronet, The King’s Orb, The Queen’s Orb, The King’s Sceptre, The Queen’s Sceptre, The Anointment Horn and The Sword of State.
The King’s Crown
The word “crown” is derived from the Latin “corona” meaning wreath. Originating in Asia and adopted in Europe, the crown has been used as a symbol of power and majesty for several thousand years.
The Norwegian King’s Crown was made by the goldsmith Olof Wihlborg of Sweden. King Carl Johan commissioned and paid for the crown to be used in his own coronation in 1818. The crown has been used in the coronation of four kings and has played a prominent role in two consecration ceremonies.
Upon the death of a monarch, the crown is placed on the casket during the funeral service.
Design
The King’s Crown consists of eight hoops rising up from the crown ring and joining in the middle under an orb of blue enamel with gold stars and a band of pearls. At the top rests a cross of six amethysts. Four of the hoops are flat and shaped like oak leaves. The four other hoops are filigreed and shaped like bay leaves.
In the middle of the crown ring is a large, green tourmaline, said to be a gift to the King from the Brazilian consul in Stockholm.
The cap of purple velvet is decorated with small crowns and 50 pearls.
Materials
The crown is made of 20-carat gold, pearls and assorted gemstones such as amethysts, opals, peridots, chrysophrases, topazes, tourmalines, sapphires and emeralds.
Height: 24.5 cm (9.65 inches)
Diameter: 18.5 cm (7.28 inches)
Weight: 1,500 g (53 oz)
The Queen’s Crown
The Queen’s Crown was made for Queen Désirée in 1830, although it was first used in 1860 during the coronation of Queen Louise.
The Queen’s crown was fashioned by Erik Lundberg and Marc Giron in Stockholm for the planned coronation in 1830 of Queen Désirée, wife of King Carl Johan, who was not crowned alongside her husband in 1818. However, the coronation of Queen Désirée never took place, and the Queen’s Crown was first used in 1860 during the coronation of Queen Louise.
Design
The Queen’s Crown consists of eight hoops that join at the top underneath an orb of blue enamel and a band and cross of pearls. Another band of pearls, 153 in all, line the upper edge of the crown.
The cap is sewn of purple velvet and is embellished with stylised flames embroidered with tiny pearls.
The central gemstone in the crown is a large amethyst.
Materials
The crown is made of silver with gold gilding and settings, and decorated with amethysts, citrines, chrysophrases, topazes and numerous pearls.
Height: 17 cm (6.7 inches)
Diameter: 14 cm (5.51 inches)
Weight: 534 g (18.8 oz)
Source: www.kongehuset.no
Photos by: www.kongehuset.no
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