Annual report for 2015

The annual report of the Royal Court for 2015 was submitted today to the Presidium of the Storting, the Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation, and the Office of the Auditor General of Norway. The accounts for the Civil List showed a surplus of NOK 21 543 727.

The accounts for the staff of Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and The Crown Princess showed a surplus of NOK 1 252 855. This surplus has been set aside for future procurements/operating reserves.

Surplus

The Civil List surplus is due in part to the fact that the Royal Court has had two vacant positions in 2015.

NOK 16.2 million of the surplus from the earmarked allocation (item 51) will be used to complete the security project for the Royal Residences in 2016. This project was initiated by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Norway on 22 July 2011.

“The security analysis of the Royal Residences was concluded at the end of 2015. Measures based on this analysis will be implemented in the years to come,” says Lord Chamberlain Gry Mølleskog.

The remainder of the surplus for 2015 has been set aside for the celebration in Oslo and throughout Norway of the 25th anniversary of the ascension to the Norwegian throne of Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja, as well as for other future projects and procurements.

The largest items in the annual report for 2015 were for the management, operation, maintenance and development of the state-owned Royal properties and for payroll expenses for the employees of the Royal Court.

“The primary objective of the Royal Court is to assist the King and his family in the exercise their office,” says the Lord Chamberlain

Extensive official programme

The annual report provides an overview of the official programme of the Royal House of Norway and shows that members of the Royal Family paid a visit to 69 municipalities and all of Norway’s counties as well as Svalbard in 2015. The King and Queen carried out a State Visit to Australia in February, while the Crown Prince and Crown Princess paid an official visit to Brazil in November. State Visits and official visits abroad are undertaken at the request of the Norwegian Government and the programme is put together by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Budget process

The annual allocation from the Storting to the Royal Court is based on budget input submitted by the Royal Court to the Ministry of Local Government and Modernisation. This input is incorporated into the ordinary budget process and the Government presents its proposed allocation to the Royal Court in the national fiscal budget. Each year the Royal Court reports on how the allocation has been used. A summary of the activities carried out by the Royal Family and the accounts for the Royal Court are presented in the annual report.

Allowances

The King and Queen and the Crown Prince and Crown Princess all receive an allowance. The allowances are meant to cover the management, operation, maintenance and development of the private properties and households, as well as appropriations for private expenses and official attire. The allowances are entered into separate accounts that are reviewed by a certified auditor in the same manner as the official accounts. The use of the allowances is not reported.

As compensation for the fact that the state does not provide an official residence for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, the allowance includes funds for the management, operation, maintenance, development and other expenses of the Skaugum Estate. Of the NOK 9 013 000 in allowance allocated to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess in 2015, NOK 6 172 000 was used for management, operation, maintenance and development-related purposes, including interest and instalments on a renovation loan, and on household expenses. NOK 769 000 has been set aside to cover future management, operation, maintenance, development and household expenses. NOK 2 072 000 has been set aside for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s private use. This also covers purchase of official attire.

“Åpent Slott”

A total of 37 256 visitors attended guided tours of the Royal Palace and the Oscarshall summer palace under the auspices of Åpent Slott” (cultural outreach activities) in 2015. The accounts for “Åpent Slott” showed a deficit of NOK 38 887. This deficit will be covered by equity capital.