Opening of the Storting
His Majesty The King presides over the formal opening of the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) in October each year. This is one of the King’s most important constitutional duties and one of the most solemn official ceremonies in Norway.
The proceedings follow the fixed ceremony laid down in the Constitution. The Royal House, the Government, the members of the Storting and the Supreme Court are all in attendance.
When the Storting has been constituted, the King arrives, usually accompanied by Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Crown Prince. They are welcomed by a deputation of seven members of the Storting, and the deputation accompanies the King and his entourage for the duration of their stay in the Storting.
The Speech from the Throne
The Speech from the Throne marks the opening of the new session of the Storting and presents the main features of the Government’s policies for the coming year.
The Prime Minister hands the speech to the King, and the King reads it to the assembled representatives of the Storting. The Speech from the Throne is written by representatives of the Government, not by the King.
State of the Realm
The Speech from the Throne is followed by the Report on the State of the Realm. Traditionally read by the youngest member of the Government, the report presents a summary of what the Government has achieved during the past year.
Laid down in the Constitution
The ceremony is stipulated in Article 74 of the Constitution:
As soon as the Storting is constituted, the King, or whoever he appoints for the purpose, shall open its proceedings with a Speech, in which he shall inform it of the state of the Realm and of the issues to which he particularly desires to call the attention of the Storting. No deliberations may take place in the presence of the King.
After the two speeches, His Majesty the King and his entourage leave the Storting, as no deliberations may take place in the presence of the King.