It’s traditional for King Harald and Queen Sonja to invite the politicians forming Norway’s government (cabinet) for seasonal dinners, but this year’s pre-summer gathering was a bit different. Instead of a formal affair at the Royal Palace, the lawmakers and members of the royal family got together at the newly remodelled summer palace on Bygdøy, the peninsula in Oslo that also houses many of the country’s major museums. The Office of the Prime Minister recently released this group portrait of the royals and their government guests:
Front row, left to right: Education Minister Kristin Halvorsen of the Socialist Left party, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Crown Prince Haakon, Queen Sonja, King Harald, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of the Labour Party, and the minister in charge of local governments Liv Signe Navarsete of the Center Party. Halvorsen, Stoltenberg and Navarsete all head their respective parties, and thus the government.
Second row, left to right: Health Minister Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen, Justice Minister Knut Storberget, Church and administration minister Rigmor Aasrud, Fisheries Minister Lisbeth Berg-Hansen and Karl Eirik Schjøtt-Pedersen, special adviser to the prime minister, all of the Labour Party.
Back row, left to right: Minister for children’s affairs, inclusion and equality Audun Lysbakken and Minister for research and higher education Tora Aasland, both of the Socialist Left; Oil & Energy Minister Ola Borten Moe of the Center Party, Minister for the environment and foreign aid Erik Solheim of the Socialist Left and Transport Minister Magnhild Meltveit Kleppa of the Center Party.
As always, some ministers were out traveling or otherwise unable to attend the dinner party, including Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Defense Minister Grete Faremo, Trade Minister Trond Giske and Minister for Cultural Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt.
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