Norwegian Royal Palace: The palace where the current King and Queen of Norway live

The Norwegian Royal Palace is located in Oslo, Norway.

This is where the current King and Queen of Norway live.

Norwegian Royal Palace is featured by its beautiful appearance.

The changing of the guard ceremony, the nature-rich park, and the equestrian statue standing in front of the palace are also must-sees.

Here I will explain the Norwegian Royal Palace in detail. 

Please read on to learn more about Norway’s Royal Family.

Royal residence of the Norwegian royal family

The Norwegian Royal Palace is a palace in the capital city of Oslo and the residence of the current King of Norway, King Harald V, and Queen Sonja.

Construction of the Norwegian Royal Palace began in 1824 under the direction of King Carl Johan of Sweden and was completed in 1848.

The Royal Palace stands on a hilltop on Carl Johan Street, the main street in Oslo.

The name “Carl Johan Street” was given to the street in 1852 in honor of Carl Johan.

Places to visit at Norwegian Royal Palace

The pale yellow exterior of the Norwegian Royal Palace is both majestic and rustic.

It is in perfect harmony with the Norwegian cityscape.

Within the grounds of the Norwegian Royal Palace is a square called Royal Palace Park, which can be entered free of charge.

It is a natural spot with green grass. And a place of relaxation for the citizens of Oslo.

The Changing of the Guard takes place daily at 1:30 pm at the Royal Palace.

The Changing of the Guard is a spectacle to behold as the guards, dressed in formal attire, change places in a single, fluid motion.

When the King of Norway is in residence, visitors can also listen to instrumental music played by a musical band.

The Norwegian Royal Palace is usually occupied by the Norwegian royal family. Therefore, the general public is generally not allowed to enter the building.

As an exception, tours of the Norwegian Royal Palace are offered during the summer season from late June to late August. And if you join this tour, you can see the inside of the Royal Palace.

This guided tour is the only way to enter the Royal Palace, so don’t forget to sign up for it when you travel.

Bronze statue of the King of Sweden

The equestrian statue of King Carl Johan of Sweden stands in front of the Royal Palace.

Why is there a statue of the Swedish king in front of the Norwegian Royal Palace?

Norway has a history of being ruled by Sweden for about 90 years, from 1814 to 1905.

Norway was still Swedish territory when the Norwegian Royal Palace was built in 1824.

At the time of the occupation, the King of Sweden was also the King of Norway.

This is why the statue of the Swedish King Carl Johan from that time remains intact even today after Norway gained its independence.

Norwegian royal family close to the people

The Norwegian Royal Palace is unique in that there are no fences or walls around the palace and very little luxury ornamentation.

The royal residence is also smaller than other royal residences abroad.

This is a sign of the closeness and familiarity between the Norwegian people and the royal family.

The Norwegian royal family has always been famous for its closeness to the people.

For example, in 2016, a celebration was held to mark the 25th anniversary of the reign of the King of Norway.

A ski slope was prepared in front of the Royal Palace, and the King and Queen appeared in casual ski wear.

They skied in front of the people who came to the event.

I also think the fact that Queen Sonja of Norway is a common person, originally from parents who owned a clothing store, is another reason why she is so popular with the public.

Conclusion

The Norwegian Royal Palace was completed in 1848.

Today, it is home to King Harald V of Norway and the Queen.

The Royal Palace is open to the public in summer only.

If you are interested, you can join a guided tour.