The Royal Palace

Welcome to the beautiful Royal Palace of Oslo, the official residence of the Norwegian royal family and one of the capital’s key landmarks. Of course, it makes sense for a constitutional monarchy to have a royal palace in its capital, but it’s worth remembering that Norway only became fully independent in 1905. When this palace was inaugurated back in 1849, it was built for the king of the United Kingdom of Sweden and Norway, Charles John of Sweden, who used it during his visits to Oslo. He’s depicted in the equestrian statue before you. This king who wanted a palace in Oslo was originally a French military officer, chosen by the Swedish Parliament to be heir to King Charles XIII, who died without any successors. So, an architect named Hans Linstow was brought in to draw the plans for a grand classical palace made of brick. By the late 19th century, the palace was expanded, beautified, and modernised. That’s when they added the portico and the columns you can see today, and installed electricity. Until 1905, the palace was only occupied occasionally, since the monarchs were primarily kings from Denmark or Sweden. However, after Norway’s independence and the dissolution of the Swedish-Norwegian union, King Haakon VII and Queen Maud moved here permanently. The palace underwent further adaptations and improvements: new royal apartments were built and modern bathrooms were added. Fully renovated in the 1990s, the palace is now open to the public in the summer, allowing visitors to discover the chapel, the ballroom, the throne room, and the “Bird Room”, the king’s antechamber, used as a waiting area for those granted an audience. It’s called the Bird Room due to its nature-themed decorations and the royal eagle that soars above the ceiling. If you don’t plan to visit the inside, you can still enjoy a stroll through the gardens and catch the changing of the guard. Every day at 1:30 p.m., His Royal Highness’s Guard performs a 40-minute parade ceremony, beginning at 1 p.m. from Akershus Fortress for those wishing to follow the march. You’re also standing on the square where Norwegians gather to celebrate joyful events or to mourn, after a royal death or in response to tragic national events, such as the 2011 attacks. Above all, this is also where Norwegians come together on the 17th of May, Norwegian Constitution Day. Every year since King Haakon VII started the tradition in 1906, the royal family greets the people from the balcony above.