20 February 2021

UK: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be returning as working members of the royal family

Buckingham Palace issued the following statement yesterday, 19 February 2021:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The Queen that they will not be returning as working members of The Royal Family. 

Following conversations with The Duke, The Queen has written confirming that in stepping away from the work of The Royal Family it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service. The honorary military appointments and Royal patronages held by The Duke and Duchess will therefore be returned to Her Majesty, before being redistributed among working members of The Royal Family. 

While all are saddened by their decision, The Duke and Duchess remain much loved members of the family.

In a note to the editors, Buckingham Palace added that 

Following The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to step away last year as working members of The Royal Family, a 12-month review was agreed. A decision has now been made after conversations between The Duke of Sussex and Members of The Royal Family. The military, Commonwealth and Charitable associations which will revert to The Queen are:

    The Royal Marines, RAF Honington, Royal Navy Small Ships and Diving.

    The Queen's Commonwealth Trust, The Rugby Football Union, The Rugby Football  League, The Royal National Theatre and The Association of Commonwealth Universities.

The decision to step back as senior members of the British royal family was announced on 8 January 2020. Yesterday's statement informing the public that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who currently live in Los Angeles, USA, will not be returning as working members did not come as a surprise to anyone who has followed the developments during the last year. I still feel sad about the decision, but I both respect it and understand it well. It should be added, as Michael Rhodes of Peerage News has pointed out, we will most likely still on various occasions be seeing the Duke of Sussex in uniform. He can not wear those uniforms of the regiments of which he was honorary colonel or captain general, but he will retain the right to wear those of the regiments in which he served. 

Last Sunday (Valentine's Day) it was announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their second child later this year. Their first child, Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, was born on 6 May 2019.

12 February 2021

Norway: King Harald's sick leave extended

The Norwegian Royal Court announced today that King Harald's sick leave has been extended to 14 March 2021. The king was expexted to resume his duties on Monday 15 February, but his medical team has recommended further rehabilitation before he gets back to work. The king was operated for a torn tendon above his knee on 30 January.

King Harald is currently staying at the Royal Lodge at Voksenkollen where he will continue to receive physiotherapy. Crown Prince Haakon will in other words remain Regent until 14 March 2021. 

9 February 2021

UK: Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's first child

In the early evening today Buckingham Palace announced the birth of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank's first child:

Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie was safely delivered of a son today, 9th February 2021, at 0855hrs at The Portland Hospital. Jack Brooksbank was present.

The baby weighs 8lbs 1oz.

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Duke of York, Sarah, Duchess of York, and Mr and Mrs George Brooksbank have been informed and are delighted with the news.

This is Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s first child, The Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York’s first grandchild, and the ninth great-grandchild for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.

The baby boy, whose name has yet to be announced, entered the world as no. 11 in the line of succession to the British throne.

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank were married at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on 12 October 2018.

30 January 2021

Norway: King Harald admitted to hospital

The Norwegian Royal Court announced on Thursday 28 January that King Harald was put on sick leave for the remaining days of the week due to pain in his leg. This meant that Crown Prince Haakon had to take over his father's duties and thus presided over the Council of State at the Royal Palace on Friday at 11 a.m.

The court followed up later on Friday 29 January by informing that the king was admitted to the National Hospital (Rikshospitalet) in order to have surgery in the morning of Saturday 30 January. The king was operated for a torn tendon above his knee. The operation has been described as successful.

The king is expected to return from his sick leave on Monday 15 February 2021.

20 January 2021

King Harald V of Norway's congratulations to President Biden

King Harald of Norway has offered his congratulations to President Joe Biden on the occasion of his inauguration today:

20.01.2021

The Honorable
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.
President of the United States of America
The White House
Washington D.C.

Your Excellency,

On the occasion of your inauguration as President of the United States of America, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations and my best wishes to you personally and to your family, and my hopes for the welfare and prosperity of the American people.

Harald R

Joe Biden took the oath just before noon today local time and became the 46th President of the United States, while Kamala Harris became the 49th Vice President.

13 January 2021

Norway: King Harald, Queen Sonja and Princess Astrid vaccinated against Covid-19

The Norwegian Royal Court announced in the afternoon today that King Harald and Queen Sonja were vaccinated against covid-19 earlier in the day. Their Majesties will receive the next vaccine in 3 weeks. NRK.no quoted assistant information director Sven Gjeruldsen as saying that the king and queen were in the risk group and that they were vaccinated following advice from the doctors and health authorities. Also King Harald's elder sister Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner received her first shot today.

At a press conference today the Minister of Health and Care Services, Bent Høie, stated that he was pleased that the king and queen had received the vaccine. Obviously an exception was made for Their Majesties, as they are only in the third priority group. Høie said: «– The Government has offered the royal family vaccination due to their role. We are pleased that they accepted the offer, that our royal couple today has got the first vaccination dose. This I think the Norwegian people will show an understanding for, and it was also something the government has offered the royal house.»

On Dagbladet's question on what it would take for individuals to get an exception from the ordinary order of vaccination, Høie answered: «– The fact that they are in the royal house, and it is not many people who are, but I think the Norwegian people will show an understanding for it. We have persons in the royal family who belong to a high risk group among others because of their age, so it is important, Høie explained.»

For the record, King Harald and Queen Sonja, both 83, belong to the royal house, while Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, 88, is a member of the royal family. There will always be people who will complain about the royals receiving privileges, but if the various comments made in the social media today should be regarded as representative, the vast majority seem to accept the reasons why an exception was made.

Other royals who have been vaccinated are Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of the United Kingdom.

10 January 2021

Gjallarhorn nr. 67 - 34. årgang - desember 2020

Siste utgave av Gjallarhorn (nr. 67, desember 2020), medlemsbladet til Vestfold Slektshistorielag og Buskerud Slektshistorielag, kom i posten denne uken. Jeg har ikke kommentert noen utgave av Gjallarhorn siden nr. 62 (juli 2018), men herværende utgave har jeg veldig lyst til å skrive noe om. Så får vi se om jeg kan være flinkere til å kommentere fremtidige utgaver. 

Jeg er medlem av Vestfold Slektshistorielag blant annet fordi jeg er oppvokst i Sandefjord og har dessuten aner fra Sandefjord, Stokke, Tjølling, Hedrum og Andebu, men jeg kan ikke si at jeg har gjort så mye med vestfoldanene mine, først og fremst fordi jeg har jobbet mest med å kartlegge slekt med utgangspunkt i en av anene og så ta for meg etterkommerne, så anetavlen min på hjemmesiden ser veldig spinkel ut. Jeg har forsket frem mer av anene mine enn det som står der, men jeg klarer aldri å ta meg tilstrekkelig tid til å oppdatere siden.

Jeg kunne også ha vært medlem av Buskerud Slektshistorielag, da jeg har aner blant annet fra Modum, men det er jo grenser for hvor mange slektshistorielag (og historielag!) man kan være medlem av. Her til lands er jeg medlem av Norsk Slektshistorisk Forening, Sør-Østerdal Slektshistorielag og Vestfold Slektshistorielag. Dessuten er jeg medlem av Marnardal Historielag, Sandar Historielag og Norsk Heraldisk Forening (genealogi og heraldikk går hånd i hånd, tross alt). Jeg burde kanskje også ha vært medlem av Ørskog Historielag på grunn av mine aner derfra, men som sagt, det er grenser for hvor mange kontingenter man skal ta seg råd til å betale i året.

Uansett, jeg har kost meg med utgave nr. 67 av Gjallarhorn. Her er innholdsfortegnelsen:

  • Innkalling til årsmøter i BSHL og VSHL, s. 4
  • Egil Theie: Folketellingen 1920, s. 5
  • Torgrim Redalen: Foreløpig prosjektrapport nr. 2. Nov. 2020, s. 6–10 og 52 (baksiden)
  • Torbjørn Steen-Karlsen: Dyre Sevaldsens etterkommere i Vestfold, del 2: Mari Vemundsdatter Stangebys etterslekt, s. 11–19
  • John Harry Eriksen: Etterkommere etter Finner fra "Finnemarka" i Modum, s. 20–35
  • Kristian Hunskaar: Brunlanes-lensmannen Antonius Jansens slektskrets, s. 36–49
  • John Harry Eriksen: Øivind Georg Røsdærn [1945–2020] er død, s. 50
Jeg har lagt til Røsdærns fødselsår og dødsår i klammer.

Første del av Steen-Karlsens artikkel om Dyre Sevaldsens etterkommere i Vestfold stod på trykk i Gjallarhorn nr. 64, s. 10–17. Artikkelen har fortløpende fotnoter, blant annet med henvisninger til annen litteratur, skifteprotokoller, skattelister m.m. Jeg antar at han har brukt flere kilder, som kirkebøker, men at ikke alt av plasshensyn er tatt med her. Artikkelforfatteren kunne nok ha spandert en liten kildeoversikt til slutt også. Men det virker som et solid stykke arbeide.

Mens Steen-Karlsen har skrevet en innledning til slektsoversikten, går John Harry Eriksen rett løs på første generasjon i sin artikkel Etterkommere etter Finner fra "Finnemarka" i Modum. Det tas utgangspunkt i Gunder Jensen, født i Hedmark, død 1711 i Glitre. «Var nok av finneslekt fra Solør», får vi vite, uten at det er nærmere begrunnet. Men kona Karen Olsdatter, født 1651 «i Finnland», død 1726 i Bottegården, Modum, stod oppført i finnemanntallet, så at det er snakk om skogfinneslekt er det vel ingen tvil om, men det er bare Karen som kan anses som et sikkert utgangspunkt. Slektsoversikten går nesten helt opp «til vår tid», der den siste personen som er nevnt (side 35) er født i 1939 og fortsatt lever. Redaktør Egil Theie har i en fotnote lagt til at «Ytterligere ledd er utelatt av redaktør i artikkelen.» Man må kontakte artikkelforfatteren for å få ytterligere detaljer. Dog skulle det ikke være så vanskelig å fortsette oversikten selv med utgangspunkt i den siste generasjonen. John Harry Eriksen er en erfaren slektsforsker og har skrevet mange artikler opp gjennom årene, så jeg er trygg på at han har jobbet mye med primærkilder for å lage slektsoversikten. Men ingen kilder er nevnt, bortsett fra finnemanntall og en og annen kilde nevnt i løpende tekst. Skulle alle opplysninger vært gjengitt i noter ville artikkelen ha sprengt utgaven. Men en kildeoversikt på slutten artikkelen burde det vært gitt plass til. Så får vi se om jeg kan klare å koble personer i slektsoversikten til mine aner i Modum. Jeg tviler, men jeg får ta en ekstra gjennomgang for sikkerhets skyld.

Kristian Hunskaars artikkel Brunlanes-lensmannen Antonius Jansens slektskrets tar altså utgangspunkt i Antonius Jansen (ca. 1723–1762), som i bygdeboken er nevnt som lensmann 1760–1761. Hunskaar tar for seg hver enkelt av Antonius' søsken, «med mål om å knytte an til det som allerede er kjent fra bygdeboklitteraturen, samt å undersøke hvem som kan ha vært Antonius Jansens foreldre». Artikkelen er godt kildebelagt og diskusjonen er forbilledlig. Antonius' bror Nils Jansen (ca. 1734–1805) var bosatt på Nordre Trollsås i Kodal, men når min ane nr. 190, Tore Janssen Trollsås (f. 177---, d. 1841), ikke nevnes i artikkelen (han kan uansett ikke være sønn av Nils) så kan han neppe knyttes til lensmannens slektskrets. Man får lite gratis i slektsforskningen. Jeg må nok gå til primærkildene og se om jeg kan finne Tores foreldre selv.

Short English summary: My article is about the latest issue of Gjallarhorn, the newsletter of Vestfold Slektshistorielag og Buskerud Slektshistorielag (genealogical societies in the current counties of Vestfold and Telemark and of Viken).