Going by bus to the Viking ships, Kon Tiki and Fram in Oslo, you pass the Royal Farm Bygdoe. To the left the red farm buildings with the symbol of the late king Olav V and to the right the white main building where the royal family lives in the summer.
This main building has just been renovated (from 2001 to 2007) for the cost of around 177 million Norwegian crowns (nearly 30 million US dollars)
This property has been in royal possession since King Haakon V bought it, around 700 years ago. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haakon_V_of_Norway
Today's main building was hastily built in 1733 as the Danish King Christian VI and his wife Queen Sophie Magdalene were to visit Norway on their grand tour.
Later the Danish governors, representing the Danish kings, lived here.
After 1814 the Swedish Bernadotte kings stayed there when they visited Norway.
From 1905 King Haakon VII and his wife Queen Maude used this as their summer residence. Queen Maude, originally a British princess, was very interested in gardening, and helped renew the park. Her taste also influenced the interior design of the main building.
Their son, who later became King Olav V, spent all his summers here till he died in 1991. His official date for moving from the Royal Castle in the centre of Oslo out to Bygdø was always May 18th.
Source Dagbladet Aug 25th 2007
PS.The royal family has a website with an article in Norwegian about this property.
http://www.kongehuset.no/c26990/artikkel/vis.html?tid=27634
There are also a few photos .
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