Richard Andvord (6 March 1886 – 26 January 1965) was a Norwegian cavalry officer, diplomat and aide-de-camp for the Norwegian Royal Family.

Early life and career

Andvord was educated in commerce in Leipzig and Oxford. In 1911 he was employed as a cavalry officer, and between 1916 and 1927 he served as Norwegian

military attaché A military attaché is a military expert who is attached to a diplomatic mission, often an embassy. This type of attaché post is normally filled by a high-ranking military officer, who retains a commission while serving with an embassy. Opport ...

Bern german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese , neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen , website ...

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, Helsinki and London. From 1927 to 1930 he was an aide-de-camp of

King Haakon VII of Norway Haakon VII (; born Prince Carl of Denmark; 3 August 187221 September 1957) was the King of Norway from November 1905 until his death in September 1957. Originally a Danish prince, he was born in Copenhagen as the son of the future Frederick V ...

. He held the titles of cavalry captain ('' rittmester'') from 1930, and from 1949 ''kammerherre''.

Later career

During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany, Andvord was arrested in December 1944 in Hamar for "hostile behaviour" towards Germans. He was imprisoned in Grini concentration camp from 18 December 1944 to the

liberation of Norway The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany during the Second World War began on 9 April 1940 after Operation Weserübung. Conventional armed resistance to the German invasion ended on 10 June 1940, and Nazi Germany controlled Norway until the ...

. In 1945 he was hired as director of the Royal Stables, and stayed in this position until 1960. He was succeeded by Erik Blankenborg Prydz. Curiously, the head of the Royal Stables had no responsibility for horses or equipages, but the motor vehicles owned by the Norwegian Royal Family as well as all car driving in connection with events at the

Royal Palace This is a list of royal palaces, sorted by continent. Africa * Abdin Palace, Cairo * Al-Gawhara Palace, Cairo * Koubbeh Palace, Cairo * Tahra Palace, Cairo * Menelik Palace * Jubilee Palace * Guenete Leul Palace * Imperial Palace- Massa ...

. Andvord also acted as driver for foreign dignitaries, guiding them on their way to

royal audience A ''Real Audiencia'' (), or simply an ''Audiencia'' ( ca, Reial Audiència, Audiència Reial, or Audiència), was an appellate court in Spain and its empire. The name of the institution literally translates as Royal Audience. The additional des ...

. In 1958 the entire Court of the Norwegian Royal Family consisted of as few as seven people; Richard Andvord,

Ingvald Smith-Kielland Ingvald Marillus Emil Smith-Kielland (9 August 1890 – 29 January 1984) was a Norwegian military officer, diplomat, sports official, and royal servant. He was born in Egge as the son of Colonel Ingvald Mareno Smith-Kielland (1863–1949) and Ra ...

Odd Grønvold Odd Grønvold (8 September 1907 – 18 February 1992) was a Norwegian royal servant. He was born in Kristiania, and was a grandnephew of the former private secretary to King Haakon VII of Norway, Hans Aimar Mow Grønvold. He was hired as secret ...

and Ellinor Grønvold,

Else Werring Else Werring, née Wilhelmsen (29 April 1905 – 23 November 1989) was a Norwegian Norwegian Royal Family, royal hostess. Personal life She was born in Tønsberg as a daughter of shipowner Halfdan Wilhelmsen (1864–1923) and Ragnhild Oppen (1869� ...

, Ingeborg von Hanno and Vincent Bommen.

Legacy and death

In 1959 Andvord was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav, and he also held four royal medals and several foreign orders of knighthood. He died in January 1965, 79 years old. He was buried at Vår Frelsers gravlund in a family grave; other family members resting there include Sevald Theodor Richard Andvord (1839–1913) and Richard Andvord (1920–1997).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Andvord, Richard 1886 births 1965 deaths Norwegian Army personnel Norwegian expatriates in the United Kingdom Norwegian expatriates in Germany Norwegian expatriates in Switzerland Norwegian expatriates in Austria Norwegian expatriates in Finland Military personnel from Oslo Norwegian military attachés Burials at the Cemetery of Our Saviour Grini concentration camp survivors Diplomats from Oslo