Else Werring, née Wilhelmsen (29 April 1905 – 23 November 1989) was a Norwegian royal hostess.
She was born in Tønsberg [1] as a daughter of shipowner Halfdan Wilhelmsen (1864–1923) and Ragnhild Oppen (1869–1952). [2] She was a granddaughter of the founder of Wilh. Wilhelmsen Wilhelm Wilhelmsen (1839–1910), an aunt of Tom Wilhelmsen and a niece of businessmen Finn, Axel and Wilhelm Wilhelmsen. [3]
She had middle school, and also attended school for two years in England and one year in France. In March 1926 she married shipowner Niels Werring. [2] The couple had four children; the daughters Ragnhild (who married Henning Astrup) and Gina "Else Catharine" and the sons Niels, Jr. and Morten. [4] The Werring couple lived at the Munkebakken estate in Lysaker is a residence designed by Arnstein Arneberg. The family led a social life which included royals. [5] [6] [7] [8]
In January 1958 she was appointed by Olav V of Norway as Chief Court Mistress ( Overhoffmesterinne) for the Norwegian royal family. When assuming the position, royal-friendly newspaper described her as "representative, highly cultivated, as beautiful as her predecessor in the office, mrs. Borghild Anker, and as eminent a hostess as her". [4] Her main assignment was to assist the Crown Princess in her tasks as a hostess at the court. [9] As such she played an important role in the social life at the Royal Palace. In 1958 the entire court of the Norwegian royal family comprised as little as seven people; Richard Andvord, Ingvald Smith-Kielland, Odd Grønvold and Ellinor Grønvold, Ingeborg von Hanno and Vincent Bommen. [10] In 1985 she retired and was replaced by Ingegjerd Løvenskiold. [11]
She was also a council member in the Nansen Academy from 1948 to 1962 and in the Filharmonisk Selskap from 1952 to 1960. She was a board member of several philanthropic institutions in Tønsberg. [1] As a godmother in the baptising of ships belonging to her family's shipping company Wilh. Wilhelmsen, she donated "godmother gifts" to nonprofit organizations. [12] [13] She was an active churchgoer, and was fond of art collecting, literature, skiing, tennis and horseriding. [9]
She was decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1967, [1] and upgraded to Commander with Star in 1980. [14] She also held the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog and the Order of the Polar Star. [15] She died in November 1989. [2] [16]
Else Werring, née Wilhelmsen (29 April 1905 – 23 November 1989) was a Norwegian royal hostess.
She was born in Tønsberg [1] as a daughter of shipowner Halfdan Wilhelmsen (1864–1923) and Ragnhild Oppen (1869–1952). [2] She was a granddaughter of the founder of Wilh. Wilhelmsen Wilhelm Wilhelmsen (1839–1910), an aunt of Tom Wilhelmsen and a niece of businessmen Finn, Axel and Wilhelm Wilhelmsen. [3]
She had middle school, and also attended school for two years in England and one year in France. In March 1926 she married shipowner Niels Werring. [2] The couple had four children; the daughters Ragnhild (who married Henning Astrup) and Gina "Else Catharine" and the sons Niels, Jr. and Morten. [4] The Werring couple lived at the Munkebakken estate in Lysaker is a residence designed by Arnstein Arneberg. The family led a social life which included royals. [5] [6] [7] [8]
In January 1958 she was appointed by Olav V of Norway as Chief Court Mistress ( Overhoffmesterinne) for the Norwegian royal family. When assuming the position, royal-friendly newspaper described her as "representative, highly cultivated, as beautiful as her predecessor in the office, mrs. Borghild Anker, and as eminent a hostess as her". [4] Her main assignment was to assist the Crown Princess in her tasks as a hostess at the court. [9] As such she played an important role in the social life at the Royal Palace. In 1958 the entire court of the Norwegian royal family comprised as little as seven people; Richard Andvord, Ingvald Smith-Kielland, Odd Grønvold and Ellinor Grønvold, Ingeborg von Hanno and Vincent Bommen. [10] In 1985 she retired and was replaced by Ingegjerd Løvenskiold. [11]
She was also a council member in the Nansen Academy from 1948 to 1962 and in the Filharmonisk Selskap from 1952 to 1960. She was a board member of several philanthropic institutions in Tønsberg. [1] As a godmother in the baptising of ships belonging to her family's shipping company Wilh. Wilhelmsen, she donated "godmother gifts" to nonprofit organizations. [12] [13] She was an active churchgoer, and was fond of art collecting, literature, skiing, tennis and horseriding. [9]
She was decorated as a Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1967, [1] and upgraded to Commander with Star in 1980. [14] She also held the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog and the Order of the Polar Star. [15] She died in November 1989. [2] [16]