Royal Court of Vittmark
The Royal Court of Vittmark (Kungahuset) is the Hallish name for the extended household and all those who regularly attend on the monarch of Vittmark. The Royal Court actually consists of three separate courts, each dealing with an individual aspect of the royal household.
In practical terms, the Royal Court coincides almost completely with the extended family of King Asgard. The extent of the royal court can be adapted to the needs of the time, with mansions like Blåkulla
History
King Karl of Vittmark had the household organized as a stim with two bases of operations: the Royal Palace at Östervallen and the three central estates Hederskulla, Knutskulla and Herrkulla in Kulla Kronområde. He managed the Royal Court in Östervallen himself, while he had delegated the management of Kulla Kronområde to his nephew Ragnar Eriksson av Knutskulla, who acted as steward. Two years later, when Queen Anna was crowned, there were hardly any changes in this set-up. The only difference was that Ragnar Eriksson also started acting as steward in Östervallen in 7567. This situation changed drastically when Eriksson spurred the 7572 attempted coup d'etat against Queen Anna. She reorganised the Royal Court into three separate units: Östervallen, Herrkulla and Blåkulla. Hederskulla and Knutskulla fell under the Herrkulla management.
When Knutskulla was completed in the 7590's, it became its own unit within the Royal Court. Since then it has been in use as residence for the immediate family of the reigning monarch or an abdicated monarch her- or himself. After Queen Tovemor of Vittmark's abdication, Hederskulla became a separate unit in order to be able to cater for the extended family's needs. But when Tovemor's children took over management of the facility in the 7640's, it was removed from the Royal Court organisation. The real estate however still is owned by the reigning monarch.
Hederskulla has been in and out of Royal Court management several times since the 7620's. At the moment it is managed as a part of the Royal Court at Knutskulla.
Organisations at the court
The Royal Court is rather small when compared to other royal institutions in Anaria or Stoldavia. When Vittmark was founded as a nation state, the size of the Royal Court was limited on purpose n order to focus on general development of the country and not to compete with state level royalty and nobility. Traditionally, the reigning monarchs are very active within the management of the Royal Court. Keeping it concise is a way to make it manageable by the head of state.
- Most issues regarding protocol, official visits and other ceremonies are dealt with by the protocol office (Kullas Regelverk), headed by a master of ceremonies.
- The daily management of the court is taken care of by a separate department under the protocol office, which also employs servants and other staff.
- The secretariat (Kullas Kansli) is responsible for all administrative issues at the court.
- The treasury (Kullas Silfwer) manages all financial affairs.
- Management of buildings and land is the task of the crown domains (Kullas Kronområden).
- Court security (Kullas Försvar) also is a large department. This is officially a military organisation, part of the Federal Military of Vittmark, but operating strictly autonomously from it. Police forces operating in Kulla no longer fall under the Court organisation, it was detached from the Court during the state reforms of 7609.
- The Equerry (Kullas Hästar) started out as the royal stables but nowadays also is responsible for the royal rail carriages, automobiles and other means of transport.
The Crown Domains is by far the largest organisation at the royal court, since the main Kulla Crown Domain and the Royal Palace in Östervallen fall under this department. In 7573 the Oak Domains were added to this department, in 7576 followed by the Eastern Crown Domains at Fisks islands. At the state reforms of 7609, governance and administration of the Kulla Crown Domain was moved to the state level, leaving only land management as real estate owner as task of the Royal Court. But even today, many state level government services are still carried out by the crown as the institution safeguarding the interests of the royal family, like real estate ordinance, cartography and civilian records. The Oak Domains met a similar fate, ending their status as territorial exclaves. Most Oak Domains are managed by the Federal Department of Natural Resources as State Parks or Nature Reserves, but the Royal Court still is the land owner. Even the territory of the former Eastern Crown Domains is still realm estate owned by the Royal Court of Vittmark.
Functions at the court
Each Royal Court is headed by a steward (hallvärd). This is most often a direct family member of the reigning monarch. Unlike other courts, the rather unpretentious title "steward" is used, instead of grandmaster. The steward is heading an executive staff including a masters of ceremony, estate master, master general of security, master treasurer and equerry. One of the organisational masters is also responsible for the communication and line management of the organisational branch. For example, the estate master of Kulla Kronområde is formally the head of the crown domains in Östervallen and Herrkulla as well.
The queens of Vittmark usually have ladies-in-waiting (hovdam) functioning as personal assistants, while kings have a similar function in the form of court masters (hovmästare). They are by default allocated to one of the courts, but can travel in the capacity of other functions they are executing. A crown prince or princess have the opportunity to appoint their own ladies-in-waiting and court masters, but these are called hovfröken and hovkarl respectively. The function is an honorary task without financial compensation. Other female staff to court members ladies' maid (kammariungfru), while the male servants are officially called valet (betiänt). Other staff members fall directly under the steward or his masters.
Royal Court at Östervallen
Main residence of the reigning monarch and his immediate family, including the working quarters of the monarch and his or her immediate successor. Also reception facility for foreign visits, usually on the level of heads of state. Royal Palace at Court security is provided by a separate branch of federal military stationed in Östvallen City. This unit is incorporated as a separate unit within the federal military, but it does not fall under the chain of command of the army or navy.
Royal Court at Herrkulla
The mansion at Herrkulla has served as summer quarters for the monarchs since the foundation of Vittmark. At this moment it is not in use as a permanent residence. In practical terms, Herrkulla serves as a hub in maintaining the royal estates, especially the lands in Kulla Kronområde. Court security is arranged by a special department of the Federal Police.
Royal Court at Knutskulla
Knutskulla was completely rebuilt as a modern mansion in the 7570's but completed as late as the early 7600's. It is in use as the summer residence of the immediate family of King Asgard.