Glittering Gala Banquet Honouring King Harald and Queen Sonja

A glittering gala banquet was held at the Royal Palace of Oslo this evening to celebrate King Harald and Queen Sonja’s 80th birthdays.

Ahead of the banquet, the Norwegian Royal Family – accompanied by their royal guests – gathered on the balcony of the Palace to watch entertainment by local school children and the military bands. A traditional Norwegian birthday song was played for the King and Queen, which led Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Martha Louise and their combined five children perform the accompanying dance – to the delight of the large crowd gathered in the Palace square!

Back inside shortly after, the royal contingent – including representatives from Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Monaco, Finland and Iceland (as well as members of the former Greek Royal Family) – processed into the ballroom for dinner.

King Harald, Queen Sonja, the Crown Prince and Princess Martha Louise, and Queen Margrethe of Denmark all gave speeches during the banquet; the King and Queen thanking all their guests – their “European family” – for making the trip to Oslo for the celebrations.

More festivities are planned for tomorrow, a mini-cruise and luncheon and a black-tie dinner at the Opera.

Filed under Norway
Tagged Birthday, Harald V of Norway, Queen Sonja of Norway.

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