Harald & Sonja Visit the United States 2005 - Page 2

**Mandy** · #21 03-04-2005, 02:46 PM

Thanks for all the great pictures Lyonnaise. I specially like the one with Harald wearing the cowboy hat. I wonder if he remembered this picture?

**Mandy** · #22 03-04-2005, 02:54 PM

New Yorkers spellbound (www.aftenposten.no/english/)

Queen Sonja made a deep impression on American business journalists with her presentation of "This is My Norway" at Scandinavia House in New York on Tuesday.

I get the urge to go out on the town with her," said one enthusiastic American journalist after the meeting with the queen."She is a perfect spokeswoman for Norway. I wish more national leaders did what she does," said journalist Evelyn Kanter after the queen's speech.

Kanter was most surprised by the queen's apparent accessibility, far from the pompous image that many Americans have of European royalty.

Elinor Garely from women's travel magazine Tango Diva was especially pleased by the queen sharing photographs from her family album with the public.

"She gives us the most wonderful stories," Garely said, and added that she had learned a great deal about Norway from the queen's presentation.

Queen Sonja would not be drawn on the question of what sport in Norway lay closest to her heart, and diplomatically preferred to promote the entire country.

"Norwegian nature is so varied and beautiful, I have many favorite places. I hope that you will come and see for yourselves," the queen said.

In security conscious times there was particular interest in chance meetings with Queen Sonja during her hikes in the wilds. The queen related several anecdotes on the subject, where her subjects seemed to take the occasion with the greatest calm, even inviting her to coffee on a lonely mountain top.

King Harald and Queen Sonja are having an active tour of New York, giving speeches and taking part in various activities linked to Norway's centennial celebrations. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced at a 5th Avenue charity ball on Tuesday evening that he was declaring Wednesday March 2 to be Norway Centennial Day.

On Wednesday the royal couple flew on to Houston, where the king was to open the oil and energy conference INTSOK.

Aftenposten's Norwegian reporter
Kristin Nilsen
Aftenposten English Web Desk
Jonathan Tisdall

Alexandria · #23 03-04-2005, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mandy

New Yorkers spellbound (www.aftenposten.no/english/)

Queen Sonja made a deep impression on American business journalists with her presentation of "This is My Norway" at Scandinavia House in New York on Tuesday.

Great article Mandy; thank you for sharing it. :)

Queen Sonja seems so down to earth and humble from the anecdotes here. (Not that I ever thought she was pretentious -- but this story certainly confirmed my beliefs about Sonja as being someone without airs about her despite her role and social status.)

I really like, too, how she has personalized this visit with personal pictures and personal stories and experiences of Norway rather than making it seem like a PR pitch for Norway. That she added a personal touch to it and made references to her favourite places makes the visit more interesting and Norway alluring in a deeper way.

HMQueenElizabethII · #24 03-04-2005, 08:35 PM

Some photos from AAP Image:

HMQueenElizabethII · #25 03-04-2005, 08:37 PM

Will Their Majesties have any Meeting with President Bush?

**Mandy** · #26 03-05-2005, 12:56 AM

Norwegian article in dagbladet
http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2005/03/04/425185.html

Lovely picture with the article.

Dennism · #27 03-05-2005, 02:01 AM

Cute little girl there. She´s handing the flowers to the minister of culture by mistake. Funny. As for CNN, I read that too. I thought they meant CNN International because the show they said isn´t on domestically as far as I know. Thanks for the photos. Sonja and Harald are doing great PR work indeed for Norway.

norwegianne · #28 03-05-2005, 05:25 AM

Article Summary: The little girl who was supposed to give the Queen the flowers, had a case of "wrong queen." She gave the flowers to the Norwegian Culture Minister instead.

Me: And behind Sonja's head, you can see Harald smiling widely at the mistake...

pdas1201 · #29 03-05-2005, 08:00 AM

OMG, they are in Houston, does anybody know where they will be or how long they'll be staying in the city???

Dennism · #30 03-07-2005, 03:02 AM

King Harald and Queen Sonja visit the White House

King Harald and Queen Sonja are nearing the end of their official visit to the US, and will on Monday have lunch with President Bush at the White House.

King Harald lived in Washington as a boy with his mother Crown Princess Märtha and his two sisters, Princess Astrid and Princess Ragnhild during World War II.

- For me it is therefore like coming home, when I come to Washington, the Norwegian King said.

He has several times during the visit underlined the strong ties between Norway and the US.

Prior to the lunch at the White House, the King and the Queen will also visit the Arlington Cemetary, and place a wreath at the memorial.

Washington is the third stop on the official visit. The Royal Couple have also spent three days in New York and two days in Houston, Texas.

(NRK/Aftenposten/Vaart Land)

pdas1201 · #31 03-07-2005, 02:23 PM

March 7, 2005: King Harald and Queen Sonja during wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va., first stop of their visit to Washington. Later, they visited the President and First Lady of the United States.

ETA: Pictures from Abaca Press/Mandy

marezdote · #32 03-07-2005, 02:26 PM

In D.C. with the President and First Lady and at Arlington National Cemetary. Pics are from Getty.

marezdote · #33 03-07-2005, 02:30 PM