Norway Celebrates National Day

  May 19, 2012 at 5:45 am by

On May 17th, Norway celebrates its National Day. As every year, the Norwegian Royal Family is involved in the celebration.

View the full image at Daylife

The day started with Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus and Marius Borg Høiby greeting the Children’s Parade on the stairs of Skaugum Estate, all dressed in traditional clothes called bunads. Like last year, the family dog Milly Kakao was with them, wearing a ribbon in the national colours around her neck.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra left her family after a while to join her fellow students of Jansløkka School, who were one of the last ones in the parade to greet the Crown Princely Family. This year was the first time for Princess Ingrid Alexandra to take part in the parade. Also Marius joined the parade with his class, as in previous years. Only Prince Sverre Magnus, being in first grade, is too small yet.

View the full image at Zimbio

This tradition goes back to 1946, when Crown Prince Olav was asked if the family would like to welcome school children in Asker.

When the parade was finished, the family quickly changed and rushed to Oslo. King Harald, Queen Sonja, the Crown Prince Couple, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus gathered at the balcony of the Royal Palace to greet the Oslo Children’s Parade.

This custom of greeting the children’s parade from the Palace balcony was introduced by King Haakon and Queen Maud in 1906.

After about three hours of watching and greeting the parade, the Royal Couple and the Crown Princely Family left the balcony to enjoy a lunch with the rest of the family.

Here you can watch a video of the Crown Princely Family greeting the Children’s Parade.

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