“Gratulerer med dagen” – National Day in Norway

Gratulerer med dagen, Norge! Happy Birthday, Norway. On May 17th people in Norway celebrate their National day. As every year the Norwegian Royals took part in the celebrations.

In the morning the Crown Prince family greeted the Asker municipality children’s parade at Skaugum – the family’s residence. It’s an old tradition that the family of the heir to the throne meets the parade at Skaugum.
The Crown Prince and his family are usually all dressed in the traditional Norwegian national clothes – the Bunad.

Later the members of the Royal House appeared at the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo. The members of the Royal House are: King Harald and Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit and their daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who is the next heir to the throne. The tradition of the Royal family greeting the children’s parade at the National day is more than 100 years old and has been introduced by King Haakon in 1906. During the balcony appearance the Royals are usually dressed in suits and hats.

Later the day the King and Queen will visit Nordstrand to celebrate National day at this district of Oslo. Members of the family visit different districts of Olso every year.

If you are interested in the history of the Norwegian National Day Celebrations you can read an article at the Royal Court’s website here: Celebrating May 17th.

A thread at TRF about this year’s celebrations can be found here.

Filed under Norway
Tagged Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Haakon VII of Norway, Harald V of Norway, Marius Borg Høiby, National Day, Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, Queen Sonja of Norway.