Official Visit from the UK to Norway, Day 1

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall started their eight-day tour of Scandinavia as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations with a visit to Norway from March 20th to March 22nd, 2012.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit welcomed the British Royals at Gardermoen Airport in Oslo. At Akershus Fortress, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall met King Harald and Queen Sonja. After inspecting the King’s Guard, they laid a wreath at the National Monument commemorating those who lost their lives in the Second World War.

In the afternoon, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall together with the Norwegian Royal Couple went to the Nobel Peace Center, where they met survivors of the tragic events on Utøya Island on July 22nd last year, and also representatives of Norwegian youth organizations.

In the evening, King Harald and Queen Sonja hosted an official banquet at the Royal Palace in honour of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Märtha Louise and Princess Astrid attended as well.

In his speech during the banquet, King Harald emphasized the close ties between the United Kingdom and Norway and expressed his admiration for Queen Elizabeth’s long and distinguished service to her people.

Filed under Norway, The United Kingdom
Tagged Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee, Harald V of Norway, Official Visit, Princess Astrid of Norway, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, Queen Sonja of Norway, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Prince of Wales.