Norwegian State Visit to Poland

King Harald and Queen Sonja paid a three-day visit to Poland between May 9 and 11, 2012.

On Wednesday, they were formally welcomed by Poland’s President, Bronisław Komorowski, and his wife Anna Komorowska at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw. Afterwards they laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw to commemorate the unknown Polish soldiers who had fallen in the First World War and the subsequent Polish-Soviet War.

During the day, King Harald attended meetings with the Prime Minister of Poland and the President of the Polish senate. In the meantime Queen Sonja visited the Frédéric Chopin Museum to view the largest collection of Chopin-related material in the world.

In the afternoon, the King and Queen together attended a reception for the Norwegian trade delegation, followed in the evening by an official welcome banquet hosted by the President and his wife at the Presidential Palace.

On the second day, King Harald and Queen Sonja attended the opening of the Poland-Norway Partnership Conference. Afterwards Queen Sonja continued on to the “Palace on the Water” in Royal Lazienki Park for the launching of a new Polish – Norwegian Cultural Exchange Programme. Meanwhile King Harald attended the opening of the Norwegian – Polish defense seminar and a military demonstration. He also inspected a Command Vehicle, delivered by the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence Systems.

In the evening King Harald and Queen Sonja listened to a concert of Norwegian and Polish artists at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw. Afterwards they enjoyed a buffet presenting Norwegian sea food. Norway is the largest supplier of fish to the Polish market.

On the third and final day, King Harald and Queen Sonja travelled to Kraków, the cultural capital of Poland. They attended the launch of a new Polish – Norwegian research programme at the University of Kraków and met with some of the 350 Norwegian students who are attending classes there. Later they visited the International Cultural Centre and the old Renaissance Hall and Conservation Centre Sukiennice. Afterwards they held a concluding meeting with the press and a luncheon at the Bonerowski Palace, before they visited St. Mary’s Basilica which marked the end of their state visit.

Filed under Norway
Tagged Bilateral Relations, Concert, Education, Harald V of Norway, Music, Poland, President Komorowski of Poland, Queen Sonja of Norway, State Visit.