The King and Queen of Norway paid tribute to all those lost in
the world wars when they made a poignant trip to London.
King Harald and Queen Sonja, both 88, took part in a special
commemoration as they attended the Seamen’s Church in London.
The Norwegian king and queen watched as wreaths were laid and
then joined in prayers in memory of all those killed in the
conflicts.
It was part of a busy weekend in the capital for the couple who
continue to take on the bulk of engagements for their royal
family.
King Harald and Queen Sonja took part in the ceremony of
commemoration in the historic church which began life in 1868 as a
mission for Scandinavian sailors who had landed or decided to live
permanently in England.
It’s since evolved into a thriving part of the Norwegian
community in the UK.
There was a chance for King Harald and Queen Sonja to meet some
of that community after the service as they joined Norwegians for
coffee, cake and a chat following the church proceedings.
King Harald’s father, King Olav, spent part of World War Two in
London after Norway was occupied by the Nazis and the royal family
had to flee. Harald, who was a child at the time, was sent to the
United States with his mother where he spent some of his formative
years.
The Norwegian royal family is closely related to the House of
Windsor – King Olav was the son of Maud, the youngest daughter of
King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. He was great friends with his
cousin, the future King George VI, as they were just a few years
apart in age. King George VI and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II,
were very fond of Olav’s father, King Haakon VII, who had been born
Prince Carl of Denmark. The Norwegian royal family has long claimed
that Elizabeth II named her first child after her favourite uncle,
Haakon VII, who was known to his family as Charlie.
King Harald and Queen Sonja have strong ties to London and are
known to spend some time in the city. Norway also gifts the people
of London a giant spruce every year to serve as the Christmas tree
in Trafalgar Square. The tree is a gift from the people of Norway
as a thank you for support during World War Two.
The trip was a welcome relief for King Harald and Queen Sonja
who have experienced serious issues with their family in recent
months. Their step grandson, Marius Borg Hoiby, is currently
awaiting trial on several charges including rape. He denies the
charges.
Meanwhile, their daughter, Princess Martha Louise, has attracted
controversy after making a programme for Netflix about her life
with her new husband, Durek Verrett.
