Great-Uncle King Haakon VII of Norway hosted the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on their State Visit to Norway on this day in 1955, 70 years ago, which was the first outgoing State Visit of the Queen’s Reign! The British and Norwegian Royal Families have had a long and close family relationship for over a century.
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were received King Haakon VII of Norway, along with Crown Prince Olav, Prince Harald, Princess Astrid, and Princess Ragnhild, at Honnørbryggen in Oslo before travelling back to the Royal Palace of Oslo. There was a State Banquet held that evening, but no images were released.
The Queen (in the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara) and Duke were joined by King Haakon VII, Crown Prince Olav, Prince Harald, Princess Astrid (wearing Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara) and Princess Ragnhild (in the Vasa Tiara) for a Gala Performance at the National Theatre in Oslo on the second evening of the State Visit.
Other events included a lunch at Skaugum, the residence of the Crown Prince, visits to the Norwegian Folk Museum at Bygdo, the Vestre Gravlund (Western Cemetery) in Oslo, and a Garden Party at the British Embassy, with a Return Banquet on the Royal Yacht Britannia rounding out the State Visit.
Norwegian State Visit to Britain in 1951
British State Visit to Norway in 1955
Norwegian State Visit to Scotland in 1962
British State Visit to Norway in 1981
Norwegian State Visit to Britain in 1988
Norwegian State Visit to Britain in 1994
British State Visit to Norway in 2001
Norwegian Official Visit to Britain in 2005
