King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway made a poignant visit to Utøya, the site of one of the two attacks perpetrated by a terrorist on 22 July 2011.
The royal couple arrived on the island via the MS Thorbjørn, one of the ferries transporting passengers between the two shores. Upon their arrival, they were welcomed by Astrid Hoem, leader of the Workers’ Youth League, Lisbeth…
Norway’s Royal Family has led the celebrations on National Day in the first normal celebrations since the beginning of the global health crisis.
The day began in Asker, where the Crown Prince Family greeted the children from Røyken and Hurum primary schools, who…
King Harald of Norway has extended his sick leave after contracting COVID-19 last week.
The King of Norway was scheduled to return to royal duties on Thursday, 21 March; however, this did not occur.
The head of communications at the Norwegian Royal Court informed the…
King Harald is the first King of Norway born on Norwegian soil in 567 years. He was born at Skaugum estate on 21 February 1937 and is the son of King Olav of Norway and his wife Martha, who was Crown Princess of Norway and Princess of Sweden.
King Harald grew up at the Skaugum Estate just outside the capital Oslo with his two older sisters, Princess Astrid and Princess Ragnhild. When King…
King Harald marks anniversary of his accession to Norway's throne
17th January 2022
On this day, 17 January, it is exactly 31 years since King Olav V died and his son took over as Norway’s new monarch. On the evening of 17 January 1991, at 10.20pm, King Olav V died at the royal cabin, Kongsseteren, in the outskirts of the capital, Oslo. Olav was King…
January
King Harald set the tone for the year with his New Year’s Eve speech, noting: “The hope will carry us all into 2021.”
Sadly, 2021 began on a sad note for the Norwegian Royal Family. They paid a visit to Gjerdrum, the site of a devastating landslide…
Comfort, strength and hope: the royal messages of Christmas 2020
1st December 2021
The countdown to Christmas is well and truly on as December gets under way. And amidst the many royal traditions associated with the festive season, the Christmas speech given by monarchs around Europe remains a high point for many. While always filled with seasonal greetings, they are also a chance to share reflections and often include rare personal messages and royal contemplations of the year…
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima tackle cyberbullying and praise special relationship on State Visit to Norway
11th November 2021
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima had a second busy day of engagements in Norway this week as Their Majesties continue their state visit to the country.
While the first day of the visit was more focused on the official events, the second and third days are often…
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima touch down in Oslo for State Visit to Norway
9th November 2021
Following almost two years of restrictions and shutdowns, life is beginning to go back to how it was before, albeit with some remanence of the trauma we collectively lived through.
State visits are starting to reappear on heads of states’ calendars, and on 9…
Norway and the Netherlands: the special friendship on show in past State Visits
8th November 2021
The King and Queen of the Netherlands will make a State Visit to Norway this November. Willem-Alexander and Maxima will be hosted by their friends, King Harald and Queen Sonja, for the three day event. Although it’s Willem-Alexander’s first State Visit to Norway since becoming King in 2013, it’s not the first time these two countries have shared these important moments. Here…