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.
