Queen Sonja initiates Minnesota-visit with a focus on military and culture

Queen Sonja has visited Minnesota, where over 20 per cent of the population consider themselves Norwegian-American. Minnesota is, therefore, the American state with solid connections to Norway.

The Queen’s meeting was preceded by a series of political talks. Queen Sonja met, among others, Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, followed by a reception with representatives of NOREX – Norwegian Reciprocal Troop Exchange – an exchange program for soldiers in the national guards of Minnesota and Norway. The exchange began in 1974 and is the longest-running military exchange partnership between any two partners.

During the reception, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said, “It was an honour to meet with Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway. From Minnesota’s longstanding cultural and social connections with Norway to our 49-year-long National Guard exchange, I’m proud of our state’s relationship with Norway and look forward to strengthening our ties.”

The Queen also paid an extended visit to St. Olaf’s College, which is a Norwegian-American private college in Northfield, Minnesota, founded by Norwegians in 1874. King Olav visited it in 1987, and King Harald and Queen Sonja have visited the university several times.

While at the college, Queen Sonja opened a brand new archive dedicated to preserving archival material associated with Norwegian immigrants, primarily those who immigrated in the 19th century.

On 15 October, the Queen presided over the opening of the new Norway House in Minneapolis. The complex will be a gathering place for everyone interested in Norway and Norwegian culture. The Queen also attended a dinner, and like many Norwegian Americans, the Queen was dressed in a bunad, a Norwegian national costume.

The Queen gave a speech in which she said: “Being here feels like a home away from home. It really is. It’s truly an inspiration to see the way the descendants of the immigrants have thrived, contributing a great deal to American society. At the same time, they have not forgotten their history. They look to organisations like Norway House to strengthen their connections both to the Norway of their ancestors and the Norway of today.”

Norway and the USA have close ties. Around 1.6 per cent of the American population, around 4.6 million people, consider themselves Norwegian-Americans.