SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

Royal Christmas

King Harald marks Christmas at special church service

King Harald and Queen Sonja joined the congregation at Holmenkollen church on Christmas Day for a special service.

The King and Queen of Norway were accompanied by one of their granddaughters, Emma Behn.

They were all welcomed to the church by the chaplain, Line Lindholm Eiborg, who took the Christmas Day service and gave the reading from the Gospel of St. John.

Music came from the Holmenkollen Chamber Choir and soloist, Katharina Frogner Kockum.

The chapel at Holmenkollen is not far from Kongsseteren, the cosy home given to King Harald’s grandfather, Haakon VII, as a Christmas retreat by the people of Norway. The Norwegian monarch traditionally spends the festive season at Kongsseteren.

Crown Prince Haakon Magnus and Crown Princess Mette-Marit went to church on Christmas Eve at Uvdal where they are celebrating the festive season.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.