Norwegian State Visit to Britain, 1951

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A month after hosting the King and Queen of Denmark on their State Visit, the British Royal Family hosted their uncle and great-uncle, King Haakon VII of Norway, on his State Visit to the United Kingdom, which began on this day in 1951, 75 years ago!

King Haakon VII of Norway was welcomed by his nephew, the Duke of Gloucester, as he arrived in London on the Royal Yacht Norge.  The two rode in the British Royal Barge to Westminster Pier, where the King was welcomed by Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and the extended British Royal Family, as well as King Haakon’s granddaughter, Princess Astrid. Following the Official Welcome, the Royal Party rode in a Ceremonial Procession to Buckingham Palace, with Princess Elizabeth deputizing for an ill King George VI, who had an inflammation of the lung.

There are no pictures or footage from that evening’s State Banquet, but it is known that King Haakon visited his nephew, King George VI, in his private apartments before the Banquet, and the absent King’s speech was read by Princess Elizabeth (wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace), who said:

Your Majesty and your people showed the world that the fighting spirit of the Norsemen was still very much alive.

Britain was glad to have Norway with it as a firm ally as well as a friend.”

The following evening, Queen Elizabeth (wearing the Oriental Circlet Tiara), King Haakon and Princess Astrid (in the Vasa Tiara), and Princess Elizabeth (wearing the Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara) were pictured arriving at the Norwegian Embassy in London for a Return Banquet held by King Haakon VII.

During his State visit, the tall, seventy-eight-year-old King of Norway laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior; had tea with Queen Mary at Marlborough House; was guest of honour at a banquet at Buckingham Palace; was present at the opening of the Royal Tournament, and entertained the Queen and other members of the Royal family at dinner at the Norwegian Embassy.

The final day of the State Visit began with the Trooping the Color Ceremony, when King Haakon and Princess Astrid joined the Royal Family on the Balcony of Buckingham Palace. Princess Elizabeth again deputized for the King, taking the salute of the Brigade of Grenadier Guards.

On June 7 King Haakon watched the ceremony of Trooping the Colour; was the guest of the Lord Mayor at a luncheon at Mansion House, and toured the South Bank Exhibition in the afternoon.

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

Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara

Vladimir Tiara

Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara

Belgian Sapphire Tiara

Burmese Ruby Tiara

Brazilian Aquamarine Tiara

Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara

Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara

Queen Victoria’s Oriental Circlet Tiara

Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara

Plunket Tiara

Five Aquamarine Tiara

Imperial State Crown

George IV State Diadem

Necklaces

Coronation Necklace and Earrings

The Cambridge Emerald Parure

Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee Necklace

King George VI Sapphire Suite

Queen’s Three-Strand Pearl Necklace

King George VI Festoon Necklace

Queen’s South African Diamonds

Queen’s City of London Fringe Necklace

Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace

Greville Ruby Necklace

Queen’s Japanese Pearl Choker

Kent Amethyst Parure

A month after hosting the King and Queen of Denmark on their State Visit, the British Royal Family hosted their uncle and great-uncle, King Haakon VII of Norway, on his State Visit to the United Kingdom, which began on this day in 1951, exactly 70 years ago. The British and Norwegian Royal Families are very closely related through King Haakon’s wife, the British-born Queen Maud, a sister of the Queen’s grandfather, King George V, and King Haakon spent his exile during the Second World War in the United Kingdom. The Queen and Duke’s State Visit to Norway in 1955 was the first outgoing State Visit of her Reign, followed by another in 1981, and one in 2001. They have hosted the Norwegian Royal Family in 1951, 1959, 1962, 1988, 1994, and 2005. For King Haakon’s first State Visit to the United Kingdom in 1908, he was hosted by his parents-in-law, King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, at Windsor Castle.

 

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King Haakon VII of Norway arrived in London on the Royal Yacht Norge and was welcomed by his nephew, the Duke of Gloucester, deputizing for an ill King George VI, who had an inflammation of the lung. The two rode in the British Royal Barge to Westminster Pier, where the King was welcomed by Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and the extended British Royal Family, as well as King Haakon’s granddaughter, Princess Astrid. Following the Official Welcome, the Royal Party rode in a Ceremonial Procession to Buckingham Palace.

There are no pictures or footage from that evening’s State Banquet, but it is known that King Haakon visited his nephew, King George VI, in his private apartments before the Banquet, and the absent King’s speech was read by Princess Elizabeth (likely wearing the Girls of Great Britain & Ireland Tiara either with the George VI Sapphire Parure or the Greville Ruby Bandeau Necklace), who said:

Your Majesty and your people showed the world that the fighting spirit of the Norsemen was still very much alive.

Britain was glad to have Norway with it as a firm ally as well as a friend.”

Embed from Getty Images

The following evening, only Princess Elizabeth (wearing the Nizam of Hyderabad Tiara) was pictured as she arrived at the Norwegian Embassy in London for a Return Banquet hosted by King Haakon VII.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

The final day of the State Visit began with the Trooping the Color Ceremony, when King Haakon and Princess Astrid joined the Royal Family on the Balcony of Buckingham Palace. Princess Elizabeth again deputized for the King, taking the salute of the Brigade of Grenadier Guards.

Embed from Getty Images

That evening, Princess Elizabeth (wearing the Girls of Great Britain & Ireland Tiara and Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace) was pictured arriving for a Banquet at Lancaster House, similar to one hosted for the Danish King a Queen a few weeks earlier.

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