The British Royal Family hosted King Olav V of Norway on his State Visit to Britain on this day in 1988, following a visit in 1959 and a State Visit to Scotland in 1962. The British and Norwegian Royal Families are very closely related through the British-born Queen Maud of Norway, a sister of the Queen’s grandfather, King George V. 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, and they hosted the Norwegian Royal Family in 1959, 1962, 1988, 1994, and 2005. The Royal Family have also frequently holidayed with the Norwegian Royal Family, most notably in 1969.
Norwegian Royal Visits to Britain
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh welcomed King Olav at Windsor Castle, where, following an Official Welcome Ceremony, a Carriage Ride, and a review of the Guard, King Olav had an intimate Luncheon with members of the British Royal Family.
In the evening, the Queen (wearing Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara) and Duke of Edinburgh hosted a State Banquet in honour of King Olav at Windsor Castle, which was also attended by the Queen Mother (in the Greville Tiara), Prince and Princess of Wales (wearing the Spencer Tiara), and the Duke and Duchess of York (in the York Diamond Tiara) among members of the extended Royal Family.
The following evening, the Princess Royal (wearing Princess Andrew’s Meander Tiara) and Captain Mark Phillips joined King Olav at the Banquet hosted by the Lord Mayor and the City of London at the Guildhall in London.
The highlight of the State Visit was the Return Banquet hosted by King Olav for the British Royal Family, led by the Queen (wearing the Belgian Sapphire Tiara and the King George VI Sapphire Suite), Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Mother (in the Oriental Circlet Tiara).
Also present were the Prince and Princess of Wales (wearing Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara), Princess Margaret (in her Turquoise Parure), the Princess Royal (in her Modern Diamond Necklace), Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (wearing the Iveagh Tiara), Duke and Duchess of Kent (in the Kent Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara), Princess Alexandra (in the Ogilvy Tiara and Empress Frederick’s Pearl Brooch) and Sir Angus Ogilvy, and Lady Elizabeth Anson (wearing Princess Viggo’s Diamond Scroll Tiara).
Norwegian Royal Visits to Britain
