King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway will begin an Official Visit to Denmark later today, which will be the latest in a series of visits between the Danish and Norwegian Royal Families, who have had a very close relationship for over a century, ever since Prince Carl of Denmark was elected King Haakon VII of Norway in 1905!
King Haakon VII made three State Visits to Denmark in his 52-year Reign, first visiting his parents, King Frederik VIII and Queen Louise in 1906, then his brother, King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine in 1913, and lastly his nephew, King Frederik IX, in 1948, which included a Gala Performance with King Frederik and Queen Ingrid (wearing the Danish Ruby Parure) at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen.
King Olav V’s first outgoing State Visit was to Denmark in 1958, with King Frederik, Queen Ingrid (wearing the Danish Emerald Parure), and Crown Princess Margrethe (in the Alexandrine Drop Tiara) hosting a State Banquet for King Olav and Princess Astrid (wearing the Norwegian Emerald Parure) at Christiansborg Palace, followed by a Danish State Visit to Norway in 1960.
Following the Danish State Visit to Norway in 1973, King Olav was hosted by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on a State Visit to Denmark in 1974, which included a State Banquet at the Christiansborg Palace hosted by Queen Margrethe (wearing the Danish Emerald Parure), Prince Henrik and Queen Ingrid (wearing the Danish Ruby Parure).
There was also a Gala Performance attended by the King and Queen (wearing the Pearl Poiré Tiara and Parure), as well as a Return Banquet in honour of Queen Margrethe (wearing the Alexandrine Drop Tiara), Prince Henrik, and Queen Ingrid (in the Khedive of Egypt Tiara) on the Royal Yacht Norge.
Like his father and grandfather, King Harald V and Queen Sonja’s first outgoing State Visit was also to Denmark in 1991, with a State Banquet at the Christiansborg Palace hosted by Queen Margrethe (wearing the Danish Pearl Poire Parure) in honour of King Harald and Queen Sonja (wearing the Norwegian Emerald Parure).
There was a Gala Performance at the Royal Danish Theatre attended by Queen Margrethe (wearing the Floral Aigrette Tiara and Crown Diamond Parure), King Harald, Queen Sonja (in Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara), Prince Henrik, and Queen Ingrid (in the Khedive of Egypt Tiara).
King Harald and Queen Sonja (in Queen Maud’s Pearl Tiara) also hosted a Return Dinner in honour of Queen Margrethe (wearing the Danish Emerald Parure), Prince Henrik and other members of the Danish Royal Family.
The following year, King Harald V and Queen Sonja hosted Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik on their State Visit to Norway, with a State Banquet hosted by the King and Queen Sonja (wearing Queen Maud’s Pearl Tiara) in honour of Queen Margrethe (wearing the Pearl Poiré Tiara) and Prince Henrik at the Royal Palace of Oslo, as well as a Return Banquet hosted by Queen Margrethe (wearing the Floral Aigrette Tiara and her Antique Diamond Parure) and Prince Henrik in honour of King Harald and Queen Sonja (wearing the Norwegian Emerald Parure) on the Royal Yacht Dannebrog.
More recently, Queen Margrethe (wearing the Pearl Poiré Tiara) and members of the Danish Royal Family joined King Harald, Queen Sonja (in Queen Maud’s Pearl Tiara), and Crown Prince Haakon for a spectacular Gala Concert to mark the Norwegian Independence Centenary in Copenhagen. Queen Anne Marie of Greece (wearing the Greek Emerald Parure) and Princess Benedikte (in the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara) were also present.
The Danish and Norwegian Royal Families have also frequently attended each other’s celebrations, including the Wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Princess Ingrid of Sweden in 1935, King Christian X’s Silver Jubilee in 1937, Crown Princess Margrethe’s 18th Birthday in 1958, King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid’s Silver Anniversary in 1960, Wedding of Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik of Denmark in 1967, the Funeral of King Frederick IX of Denmark in 1972, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik’s 25th Wedding Anniversary in 1992, the Wedding of Prince Joachim of Denmark in 1995, Queen Margrethe’s 60th Birthday in 2000, the Wedding of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark in 2004, the Christening of Prince Christian of Denmark in 2006, Queen Margrethe’s Ruby Jubilee in 2012, Crown Prince Frederik’s 50th Birthday Gala Dinner in 2018, and most recently, Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee Celebrations in 2022.
The Danish Royal Family have also attended numerous Official and Personal events in Norway over the years, including the Wedding of Crown Prince Olav of Norway and Princess Martha of Sweden in 1929, King Haakon VII’s Silver Jubilee in 1930, King Haakon’s 80th Birthday in 1952, the Wedding of Princess Ragnhild of Norway in 1953, the Wedding of Princess Astrid in 1961, the Wedding of King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway in 1968, King Haakon VII’s Centenary Gala in 1972, King Olav V’s Silver Jubilee in 1982, Crown Prince Haakon’s Confirmation in 1988, Funeral of King Olav V in 1991, Crown Prince Haakon’s 18th Birthday in 1991, King Harland and Queen Sonja’s Silver Anniversary in 1993, King Harald and Queen Sonja’s 60th Birthday in 1997, the Wedding of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway in 2001, the Wedding of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway in 2002, King Harald’s Silver Jubilee in 2016, King Harald and Queen Sonja’s 80th Birthday in 2017, the Confirmation of Princess Ingrid Alexandra in 2019, and most recently Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s 18th Birthday Banquet in 2022.
Great summery of all those glittering visits between good neighbours. I was wondering though; have you seen a good photo or footage from the return dinner held onboard Dannebrog during Queen Margrethe’s State Visit to Norway in 1992?