Crown Prince Regent Haakon and Queen Sonja of Norway hosted Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan on their State Visit to Norway on this day in 2005, 20 years ago, while King Harald V was recovering from heart surgery.
Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan were received by Crown Prince Regent Haakon and Queen Sonja of Norway along with Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Astrid in an Official Welcome Ceremony during a hail storm outside the Royal Palace in Oslo.
In the evening, the Crown Prince Regent and Queen Sonja hosted a State Banquet at the Royal Palace of Oslo in honour of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
Emperor Akihito and Queen Sonja (wearing the Norwegian Emerald Parure)
Crown Prince Haakon and Empress Michiko (in the Honeysuckle Tiara)
Crown Princess Mette-Marit (wearing the Diamond Daisy Bandeau) and Princess Astrid (in the Turquoise Circlet)
The next evening, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko held a Return Dinner for the Norwegian Royal Family at the Oslo City Hall.
Finally, the Crown Prince Regent and Queen Sonja hosted a Gala Dinner for Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Stiftgarden in Trondheim.
Empress Michiko’s Diamond Necklace
