King Olav V of Norway’s Birthday Celebrations

Today marks the 120th Anniversary of the Birth of the late King Olav V of Norway, who as born on this day in 1903! The son of a Danish Prince & a British Princess who became the Norwegian Chief of Defence during WWII and then the beloved ‘People’s King’, King Olav’s birthday was lavishly celebrated over the years, with a series of lavish Banquets and glittering Gala Performances in Oslo.

1953

The then Crown Prince Olav of Norway celebrated his 50th Birthday with a Banquet hosted by the Norwegian Government at the Akershus Fortress in Oslo, which was also attended by King Haakon VII, Crown Princess Martha (wearing the Norwegian Emerald Parure) and Princess Astrid (in the Vasa Tiara), coming just after Wedding of Princess Ragnhild and the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, this was the family’s last celebration before the Crown Princess’ tragic passing the following year.

1963

There are few picture from King Olav’s 60th Birthday Celebrations in 1963, except this one of Crown Prince Harald, Princess Ragnhild (wearing the Boucheron Pearl Circle Tiara) and Princess Benedikte of Denmark (in her Floral Tiara) at the Banquet hosted by the Norwegian Government at the Akershus Fortress in Oslo

1973

King Olav’s 70th Birthday Celebrations in 1973 began with a Gala Performance at the Coliseum in Oslo, which was followed by a Service in Oslo Cathedral the following morning and a car procession back to the Royal Palace.

In the evening, the Norwegian Government hosted a Gala Dinner in honour of King Olav at the Akershus Fortress in Oslo. Crown Princess Sonja (wearing the Norwegian Emerald Parure) was just days away from giving birth to Crown Prince Haakon.

Royal Guests and Relatives in attendance included King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden, Princess Margaretha of Sweden and Denmark (wearing her Floral Tiara), and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (in the Teck Turquoise Tiara), while Princess Ragnhild (in the Boucheron Pearl Circle Tiara) and Princess Astrid (wearing Queen Alexandra’s Turquoise Circlet) were also present.

1978

Five years later, King Olav’s 75th Birthday Celebrations began with the Gala Dinner at the Akershus Fortress in Oslo, which was also attended by Crown Prince Harald, Crown Princess Sonja (wearing the Norwegian Emerald Parure), Princess Ragnhild (in Queen Maud’s Diamond Tiara) and Princess Astrid (wearing the Vasa Tiara) with Foreign Royal Guests including Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (in the Diamond Floral Tiara and Queen Alexandrine’s Sapphire Parure), King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden (wearing the Connaught Diamond Tiara).

The following day, after a Service at Oslo Cathedral, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (wearing the Diamond Floral Tiara and Queen Alexandrine’s Sapphire Parure), King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden (in the Baden Fringe Tiara), the Prince of Wales, Prince Carl and Princess Kristine Bernadotte, Prince George and Princess Anne of Denmark (wearing her Diamond Tiara) and Count Flemming and Countess Ruth of Rosenborg (in Princess Viggo’s Opal Tiara) joined King Olav, Crown Prince Harald, Crown Princess Sonja (in Queen Maud’s Pearl Tiara), Princess Ragnhild (wearing the Boucheron Pearl Circle Tiara) and Princess Astrid (in Queen Alexandra’s Turquoise Circlet) for a Gala Performance at the National Theatre in Oslo.

1983

King Olav’s 80th Birthday Celebrations began with the Changing of the Guard from the Balcony of the Royal Palace followed by the Gala Dinner hosted by the Norwegian Government at the Akershus Fortress in Oslo, which was also attended by Crown Prince Harald, Crown Princess Sonja (wearing Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara), Princess Ragnhild (in Queen Maud’s Diamond Tiara) and Princess Astrid (wearing Queen Alexandra’s Turquoise Circlet).

Foreign Royal Guests included Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (in the Pearl Poiré Tiara) and Pricne Henrik, the Queen Mother (wearing the Oriental Circlet Tiara), Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte of Luxembourg (in the Chaumet Emerald Tiara), and Prince Bertil of Sweden.

The following day, after a Service at Oslo Cathedral and an appearance, the Queen Mother (wearing the Greville Tiara), Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte of Luxembourg (in the Chaumet Choker Tiara), and Prince Bertil and Princess Lilian of Sweden (wearing the Connaught Diamond Tiara), joined King Olav, Crown Prince Harald, Crown Princess Sonja (wearing the Norwegian Emerald Parure), Princess Ragnhild (in the Boucheron Pearl Circle Tiara) and Princess Astrid (wearing the Vasa Tiara) for a Gala Performance at the National Theatre in Oslo. Prince Carl and Princess Kristine Bernadotte (in Princess Ingeborg’s Diamond Tiara) and Count Flemming and Countess Ruth of Rosenborg (wearing Princess Viggo’s Garnet Kokoshnik Tiara) were also present.

1988

King Olav’s 85th Birthday Celebrations in 1988 were a more intimate family affair, with the Balcony Greeting and a Ceremony at the Stortinget followed by a Gala Dinner hosted by the Norwegian Government at the Akershus Fortress in Oslo, which was attended by Crown Prince Harald, Crown Princess Sonja (wearing Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara), Princess Ragnhild (in the Boucheron Pearl Circle Tiara) and Princess Astrid (wearing Queen Alexandra’s Turquoise Circlet).