Norwegian State Visit to Britain, 1994

The British Royal Family hosted King Harald V and Queen Sonja on Norway on their State Visit to Scotland on this day in 1994, 30 years ago, which was the last (to date) State Visit held in Scotland. The British and Norwegian Royal Families have had a long and close family relationship for over a century. The Queen and Duke made their third State Visit to Norway in 2001, while they hosted the Norwegian Royal Family on an Official Visit in 2005.

After they arrived at Leith on board the Norwegian Royal Yacht Norge, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh welcomed King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway in an Official Ceremony in Charlotte Square in Edinburgh, which was followed by a Procession to the Palace of Holyroodhouse,  with a Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry.

That evening, the Queen (in the Burmese Ruby Tiara) hosted a State Banquet in honour of King Harald and Queen Sonja (wearing the Norwegian Emerald Parure) at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which was attended by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Kent (in the Aquamarine Tiara), and the Duke of York.

The following evening, only Queen Sonja (wearing Queen Josefina’s Diamond Tiara) was the only one pictured attending a spectacular Gala Performance of Sleeping Beauty at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre, which was also attended by King Harald as well as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. On the final evening of the State Visit, King Harald and Queen Sonja hosted a Return Dinner for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on board the Norwegian Royal Yacht Norge in the Port of Leith.

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