Counting between four and five thousand Norwegians, the colony in Texas is one of the largest concentrations of Norwegians outside of Norway. The visit of Their Majesties to Houston was a visit the Norwegian colony had looked forward to for a long time, and several hundred people had taken time off to welcome the Majesties to Houston and to the Norwegian Seamen's Church on March 3.
Their Majesties were met outside the church by a group of children, some in bunad and others in cowboy outfits. With Norwegian and American flags, flowers and the church orchestra playing, the Royal visit took on the appearance of Norway's Constitution Day (May 17). The people who did not find seats inside of the church, waited patiently outside to get a glimpse of the visitors.
In addition to the church service, both the church choir and the children's choir "Vill Vest" performed for Their Majesties. After the ceremony, the seamen's church priest, Mr. Reidar Aasbø and Jan-Tommy Fosse took Their Majesties on a tour of the church, and HM Queen Sonja watered the Magnolia tree that HM King Harald V planted during his visit to Houston in 1984.
By the end of the visit by Their Majesties, all the visitors were served coffee and cakes. It was a day of celebration at the church, and the staff had prepared the visit in great detail, even ensuring that the cakes the several hundred visitors were served, were traditional, homemade Norwegian cakes.