The King and Queen of Norway had lunch at the White House with President Bush and Laura Bush on Monday, March 7.
3/27/2006 :: “The lunch was really nice. We felt very welcome,” said King Harald.
The lunch had an intimate setting with twelve people at the table. In addition to the Royal and President couples, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Petersen; U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings; Bush's political adviser Karl Rove; Lord Chamberlain, the Royal Norwegian Palace, Rolf Trolle Andersen; Norwegian Ambassador Knut Vollebaek and Mrs. Ellen Vollebaek; and the U.S. Ambassador to Norway, John Doyle Ong and Mrs. Ong were invited.
“President Bush talked about democratization and how he is happy that more free elections are being held around the world, including in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iraq,” said King Harald.
Many Norwegians opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq. Nonetheless, King Harald has contended that friendship between the two countries is deeply rooted and remains strong. Norway, a member of NATO, sent humanitarian troops to Iraq once the invasion was over. When asked whether he thought Norway was doing enough in Iraq at present, President Bush responded: "Yes."
It was not the first time the Norwegian Royals visited the White House. King Harald was invited by President Roosevelt to live at the White House for a few months at the beginning of World War II, when the royal family had to flee Nazi occupied Norway. With his mother and sisters, he lived in Washington D.C. for five years, while then King Haakon VII was living in exile in London. Last time the King and Queen visited the White House was during Bill Clinton’s presidency. “Hillary Clinton showed me all around,” Queen Sonja said.
Prior to meeting President Bush at the White House, King Harald participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
Royal Norwegian Embassy / Arild Strømmen 7 Mar 2005