Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway visit Washington, D.C., from September 18-20, unveiling a statue of Crown Princess Märtha, speaking at the Smithsonian, and participate in a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard.
9/16/2005 :: King Harald and Queen Sonja's visit marks 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and Norway and forms part of Norway’s centennial celebrations. The visit comes at a time when Norway is assisting in the Katrina recovery efforts by providing emergency supplies including tents, blankets and surgical supplies kits (each kit serves 100 surgical patients for 10 days, including surgical operations).
His Majesty King Harald V has strong personal ties to the Washington area as he lived there for five years as a child during World War II. The family stayed several months in the White House at the invitation of President Roosevelt.
On Sunday September 18, at 1pm, King Harald V will unveil a statue of Crown Princess Märtha (his mother), presented by former Vice President Walter Mondale, in front of the Norwegian Embassy at 3401 Massachusetts Avenue (by 34th Street, across from Naval Observatory). The outdoor event - live music from 12.15 pm, and unveiling ceremony from 1 pm to 1.35 pm - is open to the public (no ticket required). The reception at the Ambassador's Residence following the ceremony is by invitation (ticket required).
The Commandant of Naval District Washington (NDW) will host a visit by King Harald V on September 19, at the Washington Navy Yard. Events honoring His Majesty King Harald V will include a military full honors ceremony with gun salute followed by a reenactment of the 1942 ceremony in which the United States handed over a ship to the Royal Norwegian Navy. During the original hand-over ceremony at the Navy Yard, President Roosevelt delivered his famous “Look to Norway” speech. The event is closed to the public.
Queen Sonja will launch the 2005 Centennial Program in cooperation with The Smithsonian Associates on September 19, by presenting an illustrated lecture on Norway. The event is open to the public, but unfortunately fully booked at this time.
The visit in September is Their Majesties’ second visit to the U.S. this year. Their March visit included lunch with President Bush in the White House and a visit to a D.C. public school, the opening of a symposium at the Carnegie Institution and an event where King Harald met with World War II survivors.