The passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II marked the end of an era, but also served as a poignant reminder of the deep and lasting connections she fostered throughout her reign, particularly with the Norwegian Royal Family. For decades, a special bond, rooted in family and shared history, has linked the British and Norwegian monarchies.
King Harald of Norway and the Norwegian Royal Family expressed their profound sorrow upon receiving news of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. King Harald stated, “Our thoughts are with His Majesty The King and the members of the Royal Family on the loss of Queen Elizabeth.” He further emphasized her dedication, “For nearly a century, Her Majesty devoted her life to the service of the Commonwealth, following the British people through good days and bad, in times of happiness and sorrow. We also send our condolences to the British people.” This heartfelt message underscores the personal and official closeness between the two royal houses.
Queen Elizabeth II: A Lifetime of Service and Royal Dedication
Queen Elizabeth II’s reign was the longest of any British monarch, spanning over 70 years as Queen of the United Kingdom and Head of the Commonwealth. Ascending to the throne in 1952, she became a symbol of stability and continuity amidst significant global and social transformations. Her Majesty’s commitment to service was unwavering. She undertook extensive travel, fulfilling constitutional duties and representing the UK on the world stage. Beyond official duties, Queen Elizabeth II actively supported numerous organizations, holding patronages and presidencies in over 600 charities and institutions, demonstrating her deep engagement with public life and the Commonwealth. Her dedication to duty and her people became hallmarks of her reign, earning her respect and admiration worldwide.
Deep-Rooted Family Connections: Cousins Across Kingdoms
The relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and King Harald was more than just diplomatic; it was familial. They were second cousins, sharing great-grandparents King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. Queen Alexandra was, notably, the mother of Queen Maud of Norway, further cementing the ancestral link between the British and Norwegian royal lines. This shared lineage provided a foundation for a particularly warm and understanding connection between the two monarchs and their families.
Queen Elizabeth II holds a unique place in Norwegian history as the only head of state to have conducted three State Visits to Norway. These visits spanned her reign, encompassing meetings with King Haakon VII, King Olav V, and King Harald, symbolizing the enduring nature of the relationship across generations of Norwegian monarchs. The Norwegian Royal Family, in turn, has frequently visited the United Kingdom for both official occasions and private visits, reinforcing these personal ties.
Transgenerational Contact: From Childhood Meetings to Wartime Bonds
The close relationship extends back generations. Queen Elizabeth II’s first encounters with Norwegian royalty were in her childhood, meeting King Haakon and Queen Maud. Queen Maud, being British-born, naturally maintained close links to her homeland, and frequent visits between the families were common. This familial interaction deepened significantly during World War II. With the Nazi occupation of Norway in 1940, King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav were forced into exile in London. This period of shared adversity in wartime London solidified the bond between the British and Norwegian Royal Families, fostering a deeper understanding and mutual support.
King Haakon, originally Prince Carl of Denmark, held a special place in Queen Elizabeth’s heart. The English equivalent of Carl is Charles, and Queen Elizabeth affectionately called King Haakon “Uncle Charles.” It is widely believed that this beloved “Uncle Charles” inspired the name of her eldest son, Prince Charles, further illustrating the personal affection and respect across the royal families.
State Visits and Continued Royal Camaraderie
In 1955, just a few years into her reign, Queen Elizabeth II chose Norway as the first country outside the Commonwealth for a State Visit. This symbolic gesture highlighted the importance she placed on the relationship with Norway. In a later speech to King Harald, she reminisced about this visit: “In 1955, on my first visit outside the Commonwealth, Prince Philip and I sailed up the Oslo fjord in Britannia to join the celebrations for Norway’s Golden Jubilee of Independence. It was midsummer, an enchanting time in Norway, and I remember the bonfires along the coastline as we arrived and the enthusiastic welcome we received as guests of your grandfather, King Haakon.”
King Olav V also shared a close personal bond with Queen Elizabeth and the British Royal Family, nurtured through childhood visits and his time in England during WWII. He regularly visited the UK and made it a tradition to join his British relatives every Remembrance Day, honoring the sacrifices of armed forces personnel. One of King Olav’s earliest State Visits outside the Nordic region was to the United Kingdom, welcomed by Queen Elizabeth in Scotland, further cementing the familial and diplomatic ties.
Following King Olav’s passing in 1991, King Harald V and Queen Sonja have continued to nurture this special relationship with the British Royal Family. Their annual visits to the United Kingdom have become a tradition, reflecting both official diplomatic ties and genuine personal connection. Queen Elizabeth II and King Harald successfully carried forward the legacy of close relations into the 21st century, extending the bonds from their grandparents, King George V and Queen Maud, down to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Prince George of Wales and Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway.
In more recent times, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Norway in 2018, representing Queen Elizabeth II, further demonstrating the ongoing importance of this royal relationship. These continued interactions, across generations, highlight the enduring and special bond between the British and Norwegian Royal Families, a relationship built on family ties, shared history, and mutual respect.
