Kong Harold and Dronning Sonja arrive in the United States today to embark on a 12 day journey that will take them to the great midwest (read: I was born and raised and currently reside in Northfield, MN-one destination for the royal couple) and none other than the Big Apple for a ball! Other members of the Norwegian Royal family have visited the midwest in my lifetime as well. In fact, when I was a student at St. Olaf, Crown Prince Haakon visited in 2005, as well as his sister, Princess Märthe Louise in 2006. Princess Astrid visited in 2008. This is not the first time that Harald and Sonja will visit either. The Norwegian royal family makes semi-regular visits to colleges and communities in the midwest that have strong relationships with or a history rooted in Norway. Please find here a brief itinerary-perhaps the royals will be in your area:)
Oct. 13– The first visit on the trip is Luther College in Decorah, IA. Luther was founded by Norwegians and is actually the oldest Norwegian Norwegian-American College in the United States. Furthermore, this year marks Luther’s 150th anniversary.
Oct. 14–Drumroll please….St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN-my alma mater and my city. And I will be out of town on business:( St. Olaf was founded by Norwegians just 13 years after Luther. St. Olaf is named after Kong Olav II Haroldsson, who ruled Norway from 1016 to 1030 and was responsible for Christianizing Norway. Harald and Sonja will attend a Norwegian class taught my one of my old Norwegian professors. That will be so much fun for all!
I would like to quote Jean Callister Benson (Director of Special Events at St. Olaf) on the royal visit:
“We want the King and Queen to know that this college remains dedicated to the high standards set by our Norwegian immigrant founders. In the spirit of free inquiry and free expression, we still offer an environment that integrates teaching, scholarship and creative activity. While we are working hard to become a diverse community, we remain true to our Norwegian heritage.”
Oct. 16–Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN. Founded in 1869 by Norwegians, this college was originally a seminary. Augsburg has huge significance in that it is the only place outside of Norway that holds an official Norwegian Peace Prize Forum.
Oct. 17–Their Majesties will continue north up to Duluth, MN. I will digress and tell a joke here: Who founded Duluth? Dulutherans! Haha.
Burt Enger, a Norwegian immigrant, built a 5-story tower overlooking Lake Superior in Duluth, which Kong Harald and Dronning Sonja dedicated. Now it is time for their visit and the rededication ceremony.
Prior to their departure to New York, the royal couple will participate in the opening of an exhibited called “Cold Call” at the St. Paul/Minneapolis airport. The exhibit commemorates Roald Amundsen’s journey to the South Pole. Perhaps I can see this exhibit when I return from my business trip.
Oct. 21–Last, but never least, the royals will attend a ball in New York City, where representatives from all 5 Nordic countries will be in attendance. They include Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Prince Mary of Denmark, Tarja Halonen, President of Finland, President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, and King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. Whew!
The official name of the event is the American-Scandinavian Foundation Centennial Ball and it will be held at the Hilton New York Hotel. This year is significant because the foundation celebrates its 100th anniversary. The American Scandinavian Foundation promotes educational and cultural exchanges between the United States and Nordic countries in the hopes to further international cultural understandings.
If you are in an area the King and Queen will visit, you should certainly try to weasel your way in to experience it. It’s bizarre, but fun being in the presence of royals!
