King Frederik and Queen Mary were warmly welcomed by the Norwegian royal couple in Oslo on Tuesday, where they began their state visit with canon salutes and cheers. The visit marks the second state visit for the Danish royal couple, who recently returned from a similar visit to Sweden. Upon arrival at Honnørbryggen, the Danish royals were greeted by the Norwegian Crown Prince couple, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who arrived in a royal barge to escort them to the quay. King Harald and Queen Sonja were waiting there to welcome them. This visit comes after the succession in January, when King Frederik took over the throne from Queen Margrethe.
Although the visit in many ways resembles the previous one in Sweden, there are clear differences, including a less visible role for the Norwegian royal couple and a more prominent role for Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The Norwegian royal household recently announced that King Harald, who is 87 years old, will step back from his official duties due to his age. The King has been on sick leave and had a pacemaker implanted after feeling unwell during a vacation. In his absence, Crown Prince Haakon has taken on several of the King’s tasks.
During the state visit, the focus will be on green transition, climate, and sustainability, areas where King Frederik has previously made his mark. He has stated that combating climate change will be a priority during his reign, although his appointment as the “climate king” has been met with a mixed reception from both political parties and environmental organizations. The state visit continues with a series of events aimed at promoting Danish-Norwegian cooperation in sustainability and the environment.