King and Queen of Norway mark liberation anniversary in London

The King and Queen of Norway marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Norway at Seamen’s Church in London.

King Harald and Queen Sonja travelled to the United Kingdom to mark the 80th anniversary, where the Norwegian government, including Harald’s father and grandfather, spent the majority of the war in exile.

A statue of King Haakon VII stands outside the church in St. Olav’s Square, and Norwegian Ambassador Tore Hattrem laid a wreath in remembrance. Two other wreaths were laid in memory of Norwegians killed in World War I and World War II.

After the wreath-laying ceremony, the King and Queen attended the church service led by Bishop of Bjørgvin Ragnhild Jepsen with performances by the Olav Choir and a children’s choir.

Photo: Sara Svanemyr, The Royal Court

After the service, Their Majesties had coffee with some of the congregants to hear about their experience with the church and its activities.

The London Seamen’s Church served as a meeting place for Norwegians during the Second World War.

According to the Royal Court, the church “is an independent and voluntary organisation that meets Norwegians abroad. They have extensive experience in emergency preparedness when crises or accidents strike, and create social, cultural and church meeting places where people are, on all continents and the Norwegian continental shelf.”

King Harald is the patron of the church, as his father, King Olav, and grandfather, King Haakon, were before him.