In his speech, The King highlighted the historical, economic, cultural and political ties and asked the congregation to join him in a toast to Her Majesty The Queen, to His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, to the people of the United Kingdom and to the friendship between the two countries.
The Duke of Edinburgh, HM Queen Elizabeth, HM Queen Sonja and HM King Harald at the banquet at Buckingham Palace.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Norway, The Duke of Edinburgh, HM Queen Elizabeth, HM Queen Sonja, HM King Harald, The Duchess of Cornwall and The Prince of Wales.
Photos: Ian Jones
The King's speech:
"Your Majesty,
Your Royal Highnesses,
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The United Kingdom and Norway have a unique relationship. Your country is one of Norway’s oldest and closest friends and allies. Our families also enjoy very close and warm ties of kinship, which date back to our common great grandfather King Edward VII.
With Your Majesty’s Golden Jubilee in 2002 the people of Britain celebrated the 50th anniversary of your accession to the throne. Only five British monarchs have reached this impressive milestone. During this half century you have demonstrated your dedication to your country and have shown that you value good and close relations with other states. You have made frequent visits to all parts of the Commonwealth and to other countries, including Norway. Queen Sonja and I have very fond memories of your last State Visit to Norway in 2001, and indeed also of our State Visit to Scotland in 1994.
Queen Sonja and I greatly appreciate your kind invitation to visit the United Kingdom in Norway’s centennial anniversary year.
2005 is of course a very special year for the people of Norway and for me personally, as it is one hundred years since Norway regained its independence as a sovereign nation.
In 1905 we could not take the outcome of the process that led to the dissolution of the union with Sweden for granted. Nor could we assume that the union would be dissolved in a peaceful way. The support we received from the United Kingdom proved to be an important factor in achieving our independence. This will never be forgotten by the Norwegian people.
Our countries have strong historical, economic and cultural ties, and we share the same deep commitment to freedom, democracy and human rights. Our bilateral relations cover almost all fields and activities. We share the same values and ideals. We believe in the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights.
For many years, Britain and Norway have stood side by side in times of war and conflict. We have supported each other and relied on each other.
Today this co-operation takes place mainly within the framework of NATO. For more than half a century NATO has proved to be indispensable in securing peace and stability in our part of the world. Europe has changed, but NATO continues to play an essential role to the benefit of both nations.
In the Balkans, troops from Norway and Britain have been working together to stabilise the region. But our military and security co-operation goes beyond Europe. In Afghanistan, we both have soldiers serving under the same command.
Today, international terrorism poses a threat to our societies. No country is immune, as we saw during the tragic attacks on London in July. Norway deplored these acts of terrorism, and the Norwegian people reacted with shock and disbelief, but also with solidarity. The international community must work together to defeat terrorism, and in doing so we must strive for a better world with respect for human dignity, human rights and human life.
Your Majesty,
The sea has always united us. Both Britain and Norway have been great seafaring nations and have derived great benefits from the sea.
One good example of this is the reconstruction of London after the Great Fire in 1666. Timber from Norway was brought by ship to London in huge quantities, and the ships returned to Norway laden with British goods.
Our economic relations expanded in the 19th century. The first organised tours for British tourists were the start of the Norwegian tourist industry, and we are happy to see that the number of tourists from Britain is still growing.
With the development of the oil and gas industry, the energy sector has become a major area of economic co-operation. The Treaty signed by the UK and Norway last April is of great importance, as it will cover all new cross-boundary oil and gas projects not covered by existing agreements.
Our economic relations also include other important sectors like shipping, banking and insurance, and around 300 Norwegian companies in these sectors are operating in your country.
The United Kingdom has also been a source of cultural inspiration for Norway throughout our common history. Today there is an abundance of British literature in any Norwegian bookshop, ranging from Shakespeare to Robert Wilson and Ruth Rendell, and the new Harry Potter is just as eagerly awaited in Norway as in England. BBC is being watched more and more frequently in Norwegian homes. The United Kingdom has a strong position in arts and design, and many Norwegian students choose to study these subjects at world-class institutions in your country.
And we must not forget English football. Hundreds of thousands of Norwegians, myself included, have followed the English teams ever since Norway began broadcasting “Match of the Day” in 1969.
Your Majesty,
These last hundred years have shaped Norway as a nation. During this time the ties between our countries have grown in strength, and cover a wide range of fields. In fact, it would be difficult to find areas where we do not have a great deal in common.
Our shared values, the many personal bonds, and our extensive co-operation form a solid foundation for our relations. I am confident that these bonds will further enhance our co-operation and enable us to meet the common challenges of the future.
And now I would like you all to join me in a toast to Her Majesty The Queen, to His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, to the people of the United Kingdom and to the friendship between our two countries."