The ceremony was held in St James's Palace which remains the official residence of the Sovereign, although, since the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837, the Sovereign has lived at Buckingham Palace. The State Apartments are sometimes used for entertaining during in-coming State Visits, as well as for other ceremonial and formal occasions. As Their Majesties The King and Queen of Norway are the guests of the City of Westminster, the Lord Mayor of Westminster held a an additional welcome ceremony to the one at Buckingham Palace earlier on Tuesday.
In his speech to the Lord Mayor, HM King Harald highlighted the special place the UK, and in particular London, has in many Norwegians' lives and that the two countries' people had been and would be enjoying each others friendships in the years to come.
The King's speech:
"Lord Mayor,
On behalf of Queen Sonja and myself, I would like to thank you for your kind words of welcome and for the warmth and hospitality you have shown us in this great City of Westminster. It is a particular pleasure for us to be here in the heart of this metropolis. There is no doubt that London has a special place in the hearts and minds of Norwegians.
The friendship between Norway and the United Kingdom dates back many centuries, but our modern relationship was born when your country was one of the first to recognise an independent Norway in 1905.
During the dark days of the Second World War, your friendship, support and steadfastness gave us hope.
In 1945, when Norway was able once again to enjoy freedom and democracy, Norwegians were filled with gratitude to the British people. The Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square remains to this day the most visible symbol of the brotherhood and affection between our nations. And your personal involvement, Lord Mayor, in selecting the tree that will light up the centre of your city is a testament to the close ties between our countries.
These ties have continued to grow and deepen into the 21st century. Today almost 4000 young Norwegians are studying at British universities, many of them in London. They return to tell of enriching educational experiences that will remain with them for life.
Travel and tourism are thriving in both directions, and our fjords and mountains – originally documented so vividly by your Victorian predecessors – continue to attract increasing numbers of British holidaymakers.
The cultural relations between Norway and the United Kingdom also continue to flourish, as can be seen from the extensive and ambitious programme of events to celebrate the Norwegian centenary. It ranges from concerts to exhibitions, from fashion to art, from the traditional to the contemporary.
Lord Mayor, our countries and peoples have enjoyed an excellent and rewarding friendship for hundreds of years, and I am sure that this friendship will continue to grow and thrive in the years to come."