Norwegian Americans regarded King Harald as “their” king. Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt believes they will also feel that King Haakon is “their” king.
The Norwegian-American relationship goes back a long way. The Norwegian ambassador to the United States accompanied then Crown Prince Haakon on a four-day visit last year, against the backdrop of the 200th anniversary of the mass emigration of Norwegians to America.
– It was absolutely wonderful to see how he was received in the Midwest. They stood there with flags and cheered and wanted to meet him; it had the atmosphere of Norway’s Constitution Day. It was perfectly clear that they regarded him as their own, just as they have regarded King Harald as their king, Anniken Huitfeldt tells NTB.
The United States was the fourth country in the world to recognise Norway diplomatically in October 1905. Norway’s first envoy abroad went to Washington.
The strong ties between the Norwegian royal family and the United States are due not least to the fact that Crown Princess Märtha and her three children moved to the United States after the outbreak of the Second World War. After this, Prince Harald, later Crown Prince and King, regarded the United States, and Washington in particular, as his second home.
Good foundations
Huitfeldt believes King Haakon has every possible prerequisite for carrying on the good relationship with the United States, and not least for meaning a great deal to Americans who feel Norwegian.
– He knows the United States very well; he has lived and studied here. He understands society very well, has friends here and demonstrates this personal commitment. He has visited the United States both for work and privately, says Huitfeldt.
The last time she saw him was in Miami, where he was to watch the historic World Cup quarter-final between Norway and England.
– It is perfectly clear that he feels at home here.
She was deeply impressed by the then Crown Prince when he visited St. Olaf College in Minneapolis last year.
– He sat in an informal conversation with students on stage and shared experiences from his time as a student in the United States. He gave of himself with great enthusiasm, says the ambassador, adding that she saw the same thing in New York.
– It is always nice to come here. We feel very welcome here as Norwegians, the then Crown Prince said when he was in the United States last autumn.
Messages of condolence pour in
Following King Harald’s death, messages of condolence are pouring into the embassy in Washington D.C., where a book of condolence has been opened.
– People here, and particularly in the Midwest, felt that Harald was “their” king, says Huitfeldt.
She says people are touchingly interested in the royal family, but they are also received in a way that makes it feel very special and close when the Norwegian royals visit.
She has as yet no idea who might attend as representatives of the United States at the funeral next week.
– We have not received any information about that.
Feared she had infected the King
Huitfeldt herself is very grateful for everything King Harald has meant to Norway and to her personally. She shares one of her strongest memories of King Harald:
– I had been at an audience as Foreign Minister when I tested positive for Covid shortly afterwards, and I became very afraid that I might have infected the King.
Over the following period, then Crown Prince Haakon kept her updated after every Covid test King Harald took.
– It was very touching and caring, and I felt looked after by both of them. The next time I was due for an audience, I turned up wearing a face mask, and he was very relaxed and said: “You can take off your mask, Anniken.”
She believes this was characteristic of King Harald, someone who made people feel safe.
Oslo, 31 May 2023.
Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt greets King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon during the reception for NATO foreign ministers in the Mirror Hall at the Royal Palace in Oslo on Wednesday afternoon.
Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB / POOL
