14th – 16th April 1982
After having had to postpone their visit to Norway, Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain were at last able to make the trip to Norway. The visit had originally been planned for February the previous year. But due to the attempted coup d’état that took place in Spain that month the visit had to be cancelled. When the attempted coup failed a new date for the visit was set.
Day 1
Their Majesties landed at Fornebu Airport where they were welcomed by His Majesty King Olav V and Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja. The Norwegian King was dressed in his dress uniform of a General in the Norwegian Army with the Sash and Star of the Order of St Olav. His Majesty King Juan Carlos was likewise wearing a uniform; the uniform of Capitan General. Across his chest he wore the blue and white Sash of the Order of Charles III and the Neck-tie of the Order of the Golden Fleece. Four Stars were pinned to his uniform; that of the Order of Charles III and those of the Orders of Military Merit, Naval Merit and Aeronautical Merit.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Harald was, like his father, also in the uniform of a General in the Norwegian Army wearing the Sash and Star of the Order of St Olav.
Her Majesty Queen Sophia had chosen a black and white outfit with a floral brooch while Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Sonja wore a grey outfit with a chain of pearls around her neck.
Back at the Royal Palace Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner joined the rest. A private lunch was served and official photographs taken. An exchange of gifts and Orders also took place.
With the lunch over Their Majesties and Their Royal Highnesses went to Akershus Castle where they placed a wreath in the colours of the Spanish flag – red and yellow – on the National Monument in the memory of those who fell during World War II. While at Akershus they also paid their respects at the Royal Mausoleum and placed another wreath there.
That first evening His Majesty King Olav hosted a glittering State Banquet for his Spanish guests. Grand jewels were naturally on display:
Crown Princess Sonja
Tiara from the Emerald parure
Necklace from the Emerald parure without pendant
Earrings from the Emerald parure
Large brooch from the Emerald parure
Sash and Star of the Order of Isabel the Catholic
Portrait of King Olav V in Diamonds
Queen Sofia
Mellerio Shell tiara
Pearl necklace
Pearl earrings
Diamond Bow brooch
Sash and Star of the Order of St Olav
Princess Astrid,
Mrs Ferner
Queen Maud’s Turquoise tiara
Queen Maud’s Turquoise necklace
Turquoise earrings
Turquoise Bow brooch with pendant
Sash and Star of the Order of Isabel the Catholic
Portrait of King Haakon VII in Diamonds
Portrait of King Olav V in Diamonds
Both Kings were dressed in dress uniform. The Norwegian King wore the Sash and Star of Chain of the Order of Charles III which he had been given earlier in the day. And His Majesty King Juan Carlos wore the Sash and Star of the Order of St Olav together with the Neck-tie of the Order of the Golden Fleece. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Harald was also in uniform and wearing the Sash and Star of the Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III.
Her Majesty Queen Sofia had chosen a dark blue and black evening dress while Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Sonja looked wonderful in pale yellow. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner wore a white creation with long white opera gloves.
The guests were served Julienne soup, Fruits of the Sea, Elk steak, ice cream, cheese, fruit and confectionary.
Day 2
The following day started with a visit to the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Here Their Majesties and Their Royal Highnesses were shown among other things baby swimming, sports for handicapped and shooting. At the end of the visit the Spanish King and Queen received crystal polar bears made at Hadeland glass works. Then the Royal party headed for Holmenkollen, where they saw the ski jump and visited the Ski Museum. Here His Majesty King Olav could show his guests the skis of his father, King Haakon VII, who was a keen skier. Then it was back to the centre of Oslo, where lunch was served at the City Hall with the Mayor Mr Albert Nordengen being the host. According to one news report black grouse was on the menu. Right after the lunch coffee was served in the Great Hall while traditional folk dances were performed by a group of young dancers. One of the dancers was Her Royal Highness Princess Märtha Louise, daughter of Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. In the afternoon Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia attended a reception held at the Spanish Embassy for the Spanish community in Norway.
In the evening the Royal Party enjoyed a Gala Performance at the Oslo Concert Hall and as dress code was white-tie there was a lot of glitter. Most of all in the Royal Box:
Crown Princess Sonja
Queen Maud’s Pearl and Diamond tiara in the small setting
Seed Pearl choker
Drapers’ Company’s Pearl brooch
Sash and Star of the Order of Isabel the Catholic
Portrait of King Olav V in Diamonds
Queen Sofia
The Prussian Diamond tiara
Diamond Baguette necklace
Small Diamond Stud earrings
Fleur-de-lis Diamond brooch
Sash and Star of the Order of St Olav
Princess Astrid,
Mrs Ferner
Diamond Wings aigrette
Diamonds placed on a black velvet band
Diamond earrings
Brooch
Star of the Order of Isabel the Catholic
Portrait of King Haakon VII in Diamonds
Portrait of King Olav V in Diamonds
Her Majesty Queen Sofia wore a mauve coloured dress while Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Sonja wore a black and white creation. Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner was dressed in a dark blue gala gown. Their Majesties the Kings of Spain and Norway and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Harald were all in their dress uniform. Mr Johan Martin Ferner wore white-tie.
Day 3
On the third day Their Majesties had separate engagements in the morning. The Spanish King was accompanied by His Majesty King Olav to visit two companies close to Oslo: Elektrisk Bureau in Asker and Thune Eureka in Lier. Her Majesty the Queen in the meantime visited Hovseter Nursing Home and Sætra Kindergarten. She was in the company of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Sonja. The Queen and the Crown Princess also visited the Munch Museum. In the afternoon both the Spanish Royal couple and the Norwegian King visited the Viking Ship Museum and the Kon-Tiki museum at Bygdøy.
The day ended with a banquet hosted by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain in the honour of His Majesty King Olav and the rest of the Norwegian Royal Family. The venue for this glittering occasion was Grand Hotel. Again the Royal Ladies had chosen some of their finest jewels:
Crown Princess Sonja
Queen Josephine’s Diamond tiara
Queen Sofia
Diamond Floral tiara
Diamond Floral necklace
Diamond Drop earrings
Diamond Bow brooch
Sash and Star of the Order of St Olav
Her Majesty wore a red dress and so was the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess is partly hidden in the photos so it is unfortunately not possible to see what other jewels she wore for this event. In the photos available it is not possible to see if Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner was present. Both Kings wore dress uniform with the same Orders as for the State Banquet. Crown Prince Harald is very much hidden in the photos available but it is more than likely that he also wore uniform and the same orders as for the State Banquet.
The next morning it was time for the Spanish monarchs to travel back home after a successful State Visit. But before they drove off to Fornebu Airport they opened the new Spain House.
REGAL EVENTS 