His Majesty King Olav V of Norway celebrated his 60th birthday in July 1963. The King was already very popular with his subjects even though he had only been on the throne for 6 years, having succeeding his father in 1957. So the nation wanted to mark this special anniversary of their King. Unlike the celebration of his 50th birthday Royalty from abroad had also been invited to take part this time around. The monarchs of both Sweden and Denmark had received an invitation and had gladly accepted. His Majesty King Gustav VI Adolph came accompanied by his wife Queen Louise. The wife of His Majesty King Frederick IX was unfortunately not able to make the journey as she had been feeling unwell due to an ulcer. The Danish King was instead accompanied by his two youngest daughters, Their Royal Highnesses Princess Benedikte and Princess Anne-Marie. The eldest daughter Her Royal Highness Princess Margrethe had to stay behind in Denmark acting as the King’s deputy during his absence from the realm. Also from Denmark came King Olav’s sister-in-law Her Royal Highness Princess Margaretha together with her husband His Royal Highness Prince Axel of Denmark. The Royal guests arrived the day before the official celebrations would take place and they used all sorts of means of transport to travel to Oslo. The Swedish King and Queen arrived from Stockholm by train in the morning on July 1st. They were warmly received at the train station by King Olav and his son His Royal Highness Crown Prince Harald. Prince Axel and Princess Margaretha arrived a bit later in the morning by airplane. Again the King himself together with his son headed the welcoming party at the airport. Now, the most spectacular arrival was the one chosen by the Danish King though. He had sailed from Denmark onboard his Royal Yacht “Dannebrog” and was even escorted by the Danish frigate HDMS “Espern Snare”. As the white majestic ship approached Oslo harbour King Olav motored out in the small Royal boat called “Stjernen II” to meet his Danish guests. With both Kings onboard the Royal yacht continued the very last part of the journey to the Honorary Pier. As they came in view of Akershus Castle the escorting ship “Espern Snare” sailing just behind the Royal yacht began firing a gun salute. This was copied by the Castle’s cannons. Once the yacht had been moored to the Honorary Pier in front of Oslo City Hall the Norwegian King went ashore first, greeting the reception party consisting of the Mayor, the Danish Ambassador to Norway and the Harbour Master. The city hall square and the streets leading on to it were packed with people and there were enthusiastic cheers from this multitude when the Danish King and his daughters walked down the gangway to be received by the authorities onshore.
While the Norwegian King was busy receiving his Danish guests, the Swedish King and Queen took the opportunity to visit the newly inaugurated Munch Museum. And in the evening the complete Royal party had been invited home to the Chief Mistress of the Court, Mrs Else Werring, to dinner.
The next day, being this the King’s actual birthday, His Majesty started the day early in the company of his close family at Skaugum. He then drove to Oslo and the Royal Palace. Here he was met by the members of the Royal Court and Household wishing him a happy birthday before receiving all the deputations that also wanted to express their best wishes. First the King received the Presidency of the Storting, the Norwegian Parliament. It was lead by the President Mr Nils Langhelle. Then followed His Majesty’s Government, lead by the Prime Minister Mr Einar Gerhardsen. The Government was also giving a gala dinner in the evening in the honour of His Majesty. After the Government came the representatives from the Norwegian Supreme Court before the doyen (dean) of the Diplomatic Corp was received. Then followed in close succession representatives from the Armed Forces, the County Governors, the Bishops and Oslo local authorities. A deputation from the Nobel committee was also received as well as various sailing associations and business and trade organizations.
After having received all the deputations the King drove in an open car to Oslo City Hall where Oslo City Council hosted a lunch in his honour. Present were his close family, the royal guests from abroad and representatives from the official Norway. In total about 200 persons had been invited. There would be no specific processional drive through the city to mark this day. So if the ordinary people wanted to show their appreciation towards the King on his big day then they had to make use of the drive from the Palace to the City Hall (and later in the evening when His Majesty would drive to Akershus Castle for the gala dinner). And they most certainly did! The Karl Johan Street was thronged with festive people from all walks of life. The police had problems controlling the crowd. There were great cheers and in general a very festive atmosphere in the whole city. A great quantity of Norwegian flags had been hoisted and everywhere there were flowers, mainly kept in the colours red and yellow. On the flag posts lining the main street down from the Royal Palace had been attached long red banners with His Majesty’s yellow monogram in the centre. Also in front of the City Hall people had gathered to catch a glimpse of the King and his son arriving. But it was not so much out of curiosity, but rather as a way for them to visibly transmit their genuine appreciation for their beloved and respected monarch. The King received all the cheers and warm sentiments from the crowds with big smiles and waves.
As per protocol His Majesty and his son His Royal Highness the Crown Prince were the last ones to arrive. All the other guests, including the foreign Royalty, were already inside the City Hall awaiting them. They were received by the host, Oslo’s mayor Mr Rolf Stranger. He escorted the King up the stairs from the grand entrance hall to the banqueting halls upstairs which had been beautifully decorated with flower arrangements in red, white and blue. As they ascended the stairs Christian Teilman’s “Festival March” was played. Close behind them followed the rest of the Royal guests. Her Majesty the Queen of Sweden wore a delightful black and white patterned silk dress which she had accessorised with a black hat and a diamond brooch. Her Royal Highness Princess Margaretha wore a blue patterned morning attire and a floral hat. The Danish Princesses made up a colourful duet; Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte had chosen a long turquoise coloured see-through chiffon cape over a dress in the same colour topped with a canotier. Around her neck she wore a two-strand Pearl necklace. Her sister Her Royal Highness Princess Anne-Marie wore lavender blue with accessories in white. King Olav’s daughters had also selected elegant attire with the eldest, Her Highness Princess Ragnhild Mrs Lorentzen wearing a cream coloured silk dress with a delicate green pattern. Her Highness Princess Astrid Mrs Ferner’s outfit was in a marine blue colour with white laced trimmings.
For lunch the guests were served Lobster Lady Curzon followed by lamb chops (said to be a favourite of King Olav) before ending the meal with strawberries and ice cream.
The highlight of the day for the King had probably been the drive through the jubilant crowd on his way to the City Council’s lunch. But the day also had a grand finale in the gala dinner hosted by the Government at the historical Akershus Castle. Both the newly restored halls – “Margaretasalen” and “Romerikssalen” – had been prepared in order to fit all the around 200 guests. The tables were decorated in a rather original way; instead of the customary floral arrangements grand pyramids made up of strawberries and white baby’s breath (gypsophila) flowers. While the guests arrived a military band played in the inner courtyard. There was a colourful display of elegant evening gowns, splendid uniforms and order insignias. And the Royal ladies were all glittering in their spectacular heirloom jewels:
Queen Louise
Baden Fringe tiara
Queen Victoria’s Pearl and Sapphire necklace
Small Pearl Pendant earrings
The Diamond Lozenge brooch
Sash and Star of the Order of the Seraphim
Portrait of King Gustav VI Adolph in Diamonds
Princess Benedikte
Her 18th Birthday Floral tiara
Three rows of Pearls
Pending earrings, either of Pearls or just Diamonds
Unidentified brooches both at the front and back, the one on the front worn at her right shoulder and the one in the ack on her left shoulder to fasten the sash of her order
Possibly also a brooch on the front left shoulder, or if not then an insignia / medal of some sort
Sash and Star of the Order of the Elephant
Portrait of King Frederik IX in Diamonds
Princess Anne-Marie
No tiara, but two Diamond Floral pins in her hair
Pearl necklace
An unidentified brooch in the front centre of her gown
An unidentified bracelet, with what looks like coloured stones
Portrait of King Frederik IX in Diamonds
Princess Ragnhild,
Mrs Lorentzen
Princess Ingeborg’s Boucheron Pearl Circle tiara
Diamond rivière
Round Pearl surrounded by Diamonds Pendant earrings
Several bracelets
Portrait of King Olav V in Diamonds
Princess Astrid,
Mrs Ferner
The Vasa Diamond tiara
Diamond rivière
Diamond pendant earrings
Several bracelets
Sash and Star of the Order of St Olav
Portrait of King Haakon VII in Diamonds
Portrait of King Olav V in Diamonds
For the time being it has not been possible to find any photos of Princess Margaretha in helping to identify her jewels. It is very possible that she wore her frequently worn Diamond Swirl tiara, but without a clear photo is not possible to say for certain. However, it is more than likely that she wore the pale blue Sash and Star of the Danish Order of the Elephant as she did not have any Norwegian orders. This would have matched the pigeon blue duchesse gown she is reported to have worn.
The other Royal ladies were again wearing colourful creations according to the descriptions in the press. The Swedish Queen wore a dusty pink coat over a Chinese brocade gown with a rich floral pattern. Princess Benedikte, as well as her sister Princess Anne-Marie, had chosen dresses in Thai silk, in a green and blue colour respectively. Both wore ermine capes over their shoulders. Princess Ragnhild Mrs Lortenzen, who attended without her husband, wore white organza with golden floral embroideries. And last but not least, Princess Astrid Mrs Ferner dazzled in a turquoise gown in Thai silk with a long organza cape.
All the Royal gentlemen wore white tie with orders:
King Olav V
The Sash and Star of the Norwegian Order of St Olav, the Star of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim and the Neck-tie of the Danish Order of Dannebrog
King Frederik IX
The Sash and Star of the Norwegian Royal Order of St Olav, the Star of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim, the Star of the Danish Order of the Elephant and the Neck-tie of the Danish Order of Dannebrog
King Gustav VI Adolph
The Sash and Star of the Norwegian Royal Order of St Olav, the Star of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim, the Neck-tie of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star and the Swedish Illis Quorum medal in size 18 on a Chain.
Crown Prince Harald
The Sash and Star of the Norwegian Royal Order of St Olav
Prince Axel
The Sash and Star of the Norwegian Royal Order of St Olav and the Neck-tie of the Danish Order of Dannebrog
The Prime Minister, as the overall host of the dinner, had the guest of honour, King Olav, on his right hand side at the table in the Ringerikssalen. The Foreign Minister, who was seated in the Margaretasalen as the Government’s foremost representative there, had been entrusted with the task of welcoming everybody to the banquet. Later there would be speeches from the Prime Minister, the President of the Storting and the Crown Prince before His Majesty himself at the end of the meal got up on his feet and thanked for all the attention and affection which had been shown him.
The menu must also have been a grand experience for those who were lucky enough to be present. It all started with salmon cured in salt, sugar and herbs (gravlax) served with poached eggs and French mustard sauce. The starter was followed by cold asparagus with cured ham. As for the main course; this was tenderloin served on a bed of champignon purée and with fresh toasted spinach, French potatoes and truffle sauce. The meal ended with ice cream decorated with marzipan crowns and fig confectionary covered with frosting in the shape of swans. Surely a memorable evening for both the guests and the hosts and above all else: for the guest of honour.
REGAL EVENTS 