Another season comes to a close

King disembarks 75-year-old royal yacht Norge

The royal yacht, Norge, was a gift to King Harald’s grandfather, King Haakon, 75 years ago. It was a gift of the people, the result of a nationwide fundraising campaign, and is a symbol of Norwegian unity.

NTB

As tradition has it, Sept. 7 was the end of the season for the royal yacht, Norge, when the king disembarked the ship. This year, it was 75 years ago that his grandfather, King Haakon, received the ship as a gift.

The season for the royal yacht officially opens when the king embarks the ship in the spring and lasts until the beginning of fall.

Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB
King Harald disembarked the royal yacht Norge on September 7, as the ship’s season closed.

Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB
The king was followed by Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon.

The king and queen’s trip to the county of Møre og Romsdal in western Norway last month was the ship’s last voyage for the season. At that time, the king talked a little about the meaning of the ship.

“The royal yacht means a great deal. We  have heard from those on board that even when they are training with a new crew, the flag goes up, even if they know we’re not there,” he said to the press.

“It binds Norway together,” the Queen Sonja added.

The queen and Crown Prince Haakon were also present at the disembarkation. During the winter season, the crew is reduced by half, and their duties are mainly related to the ship’s maintenance.

The Norge was built in England in 1937. Ten years later, the ship, which at that time was called Philante, was given as a gift to Norway’s King Haakon on the occasion of his 75th birthday. This took place after a nationwide fundraising campaign, and the ship was as such a gift from the people.

This article originally appeared in the October 7, 2022, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.