Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, and her husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond are currently on a state visit to Norway.
The State visit has been rather dwarfed in the media by the outbreak of the Swine Flu in Mexico, and a kid who brought a rifle with him to school.
The welcome ceremony yesterday took place at the square in front of the palace. The route from the Palace to the Norwegian parliament were lined with Canadian and Norwegian flags and banners. The Governor General and her husband are staying at Grand Hotel during their stay, and were picked up from there by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess and brought to the welcoming ceremony at the palace square. The national anthems were played, and as is customary, the guard was inspected.
The welcoming ceremony was followed by a visit to the national monument at Akershus Castle, and a visit to Vestre cemetery to visit the graves of Canadians who died in the war.
The governor general also visited the Norwegian parliament before the lunch at the palace.
In the evening, there was a gala at the palace. King Harald talked about the common history between the two countries, and his own experiences during WWII when the royal family would visit the training camp “Little Norway” in Ontario, and holiday in Muskoka. He also talked about looking forward to the Olympics next winter in Vancouver.
Pictures from the gala in the evening
Today’s programme, is filled with various events, but includes a visit to the Astrup Fearnley museum for Queen Sonja and Mr. Lafond, a visit to the opera for the governor general, and a visit to the Intercultural museum for the King, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess and the Governor General. In the afternoon, the King and Queen, Governor General and Mr. Lafond will be in attendance at the event “Art Matters” at the House of Literature in Oslo.
In the evening, there will be a return hospitality event from the Canadian delegation.
The visit will conclude tomorrrow with a visit to Tromsø in the north.