Happy Constitution Day!
The Royal Family will take its customary place on the Palace Balcony starting at 10:30 am to greet the Oslo children’s parade. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess and their family will start the day at Skaugum Estate, where they will greet the Asker municipality children’s parade from 8:15 am.
Schools celebrating major anniversaries will be leading the Oslo children’s parade in honour of Norwegian Constitution Day on May 17th. This year children and youths from four schools – Rødtvet (50 years), Toppåsen (25 years), Bjørndal (25 years) and Sørkedalen (a full 170 years) – will march at the front of the parade of 108 schools.
The Royal Guard Norwegian Military Marching Band will bring up the rear of the parade, and is expected to pass in front of the Palace at around 1:00 pm.
Photographs will be updated throughout the day.
History
It was King Haakon and Queen Maud who introduced the custom of greeting the children’s parade from the Palace balcony in 1906. The custom has been upheld ever since. The only exceptions were in 1910, when the Royal Family was in England for the funeral of Queen Maud’s father, King Edward VII, and during World War II from 1940 to1944.
Today the terms May 17th and children’s parade are virtually synonymous, but this has not always been the case. To read more about why and how Norway celebrates May 17th, please click on the link.
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17. mai: Barnetoget L
The Children's Parade in Oslo passing below the Palace Balcony (Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB scanpix)Photo 1 of 4 -
17. mai: PIA i barnetog
Marius and Princess Ingrid Alexandra in the Children's Parade outside Skaugum (Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Scanpix)Photo 2 of 4 -
17. mai: Kronprinsfamilien
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess' family greets the Children's Parade in Asker outside Skaugum Estate (Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB scanpix)Photo 3 of 4 -
17. mai: HMD KPH
The Queen and Crown Prince Haakon on the Palace Balcony (Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB scanpix)Photo 4 of 4
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