Met with Governor Walz in Minnesota

In Minnesota, Governor Tim Walz welcomed Crown Prince Haakon, Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, and Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth at the Minnesota State Capitol. The discussions focused on the strong ties between Minnesota and Norway, as well as priorities and initiatives in both defence and business. Tim Walz has served as governor, and thus head of state, since 2019. He was also Kamala Harris’ vice-presidential candidate during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Governor Tim Walz welcomed the Norwegian delegation at the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court

Among the topics discussed, Governor Walz and the Norwegian delegation talked about the more than 50-year-long cooperation between the Minnesota National Guard and the Norwegian Home Guard, which is the longest such partnership between the United States and any other country.

Crown Prince Haakon, along with Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt, Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, and Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth outside the Minnesota State Capitol. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court

Following the meeting with Governor Walz, The Crown Prince, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Trade and Industry proceeded to meet with the Minnesota National Guard. The aim of the meeting was to emphasise the importance of the strong ties between Minnesota and Norway and to further strengthen the long-standing cooperation.

General Shawn Manke in conversation with The Crown Prince. The Minnesota National Guard has worked with the Norwegian Home Guard for over 50 years. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court

Hockey as a community builder

The ice hockey team Minnesota Wild has, in recent years, built itself up as a team competing in the world’s premier ice hockey league, the American National Hockey League (NHL), and Norway’s most famous ice hockey player, Mats Zuccarello, plays for the team. The Crown Prince visited a youth ice hockey training session for boys and girls, organised by the DinoMights organisation, alongside Zuccarello.

DinoMights works to provide children and young people in Minneapolis with homework help, guidance, and social interaction through ice hockey.

Norwegian investments create jobs in the US

The United States is one of Norway’s most important trading partners, and the US is a key market for Norwegian businesses. At the same time, Norwegian investments are creating economic growth and local jobs in the United States. There are around 230 Norwegian-controlled companies in the United States, employing nearly 20,000 people and generating approximately NOK 280 billion in revenue, primarily in energy, oil, and gas.

During the Crown Prince’s visit to Minnesota, a business conference was held at Norway House in Minneapolis. This centre serves as both a cultural and business hub – a focal point for all aspects of Norwegian business efforts in the United States. The Crown Prince opened the business conference, and then inaugurated Norway House’s new interactive centre, the Saga Center, where visitors can explore their connections to Norway or delve deeper into Norwegian-American art, culture, and history.

Read The Crown Prince’s speech at the business conference

Crown Prince Haakon visits Minnesota, the state with the largest Norwegian-American population. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court

A centre for the Norwegian community

Norway House is located next to Mindekirken, a more than 100-year-old church founded in 1922 and one of the few churches in the United States still holding services in Norwegian. The church is a cornerstone of the Norwegian-American community in Minneapolis, and King Harald is its patron.

During his visit to Minneapolis, The Crown Prince and the two ministers attended the blessing of a new church ship for the church. The ship is a model of the Restauration – the ship that left Stavanger on 4 July 1825 with 52 Norwegians on board, destined for the port of New York.

Crown Prince Haakon with Pastor Gunnar Kristiansen, Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth, Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, Ambassador Anniken Huitfeldt, and Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit outside Mindekirken in Minneapolis. It is one of two church congregations in the United States that still holds services in Norwegian. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court

Hans Sandom explains the new church ship he has crafted – a model of the Restauration, the first Norwegian emigrant ship to the United States. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court

A significant site for migration history

Crown Prince Haakon visited St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. This institution was founded by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants in 1874. It has maintained a historically close connection to Norway and offers a faculty that teaches Norwegian culture, history, and language. St. Olaf is also home to the Norwegian-American Historical Association (NAHA), which holds one of the United States' largest ethnic archives and is a key resource for migration history research.

The Crown Prince, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Trade and Industry were shown some of the extensive archive materials about Norwegian history in the United States, and several students presented research projects they have been working on.

In his speech to students and faculty at the school’s beautiful Boe Memorial Chapel, The Crown Prince shared that some of the most important lessons he learned during his time at the University of California, Berkeley, were from his fellow students. He emphasised the importance of learning from each other, respecting differing opinions, and listening to others’ perspectives.

“That is the essence of a free society: the opportunity to exchange ideas without fear. Independent teaching and research is at the heart of democracy. And so, to the students here today: cherish that freedom. Seek out those who are different from you. Be curious. Be generous. Because that is how we grow,” The Crown Prince said in his speech.

Read The Crown Prince's speech at St. Olaf College

During a conversation on stage with four students from St. Olaf, The Crown Prince shared insights about his family’s personal connection to the United States, his time studying in the US, his education there, and his commitment to development issues. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court

The St. Olaf Orchestra, founded in 1906, is considered one of the best university orchestras in the United States. The St. Olaf Choir, founded in 1912, is also a highly regarded student choir. Photo: Ola Vatn, The Royal Court