Official visit to Korea
Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess arrived in Seoul Monday afternoon, accompanied by senior officials and a delegation representing Norwegian trade and industry.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess are conducting a four-day official visit to the Republic of Korea from 8 – 11 May. Their official programme commenced on Tuesday.
Wreath-laying ceremony
Tuesday morning, The Crown Prince and Crown Princess visited Memorial Tower and placed a wreath on the monument commemorating the loyalty and sacrifice of soldiers fallen in service for their country. Memorial Tower is part of the military national cemetery.
Cheong Wa Dae - Blue House
After the wreath-laying ceremony, The Crown Prince and Crown Princess left for Cheong Wa Dae, the official residence of the President of Korea, where they met with His Excellency President ROH Moo-Hyun and First Lady, Madam KWON Yang-Sook.
Gyeongbokgung Palace
In the early afternoon, The Crown Prince and Crown Princess proceeded to Gyeongbokgung Palace, where they received a guided tour that included the garden, pavilions and throne room.
KIM Dae-Jung Peace Foundation
After concluding their tour of the palace, The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were taken to the Kim Dae-Jung Peace Foundation for a meeting with former president and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mr KIM Dae-Jung and Madame LEE Hee-Ho.
Mr KIM Dae-Jung was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 in recognition of his efforts to promote peace and democracy in South-Korea and East Asia in general, and for peace and reconciliation with North-Korea in particular.
The first day of the visit was concluded with a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
-
Korea: Arrival
Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon arriving at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul (Photo: Lise Åserud, Scanpix)Photo 1 of 4 -
Korea: President
Their Royal Highnesses with President ROH Moo-Hyun and Madam KWON Yang-Sook (Photo: Yo Yong-Hak, Reuters)Photo 2 of 4 -
Korea: Peace Foundation
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess at the KIM Dae-Jung Peace Foundation (Photo: Lise Åserud, Scanpix)Photo 3 of 4 -
Korea: Prime Minister
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo (Photo: YO Yong-Hak, Reuters)Photo 4 of 4
Enlarge
Enlarge
Enlarge
EnlargeCurrent news
Welcoming the Restauration to the US
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon, along with a couple of thousand attendees, welcomed the sloop Restauration to New York, exactly 200 years after the vessel carrying Norwegian emigrants arrived in the United States. In 1825, they crossed the Atlantic in search of a new and better life. This voyage is regarded as the beginning of organised emigration from Norway.
Met with Governor Walz in Minnesota
Minnesota is one of the states in the United States where a large proportion of the population has Norwegian ancestry. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon is therefore also visiting this state and its largest metropolitan area, Minneapolis–Saint Paul, during his trip to the United States to mark the 200th anniversary of Norwegian emigration to the US.