Celebration of The Queen's 70th birthday
The celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s 70th birthday will commence in Stavanger on Wednesday 4 July, and will continue with a cruise along the coast of Southern Norway, terminating at the King and Queen’s holiday retreat at Mågerø. Most of the Royal guests will arrive in Stavanger on Wednesday.
In the morning, The Royal Family will disembark the Royal Yacht Norge at Skagenkaien in Stavanger and walk to the city’s millennium site, where they will be received by the Mayor. Next on the programme is a service at Stavanger cathedral, followed by a walk through the city with artistic performances along the way. At Sølvberget cultural centre, the Royal Family will be greeted by Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg who will present the Government’s gift, an exhibition of children’s drawings, to Her Majesty.
After this, Stavanger municipality will host a luncheon in the old customs house Hall Toll. The luncheon will be attended by all the foreign guests who have already arrived in Stavanger.
The day’s celebration will be concluded with a private dinner at the Flor og Fjære restaurant, before the guests board the Royal Yachts Norge and Dannebrog, and the Navy vessel KNM Horten.
In the morning of Thursday 5 July, The King and Queen and their guests will sail up the Spangereid Canal in the municipality of Lindesnes. Her Majesty will officially open the canal before the Royal party proceeds on to Lindesnes lighthouse – the southernmost point of the Norwegian mainland.
After the visit at Lindesnes, the party will sail eastward, arriving at Ny Hellesund late in the afternoon. The day’s programme will conclude with a private dinner.
In the morning of Friday 6 July, the vessels will arrive at Gamle Hellesund. After a short visit, the guests will board the Stjernen and barges to sail through Blindleia. A private beach visit will be made along the way.
In the afternoon, the vessels will continue to Arendal, where the Royal couple and their guests are invited for a city walk through Tyholmen.
The evening will conclude with a private dinner aboard the Royal Yacht Norge, while sailing out of Tromøysund towards Lyngør. Late in the evening the Royal Yacht will pass through Lyngør, designated as the best preserved village in Europe.
The cruise will conclude on Saturday 7 July with a private programme at The King and Queen’s holiday retreat at Mågerø.
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