Finnish State Visit to Norway - Day 1
On Tuesday, the President and First Lady of Finland started a three-day State Visit to Norway. They were officially welcomed by King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit at the Royal Castle.
A private meeting and an exchange of gifts took place at the Palace with Princess Astrid also in attendance.
Afterward, the President and First Lady were joined by the Crown Prince Couple as they laid a wreath at the national monument at Akershus Fortress.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit and the First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb visited he Language Center at Sofienberg School to learn more about their work with Ukrainian refugees arriving in Oslo after they fled the war.
In the evening, King Harald and Queen Sonja hosted a gala dinner for President Stubb and the First Lady with Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and Princess Astrid in attendance.
In his speech, King Harald said: “Much has changed since our state visit to Finland in 2016. The changed security political picture in Europe, with Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, has shown us the necessity of standing together for peace and security. Finland and Norway have come even closer to each other. The fact that we share common values and a Nordic social model has probably also contributed to that. […] In uncertain times, we often turn our gaze towards hope, towards what is positive. As Nordic neighbors with common values, we are right to think through much of what we take for granted: our peace and freedom. We must protect the values on which our societies are founded: democracy, the rule of law, and diversity.”
©Kimm Saatvedt, Det kongelige hoff
Queen Sonja first wore a red cape over a white dress with her Eliot Zed shoes.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit first wore a repeated dress by an independent designer with her Christian Louboutin pumps and her Aspinal of London clutch. She also wore a Mona Strand hat and her Cartier ring.
In the evening, Queen Sonja wore a repeated gown with her Whiting & Davis clutch. She wore the Leuchtenberg Emerald Tiara.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore her Valentino gown with her Kotur clutch, her Irene Neuwirth earrings, and her Cartier ring. She wore the Daisy Diamond Bandeau.