While King Harald saluted Haaland at the Royal Palace, Queen Sonja travelled to the Russian border
The Norwegian royal family hosted a reception for the national football team following its success at the World Cup. At the same time, the queen anchored up with the royal yacht in Jarfjorden, near the border with Russia.
The 80-metre-long yacht arrived in the fjord, located only a few kilometres from the Russian border, on Monday.
"The ship is on a private mission," a press spokeswoman for the royal family wrote in an email to the Barents Observer. She did not wish to disclose any of the queen’s planned activities during the visit.
Staff at a nearby tourism facility had been strictly instructed not to reveal details about the ship and its royal passenger.
Local cabin owners were more open to discussion. A couple with a cabin offering a direct view of the ship told the Barents Observer that they had seen the queen in a motorboat on her way to the yacht.
"As soon as she reached the ship, the crew raised the royal flag," they said.
When the king or queen is on board the royal yacht, the flag always flies from the aft mast.
"We are so happy that she is visiting this area," the couple emphasised.
Queen Sonja is a keen hiker and has made countless visits to nature destinations across the country. In the Jarfjord area, the queen can visit a number of unique sites, several of which are located immediately adjacent to the border with Russia.
Queen Sonja has visited Kirkenes and its surroundings on several previous occasions, both on private and official missions.
The queen’s arrival in Jarfjorden coincided with the king’s reception of the Norwegian national football team at the royal palace. The invitation followed the team’s exceptional results in the World Cup. The team made it to the quarter-finals, where it narrowly lost to England.
As the king received the team members, more than 100,000 people had gathered in front of the palace. The cheering from the crowd could be heard through the window where the king met with the footballers.
“Dear everyone,” King Harald said in an address. “It is a pleasure to see you all here at the palace. The Football Association president thanked us, but it is really we who should be thanking you for what we have experienced. You will realise this when you step outside—that this has been an event that Norway holds dear. That we all hold dear.”
Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Prince Sverre Magnus were also at the reception. Afterwards, they followed the team out to the square in front of the palace, where they all "rowed" along with the crowd.
