This morning, King Harald welcomed the 52nd state visit that has been to Norway so far during his reign. The guest this time is Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. She received a historic welcome. Due to the snowy weather, the welcome ceremony was moved from the Castle Square to the Castle. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was met by Crown Prince Haakon outside the Palace and followed inside. Photo: Kristi Marie Skrede / news It is the first time the traditional welcome has been moved inside. When President Samia Suluhu Hassan arrived at the Palace and was accompanied by Crown Prince Haakon this morning, she exclaimed: – It’s cold! King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were waiting inside the Castle. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB Fixed tradition in all kinds of weather The ceremony where the foreign head of state is welcomed is one of the regular items on the program during a state visit. In Norway, this ceremony takes place outdoors on Slottsplassen. There is a welcome and the national anthems of both countries are played, and the Garden is inspected or saluted. At Slottsplassen, King Harald has welcomed both kings, queens and presidents, such as King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, South Africa’s then-President Nelson Mandela and former American President Bill Clinton. The weather has not always shown its best side. When Nelson Mandela visited Norway for the first time as president in March 1999, he had to pull his hat down tightly over his head when he and the king inspected the Garden in snowy and cold weather. Cold and snow did not put an end to the mood when South African President Nelson Mandela visited Norway and King Harald in 1999. Photo: NTB A few years later, in May 2005, Crown Prince Haakon was regent in his father’s absence due to illness. It was a wet affair when Japan’s imperial couple was welcomed at Slottsplassen in 2005. Photo: WOLFGANG RATTAY / Reuters He was thus to host and receive Japan’s imperial couple Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on a state visit to Norway. The welcome ceremony took place as usual in the Castle Square. While rain and hail poured down. Weather and storm notwithstanding: these fixed ceremonies have always taken place outdoors. Right up until today. Both Queen Sonja, Empress Michiko and Crown Princess Mette-Marit had to wear hats and jackets in the storm during the state visit in 2005. Photo: WOLFGANG RATTAY / Reuters Indoor welcome This morning, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan was met by Crown Prince Haakon outside the Palace and escorted into . King Harald and the royal family were waiting there and welcomed Hassan. An indoor version of the welcome ceremony took place for the first time in Store festsal, the large ballroom at the Palace. Historic President Samia Suluhu Hassan is the first female president of Tanzania – and the first female president of an East African country. She is “the unlikely president”: She is a woman, a Muslim – the majority of the population of Tanzania is Christian – and she is the first president of the country to be born in Zanzibar.
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Historic welcome when King Harald received Tanzania’s president on a state visit – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
