The royal couple ended their three-day visit to Nordland with a large folk party in Reine in Lofoten.
The royal couple arrived at Reine on Norway’s royal ship on Thursday morning.On the shore, they were greeted by a large, enthusiastic array of party-decorations both big and small, along with a sea of flags and flowers.
That’s how it has been in all the places the popular king has visited on his county trip to Nordland. His popularity was hardly less when King Harald stated in his speech that “Once you’ve been to Reine, you do not forget it easily”.
In the speech, the king also learned how important it is to find the right balance in the tourism industry when the pressure is greatest in the high season. King Harald also mentioned that the journey to idyllic Lofoten had reminded him of how much responsibility he has to take care of the great source of food, nutrition and income that the sea is.
“It hurts me to hear that if we do not act in time, by 2050, there will be as much plastic as fish in the ocean,” said the king, who praised the efforts of all the volunteers who participated in the annual beach cleaning day this year and showed it as a good example of how big forces and small initiatives must go hand in hand to succeed. He also said that both the royal couple’s children and grandchildren willingly participated in beach cleaning when the royal family is on the shore.
Besides the Reine party, the royal couple also visited the island and fishing village of Sakrisøy, located between Reine and Hamnøy.
Earlier on the trip, King Harald and Queen Sonja visited Røst, Værøy, Sørfold and Steigen.In Røstlandet they were met by hundreds of the island’s 500 inhabitants.
Both the royal couple and the crown prince and princess usually take a county trip every year. The county councils provide a great opportunity to get to know different parts of the country and the people who live there.
© NTB scanpix / #Norway Today