Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway lit up the magnificent Christmas tree in London’s Trafalgar Square, in a ceremony involving the Lord Mayor of Westminster and the Mayor of Oslo, which has become one of the most celebrated and popular symbols of friendship between two countries.  

 

Every year for the past sixty years, Norway has sent a mature Norwegian spruce - which has become the most famous Christmas tree in Britain - to the City of Westminster as a token of thanks for British support during the years of occupation. The 60 year old, 70ft Norwegian Spruce was decorated in a traditional Norwegian style with 500 white lights, making the London’s Christmas welcome complete.

 

This year's ceremony at Trafalgar Square was enriched with carols sung by the Choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields and the renowned Norwegian boys' choir Sølvguttene (Boys of Silver). They gave renditions of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, “In the bleak mid-winter”,”The Holly and the Ivy”, accompanied by the Ercol Band, who had endured showers and gusts of wind prior to the Ceremony, as had the crowd circled around the Square. Many nations were represented amongst the thousands present, with a strong Norwegian presence of course, all shown something London does so well, “putting on a show”. Trafalgar Square has become the centrepiece for many country’s overseas events, having hosted Russia, Canada and China to name a few.

 

The Ceremony included speeches by the Lord Mayor of Westminster, councillor Alexander Nicoll, who welcomed his counterpart in Oslo, Per Ditlev-Simonsen, who is shortly retiring, and the anthems of the United Kingdom and Norway. Others “onstage” included the Norwegian Ambassador and Mrs Lindstrom, the Lady Mayoress of Westminster and the Lady Mayoress of Oslo,

 

The Royal Family group from Norway, including the young HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra, visibly enjoyed the ceremony, and the warm welcome given to them when they talked with the Choirs, Band and audience members.

 

The Tree lights will be lit from noon until midnight each day during the Christmas period (until 6th January after which it will be recycled), and special Carol services will take place daily from 5pm-9pm, from Monday 11th to Saturday 23rd December.