President of Iceland Dines with Norwegian Royalty at Royal Palace in Oslo

The King and Queen of Norway have welcomed the President of Iceland for a gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Oslo on Tuesday.

Harald V, who is recognized as Europe’s oldest monarch at 87, graciously hosted Halla Tómasdóttir, 56, and her spouse Björn Skúlason, 51, at a lavish soirée with their Scandinavian compatriots.

Also in attendance were Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, as well as their eldest daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra.

The youthful royal, aged 21, exuded sophistication in a soft blue gown featuring a frilly bodice, complemented by an array of royal accessories, notably an exquisite tiara.

Her mother, meanwhile, was sophisticated as ever in a champagne gown with a fitted silhouette and trumpet sleeves. 

Intricate flower embroidery across the frock elevated the design, as Mette-Marit, 51, swept her platinum blonde tresses back into a sleek updo.

Meanwhile her husband Haakon, 51, was dapper in his uniform for the distinguished guests.

King Harald made an entrance accompanied by Halla, dressed in a striking navy dress embellished with a sparkling neckline, while Queen Sonja, 87, looked resplendent in a bright yellow outfit, walking alongside the President’s husband, Bjorn.

Also in attendance were Crown Prince Haakon (centre) and Crown Princess Mette-Marit (right), as well as their eldest daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra (left) 

The King and Queen of Norway have welcomed the President of Iceland for a glitzy dinner at the Royal Palace in Oslo this evening. Pictured front, president Tómasdóttir and King Harald

Harald V – known as Europe’s oldest monarch at 87 – hosted Halla Tómasdóttir, 56 and her husband Björn Skúlason, 51, at an opulent evening with their Scandinavian neighbours

Princess Astrid of Norway, 93, was also in attendance. 

Photos from the event showed the glorious palace interiors and the spread that was offered, with food and drinks for 196 guests.

President Tómasdóttir and her husband were this morning welcomed with a ceremony at Palace Square, along with an official photo ceremony.

Haakon and Mette-Marit then joined the Icelandic politician to Akershus Fortress, where the guest laid a wreath at the Norwegian national monument – which honours the countries’ fallen from World War II.

A visit to Parliament was next, followed by a seminar with business students and representatives.

The state visit, set to ‘highlight the importance of Nordic cooperation in uncertain times’, marked the first time that Princess Ingrid Alexandra – second in line to the throne – has taken part in the official programme during a state visit to Norway.

The young royal, 21, (left) was the image of elegance in a pastel blue dress with a ruffled bodice – which she adorned with various regalia, including a stunning tiara

King Harald stepped out with Halla – who donned a striking navy frock with a bedazzled neckline – while Queen Sonja, 87, (front) who was stunning in a sunny yellow ensemble, walked along next to the President’s husband, Bjorn

On tomorrow’s programme are ‘visits to Innovation Norway, Fontenehuset, a Norwegian-Icelandic literature event, and a lunch hosted by the government’.

It’s already been a busy year for the Norwegian royals. Last month, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway was snapped enjoying a ski-ing competition in Oslo as she watched from the stands with her husband Prince Haakon.

The couple put on an animated display as they cheered on competitors taking part on day two at the annual FIS World Cup Nordic competition.

Starting on March 13, the competition hosted events on March 15 – when the royal couple were snapped enjoying the action, and March 16.

At one point during the day’s action, Mette-Marit was snapped hugging her husband Crown Prince Haakon.

In a bid to stay warm amid the bracing temperatures, Mette-Marit wore a black padded coat, which she removed at times to show a warm, long-sleeved white top.

Meanwhile, her husband also donned a warm black coat, topped off with a navy beanie hat and sunglasses.  

Queen Sonja and King Harald V were also snapped at the event, meeting Norwegian skier Therese Johaug who won the Women’s Interval Start 20.0 km Classic race in the cross-country ski-ing category.

The state visit, set to ‘highlight the importance of Nordic cooperation in uncertain times’, marked the first time that Princess Ingrid Alexandra (pictured) – second in line to the throne – has taken part in the official programme during a state visit to Norway

The young princess wore a periwinkle blue dress for the opulent occasion at the Royal Palace this evening

Photos from the event showed the glorious palace interiors and the spread that was offered, with food and drinks for 196 guests

President Tómasdóttir and her husband were this morning welcomed with a ceremony at Palace Square, along with an official photo ceremony

Haakon and Mette-Marit then joined the Icelandic politician to Akershus Fortress, where the guest laid a wreath at the Norwegian national monument – which honours the countries’ fallen from World War II

Mette-Marit’s day out watching the skiing came after it was announced the Crown Princess’s chronic disease had progressed.

The Norwegian Royal Court confirmed earlier last month that the royal is having daily symptoms due to her pulmonary fibrosis and requires ‘more rest’. 

‘The Crown Princess needs more rest, and her daily routine changes more quickly than before,’ the palace said in a press release, adding: ‘This means that changes to her official schedule may occur more frequently and at shorter notice than we are used to.’

The court warned late last year that Mette-Marit’s pulmonary fibrosis may interfere with her planned duties.

The most recent statement read: ‘Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s chronic disease pulmonary fibrosis has progressed.

‘The Crown Princess has daily symptoms and ailments that affect her ability to perform her duties.

‘The Crown Princess needs more rest, and her daily routine changes more quickly than before. This means that changes to her official schedule may occur more frequently and at shorter notice than we are used to.

‘The Crown Princess has a strong desire to continue working, and therefore we will organise her official programme in the future in the best possible way so that her health and work can be combined.’ 

Mette-Marit’s health condition was first made public in 2018, when it was revealed she had been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis or the thickening of lung tissue.

At the time, Mette-Marit issued a statement explaining that the condition ‘means my working capacity will vary’ to accommodate her treatment including ‘periods of time without an official programme’.

 ‘For a number of years, I have had health challenges on a regular basis, and now we know more about what is involved,’ the mother-of-three said. ‘The condition means that my working capacity will vary.

‘The Crown Prince and I are choosing to make this public now partly because in future there will be a need to plan periods of time without an official programme to accommodate treatment and when the disease is more active.’

Pulmonary fibrosis is incurable and worsens over time, but the Norwegian royal’s doctor, Professor Kristian Bjøro at the National Hospital, said they’d been monitoring her condition for several years and the ‘disease progression has been slow over this period’.

Not much is known about the unusual variant of fibrosis that was detected in Mette-Marit’s lung but, according to the Royal House, ‘there is broad consensus that, unlike other more common types of pulmonary fibrosis, it is not related to environmental or lifestyle factors’. 

The fact that the disease was detected at an early stage improves Mette-Marit’s prognosis, as per the Palace’s official statement.

‘Even if such a diagnosis will limit my life at times, I am glad that the disease has been discovered so early. My goal is still to work and participate in the official programme as much as possible,’ the mother-of-three said.

According to the NHS, the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include shortness of breath, loss of appetite and weight loss, extreme tiredness, a persistent dry cough, and swollen fingertips.