Happy Constitution Day!

A record breaking 119 schools take part in the parade this year. Schools celebrating major anniversaries lead the Oslo children’s parade. This year children from Tåsen (100 years) will march at the front, follwed by Ila (100 years) andVetland  (100 years), Tveita (50) and Høyenhall (50).

True to tradition, the Royal Guard Norwegian Military Marching Band will bring up the rear.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess and their family started the day at Skaugum Estate, where they greeted the Asker municipality children’s parade from 8:15 am.

Traditon

It was King Haakon and Queen Maud who introduced the custom of greeting the children’s parade from the Palace Balcony in 1906. The custom has been upheld ever since. The only exceptions were in 1910, when the Royal Family was in England for the funeral of Queen Maud’s father, King Edward VII, and during World War II from 1940 to 1944.

Today the terms May 17th and children’s parade are virtually synonymous, but this has not always been the case. To read more about why and how Norway celebrates May 17th, please click on the link to the right.