Happy Constitution Day!

In keeping with tradition, schools celebrating major anniversaries head the Oslo parade. Ljan school at Nordstrand celebrate their 125th anniversary, this year and had the honour of marching at the front, followed by Trosterud and Lusetjern. 

The Royal Family greets the Children's parade in Oslo from the Palace balcony. Photo: Ola Vatn / NTB scanpix

The bulk of the Children's Parade started from Akershus Fortress, but many schools mustered in Torggata, at Youngstorget and Stortorget, joining the Parade in Karl Johan street. But before the approximately 60 000 children from 116 schools could parade before the Balcony, the Royal Anthem and the National Anthem of Norway sounded across the Palace Square.

Deputy Mayor Kamzy Gunaratnam heads the Oslo 17 May Committee. Photo: Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen, the Royal Court

Flags and banners are lowered to greet the Royal Family. Photo: Berit Roald / NTB scanpix

As always, the Royal Guard Norwegian Military Marching Band brought up the rear of the parade, passing in front of the Royal Palace at approximately 1:30 pm.

Greeted the Children's Parade in Asker

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess and their family greeted the Asker municipality children’s parade outside Skaugum Estate this morning.

Photo: Marius Gulliksrud, Stella Pictures

The family dogs are also in attendance. Photo: Lise Åserud, NTB scanpix.

Tradition

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.

Kong Harald på Slottsbalkongen 17. mai for første gang - i 1938. Ukjent fotograf, De kongelige samlinger

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 in the list.