The Norwegian Royal Family left Norway on April 9, 1940, after the German invasion during World War II. To remain connected to the Norwegian people, the Norway Royal Family gave a variety of radio addresses. During the years in exile, King Haakon gave either a Christmas or New Years speech.
At the beginning of King Haakon VII’s reign, none of the European monarchs delivered annual Christmas or New Year’s addresses. This practice only emerged in the 1940s, as radio became common household items. In Norway, speeches were by different members of the royal family. It quickly became a tradition of Crown Prince Olav. And He would continue this during his reign.
| Year | Royal | Event | Location | Norwegian Audio/Text | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | |||||
| 1956 | Crown Prince Olav | New Years | – | Audio & Text | – |
| 1955 | Crown Prince Olav | New Years | – | Audio & Text | – |
| 1954 | Crown Prince Olav | New Years | – | Audio & Text | – |
| 1953 | – | – | – | – | Prime Minister gave an speech. |
| 1952 | Crown Prince Olav | New Years | Skaugum, Norway | Audio & Text | |
| 1951 | Crown Prince Olav | New Years | Skaugum, Norway | Audio & Text | |
| 1950 | – | – | – | – | Prime Minister gave an speech. |
| 1940s | |||||
| 1949 | Crown Prince Olav | – | Skaugum, Norway | Audio | – |
| 1948 | King Haakon | New Years | – | Audio & Text | – |
| 1947 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1946 | Crown Princess Märtha | New Years | – | Audio & Text | |
| 1945 | King Haakon | New Years | Skaugum, Norway | Audio & Text | First back in Norway |
| 1944 | Crown Princess Martha | New Years | Audio | ||
| King Haakon | Christmas Speech | London, UK | Text | ||
| 1943 | King Haakon | New Year’s Day Speech to Americans | USA | Text | |
| 1942 | King Haakon | Christmas Speech to Norwegians in Sweden | – | Text | |
| 1941 | King Haakon | Christmas Speech | London, UK | Text | |
| 1940 | Crown Prince Olav | New Years | – | Text | |
| King Haakon VII | Christmas Speech | London, UK | Text | ||
| 1930s | |||||
| 1939 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1938 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1937 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1936 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1935 | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1934 | Crown Prince Olav | New Years | – | Audio | – |
Note: This may not be a complete list of Christmas/ New Years speeches during this period.
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