Saturday, 10 December 2016

The Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony 2016


Norway's royals with this year's Nobel Peace Laureate, President Juan Manueal Santos of Colombia
(photo kongehuset.no)

The Norwegian Royal Family has taken part in the ceremony marking this year's Nobel Peace Prize. King Harald V led the congratulations for President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, who was recognised for his efforts in bring to an end the civil war in his country. The main ceremony was the highlight of a day that celebrated peace in many ways.


The first royal engagement of the day was an audience with President Santos, attended by King Harald, Queen Sonja and the Norwegian Crown Prince and Princess. Haakon Magnus and Mette-Marit also accompanied Juan Manuel Santos to the Save the Children Peace Prize Party at the Nobel Pece Centre in Oslo.


The main ceremony. always held on December 10th as it is the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, took place at Oslo Town Hall with the Norwegian Royal Family taking their seats at the centre of the room.  



The ceremony started with music by Edvard Grieg before the citation for President Santos' award was read out to the thousands in the hall. 



King Harald and his family listened to the Nobel Laureate's speech, made before an emotional First Lady of Colombia, Maria Clemencia Rodriguez, before again congratulating Juan Manuel Santos on his award.

 

In the evening, Norway's royals joined President Santos and his wife at the traditional banquet given in honour of the Nobel Peace Prize winner. 



The event, at the Grand Hotel in Oslo saw Juan Manuel Santos and Maria Clemencia Rodriguez come on to the balcony of the hotel to acknowledge the crowds that had come to see them.




There are more celebrations tomorrow when Crown Prince Haakon Magnus and Crown Princess Mette-Marit attend the Nobel Peace Prize Concert.

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