Norwegian royal yacht comes to town
LERWICK Harbour enjoyed a brief royal visit on Friday when the 80-metre Norwegian yacht Norge tied up for a few hours.
The craft, which can carry up to 54 crew, was launched in 1937 and ten years later was gifted to King Haakon VII by the Norwegian people.
Although not on an official royal visit it is thought that Queen Sonja, shortly due to begin a tour of the Faroe Islands, is on board the yacht.
The Norge tied up on the outer arm of Victoria Pier – meaning the accommodation vessel Ocean Endeavour, a fixture in the harbour in recent weeks, had to be moved out into the harbour for a spell.
It is now owned by King Harald, who inherited the yacht from King Olav in 1991, and is looked after and crewed by the Royal Norwegian Navy.
Queen Sonja last visited Shetland along with Prince Charles for the official opening of the Shetland Museum and Archives in 2007.
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