People travelled from all over the country to take part in the three-day wedding celebrations on 19, 20 and 21 March 1929. Trains carried loyal subjects from Hamar, Halden and Horten to Oslo East and West railway stations. When they arrived they were met by a town decked out in Norwegian and Swedish colours.
Hotel capacity was limited back then, but no one was expected to go without a bed and rooms were rented out in private homes. Column inches were sold in Aftenposten to kindly souls ready to let a room while earning a pretty penny to boot.
"Fine drawing room with piano…." to let in Ullevålsveien; "Well furnished drawing room with piano, bath. 10 minutes from the palace…"; "Two connected rooms available for 2-3 refined guests. With or without breakfast….." And if all accommodation may not have included a piano, hygiene was a decent alternative selling point, "Large room for two. New house and new bedclothes. Kr. 80 per week…"
For those of limited means, beds not pianos were the sought after commodity…
"Three attic rooms, with six bed spaces for private party. Kr. 10 per day."
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Hotels still have available rooms for the 25 August when Crown Prince Haakon marries Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby.
PHOTO: TOR G. JARILD
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Crown Prince Haakon will marry his fiancée Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby on 25 August. Hotel managers say rooms are still available for people wishing to visit Oslo towards the end of August, but it's unlikely they'll be rented out at budget rates.
Fortunately only one conference (of psychologists) is scheduled at the same time, so there should be enough beds left over for ordinary commoners after the 60 or so royal guests and welter of pressmen and women have been accommodated.
Aftenposten Interactive English Desk
Liz McNamara
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