Harald's salute brings State Visit to an end

King Harald salutes the President and First Lady of Poland during the final day of their State Visit to Norway

As the Polish State Visit to Norway came to an end, it finally stopped raining. King Harald accompanied President Andrzej Duda and his wife, Agata Duda, to Narvik for the final engagements of their visit and was able, at last, to put away the umbrellas. And beneath the slowly brightening skies, the three took part in a poignant ceremony to end the three day visit.

Ceremonia złożenia wieńca przez Prezydenta RP na cmentarzu wojennym.
>> Narwik, Norwegia pic.twitter.com/ENwdNGUdqD

— KancelariaPrezydenta (@prezydentpl) May 25, 2016

For the very end of this forward looking visit was about remembering the past as the King of Norway and his guests travelled to Narvik to lay a wreath in remembrance of the Polish people who were killed in World War Two and the battle that had taken place there in 1940 when troops from their two countries had been part of the fight to regain Narvik from Nazi German occupation.

President Andrzej Duda of Poland lays a wreath at the memorial in Narvik

Earlier in the day, King Harald and President Duda had visited a defence headquarters in northern Norway - there has been a focus in the last part of this visit about co-operation in this area.

King Harald and President Duda during the Polish State Visit to Norway

But the major part of this day was spent remembering Narvik. And then it was time for Norway's king to bid farewell to his guests at the end of a three day State Visit which has included tiaras, tours and a lot of rain.

You can read all about May's State visits here.

Photo credit: kongehuset.no and @prezydentpl Twitter.