NORSE-MANX LINKS: THE WARTIME PRINCE OLAV VISITS

The Norwegian Royal Family sought exile in Britain after the German invasion in World War Two. During that period the Norwegian Crown Prince Olav paid two visits to Mann. Prince Olav had a ceremonial role in the Norwegian Armed Forces in exile and the first visit was in connection with fundraising for wartime efforts and that took place in 1941.

In 1944 he paid a more lengthy visit and on that occasion he was shown various artifacts and sites from the Norse-Manx period and also was provided with details of Norse-Manx academic connections including those of Matrstrander and J J Kneen. In relation to the latter Prince Olav met the widow of the distinguished Manx linguist and scholar and chatted with her for some time Olav’s father King Haakon of Norway, in 1933, had created Kneen a Knight of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. in appreciation of his work for Norse and Celtic Culture.

Olaf also toured the Island seeing Castle Rushen and Peel Castle and spent time at Rushen Abbey, the burial site of the Norse Kings. The Castletown visit was historic, inasmuch as Norway's Crown Prince was the first Royal Olav to set foot in the Castle since the days of King Olav, over 700 years ago.

He also visited Tynwald Hill and also the Tynwald Building where he was shown the Manx Sword of state.The Sword at that time was thought to date from the Norse period however more recent analysis dates it several centuries later.

Olav was also shown was the scale model of the Gokstad Viking ship constructed for the Museum by Mr Fredrik Johannessen, of Oslo, and unveiled by the Norwegian Ambassador, Mr. Erik Colban, in 1939.
Image: The main image shows Olav as a child with his father King Haakon and mother Queen Maud - inset; The prince looks down on the IOM from an aircraft as he visits in the wartime.

Bernard Moffatt