In 1940, as Hitler’s boats approached the Oslo fjord under cover of darkness, they had a surprise. Norwegian forces opened fire on the Bl?cher warship, giving them enough time to get King Hakkon and the rest of the Royal Family out of the country before it fell to Nazi occupation. The family escaped to London and lived in Britain in exile for the rest of the Second World War — a safe haven from which they could communicate with their people by radio and support the resistance movement.
As Christmas 1940 approached, brave underground forces in Norway decided to show solidarity with their king and queen by sneaking a Christmas tree, grown on Norwegian soil, out to them in England. They somehow managed to get it past the watch of the Nazis — and did the same thing every Christmas all through the war.
In 1947, with King Hakkon safely back on his throne, they decided to send a tree to Britain — this time to thank us for our protection. The touching tradition has continued ever since.