The Friends of the Green Howards	The Norwegian Link
Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment (19th Foot) The North York Militia, The North York Local Militia & North York Rifle Volunteers

This page is shown as part of the history of the Green Howards. Before the Green Howards became the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards), they were especially proud of their link to Norway and the Norwegian Royal Family. This link was formally severed in March 2006 at a farewell dinner for the King of Norway.

The background to the Norwegian link is provided below.

		The connection between the Scandinavian royal family and the Green Howards goes back to 1875 when Princess Alexandra of Denmark agreed to give her name as Princess of Wales to the Regiment.
Princess, later Queen, Alexandra				King Haakon VII
It was Princess Alexandra who designed the Cap Badge for the Regiment. Later, as Queen, Alexandra became the first Colonel-in-Chief.   In 1914 she was the first lady to be granted that distinction in the British Army. She was much loved, and had been associated with the regiment for fifty years before her death in 1925. Queen Alexandra's daughter, Princess Maud, married Prince Carl of Denmark, later King Haakon VII of Norway, who in 1942 followed his mother-in-law in becoming the Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment. This honour was passed on to his son, King Olav V, and, in turn, to his son King Harald V, - the present King of Norway.
King Olav V				King Harald V