His Excellency the President of Iceland Guðni Thorlacius Jóhannesson hosts the visit, which marks the 100th anniversary of Iceland’s sovereignty.

The Queen’s visit includes a full program that has its starting point in Iceland’s history, development and sense of national identity. In addition to that, the special relationship between Denmark and Iceland is a theme that runs throughout the visit. One of The Queen’s names, Þórhildur, is also evidence of The Queen’s personal connection with the country, which in 1940, the year of The Queen’s birth, still had a personal union with Denmark and with the Danish king as head of state for both countries.

The last time The Queen visited Iceland was in 2013 in connection with the 350th anniversary of the birth of scholar and manuscript collector Árni Magnússon, who founded the Arnamagnæan Manuscript Collection. In October of this year, Iceland’s President visited Denmark, where he took part in Denmark’s official celebration of the 100th anniversary of Iceland’s sovereignty. The President and First Lady Eliza Jean Reid also participated in HRH The Crown Prince’s 50th birthday in May and also paid a state visit to Denmark in January 2017.

Saturday, 1 December

Visit at Harpa
11.30
The Queen visits the concert and opera house Harpa and is received by Iceland’s President and First Lady Eliza Jean Reid. During the visit, The Queen will be shown an exhibition by designer Hörður Lárusson about the history of the creation of the Icelandic flag. Displayed in addition are various proposals for the flag for the Icelandic state, which was established 100 years ago.

Luncheon at Harpa
11.55
The Queen participates in a luncheon at Harpa. Among others, Iceland’s President and Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen take part.

Ceremony at the government building at Lækjargata
13.00
The Queen takes part in the Icelandic government’s ceremony in front of the government building at Lækjargata. Here, the effectuation of the Danish-Icelandic Act of Union was proclaimed on 1 December 1918. At the ceremony, Iceland’s President, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Icelandic Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir and the Icelandic government also participate. There will be musical entertainment.

Visit at Listasafn Íslands
14.35
The Queen visits Iceland’s national gallery, Listasafn Íslands, and is shown the exhibition “Blossoming”, which tells about the creation and development of Iceland as an independent nation.

Visit at Veröld, the Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Institute
15.30
The Queen visits the Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Institute of Foreign Languages, which is a research center at the University of Iceland. The center’s founder is the former president Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, who will show The Queen around the exhibition about her life and work during the visit. Afterwards, Her Majesty receives a briefing about the teaching and the research at institute’s language center and opens a new exhibition including works by the Danish artist Karin Birgitte Lund. To conclude the visit, The Queen will present two research grants, “HM Queen Margrethe II Distinguished Research Project on the Danish-Icelandic reception of Nordic antiquity”.

Dinner at Bessastaðir
18.00
The Queen participates in a dinner hosted by Iceland’s President at Bessastaðir, which is the President’s residence.

Gala performance at Harpa
20.00
The Queen takes part in and speaks at a gala performance in the concert and opera house Harpa. There will also be speeches by Iceland’s President and the Icelandic prime minister.