King Christian IX brought Iceland its first constitution in 1874 and accepted parliamentary rule in Denmark in 1901. King Christian’s son took over the throne as Frederick VIII. He had held royal office for decades and was well acquainted with Icelandic affairs.

He invited all members of Althing, the Icelandic Parliament, for an official visit to Denmark in the summer of 1906 and announced his intention to visit Iceland the next year. The royal guests arrived in Reykjavik at the end of July 1907 and were invited on a seven-day grand tour of the south of Iceland. A celebration was held at Thingvellir with almost six thousand guests attending.

The royal party then proceeded to Gullfoss and Geysir. On the edge of the mighty waterfall “the future of Iceland as an industrial country” was toasted in champagne. Travelling back from Reykjavik the King visited the towns of Ísafiordur, Akureyri and Seyðisfiordur. A difficult process of negotiations began when members of Parliament visited Denmark in 1906. It concluded with Iceland becoming a sovereign state in 1918. 

Year: 2007.

( IL21 ) ~ Psg Cpd Tp.