Norway's royal couple was to arrive in Denmark

Norway's royal couple was to arrive in Denmark Monday on a two-day visit as part of celebrations marking the centennial of Norwegian independence. King Harald V and Queen Sonja were to be greeted by Denmark's Queen Margrethe and her husband, Prince Henrik, at Copenhagen's airport.

The royal families of the two neighboring countries enjoy close historic and personal relations.

Norway was part of Denmark for more than 400 years until 1814. It was then forced into a union with Sweden, which was dissolved in 1905. That year, Denmark's Prince Carl was elected King Haakon VII of Norway.

The Danish and Norwegian royals also spend holidays together. Harald and Sonja were set to visit a conference promoting Norwegian business, a banquet and a gala show at Copenhagen's downtown Royal Theater. The royal couple also will meet representatives of the roughly 3,000-strong Norwegian community living in Denmark and visit the city's new opera house on the harbor front.

On Tuesday, Harald and Sonja will unveil a memorial plaque in honor of King Haakon VII at the Charlottenlund Castle in northern Copenhagen.

The Norwegian royals have also visited Sweden and Britain as part of the centennial celebrations, reports the AP. I.L.