New camera captured Harald’s 1977 Kankaanpää visit

Norwegian Crown Prince Harald’s 1977 visit to Kankaanpää was captured by local videographer Erkki Autio, who had just bought his first camera, Yle reported.

Harald, who later became Norway’s king, travelled to Kankaanpää in northern Satakunta to inaugurate the Norwegian-Finnish Textilnorion factory. His visit was unofficial.

Large crowds gathered along the streets as the royal motorcade travelled from Pori Airport to Kankaanpää. Schoolchildren waved Norwegian flags they had made themselves.

The visit also included a tour of the Reima factory. Before the factory inauguration, Harald visited Kankaanpää Town Hall, where city officials waited nervously and a red carpet had been laid outside.

Autio decided on the spur of the moment to film the visit while testing his new reel-to-reel recorder. It became his first recording. He later filmed local events for several decades, including for local television.

Autio said he did not need special permission to record the crown prince.

“The city hosts gave me their blessing. No permits were needed at all. That would not be possible today,” he said.

Autio recalled Harald as a dignified person, although he did not get to know him closely because the crown prince was accompanied by bodyguards.

At the end of the visit, city representatives gave Harald handmade lapikkaat boots made in Kankaanpää. The gifts had been placed beside a large lapikkaat statue in the town hall lobby.

Harald’s signature in the city’s guest book remains in the municipal archives.

Harald became king of Norway in 1991. He died on August 28 at the age of 89 after a long reign. His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9.