ROBERTS LONDON
HI Guys welcome back to London tonight I have come to Charing Cross station
I'am headed just down here to Trafalgar Square tonight this evening I want to take a look
at this years Trafalgar Square Christmas tree and tonight they are switching on the Christmas
tree lights so tonight is the perfect night to see the tree in all its glory now there
are a lot of Christmas trees here in London this is possibly the most symbolic you can
see all these official cars there will be mayors and diplomats this is a tradition that
is dated since the nineteen forty's since its a tradition that dates back to nineteen
forty seven each year since the people of Norway send the people of Britain Christmas
trees different cities in Norway send different cities in the UK a tree the city of Oslo sends
the city of London a tree and it takes pride of place here in Trafalgar Square you can
see well I don't know if you can see this years well I don't know if you can see this
years tree because it is not lit up yet it is in the dark I will show you I'am sure it
will look a lot more festive in a little while when they switch the lights on but yeah since
nineteen forty seven the people of Norway have sent the people of Britain Christmas
trees each Christmas the reason for that is during the second world war Ze Germans invaded
and occupied Norway and the Norwegian Government and the Norwegian Royal Family were able to
escape occupation and came here to the UK they were welcomed in London and called London
home for the duration of the war and lived here in exile so yeah as a sign of gratitude
and our continued friendship today and in the years since Norway has sent Britain Christmas
trees and yeah I'am here to hopefully take a look at this years they are generally fifty
or sixty years old it looks way over twenty meters tall
TV crews now there will be the mayor of Westminster giving a speech and diplomats from Norway
ambassadors lets hope they keep it brief it is just above freezing this evening two or
three degrees I think lets try and find a good spot the tree will remain here until
the twelfth day of Christmas and there will be carol services here charity carol services
most evenings which you can come and watch and the tree will very much be the focus of
them so yeah hopefully I'll be able to pop back later in the month as well but tonight
I'am hoping to get a first glimpse of the tree in all its glory maybe catch some carols
this evening as well OK i'am going to find a good spot The Salvation Army band are here
I can hear them warming up I'll find a good spot and then hopefully catch the ceremony
OK from either side of the stage you can get quite a good view of the stage and I'll be
able to get quite good quite a good view of the guests giving their speeches and I would
imagine there will be some children singing choirs however it is not the best view to
watch the the tree lights get switched on in fact I don't actually think they pup the
TV crews in the best location they pup the TV crews in front of the National gallery
looking down at the tree from there and Nelsons column but probably the best view is from
the back here because you get the tree lit up with the back drop of the National gallery
but yeah they actually put the TV crews they cordon off the steps that lead up from Trafalgar
Square to the National gallery there but I guess it stands out the tree will stand out
better against the dark background but a dark background is not as spectacular as the gallery
this is what I mean this is the view from in front of the gallery where they pup the
TV crews you see they pup the TV crews here just behind that crowd so you can't get too
good a shot of the stage anyway because there are TV cameras in the way but I'am pretty
confident the view is better in the square itself OK the Salvation Army bank are starting
OK I've been given the song sheet with all the words so we can have a good sing along
to the Salvation Army band they are also giving these out to the whole crowd so everyone can
sing along and there is the the story the history on the back let me read it to you
it is a better explanation that I than I gave The Oslo tree a symbol of friendship when
Norway was invaded in nineteen forty the king of Norway Haakon Hakon? lets go with Haakon
the seventh sought refuge in Britain and the Norwegian government was established in London
to most Norwegians London represented the spirit of freedom during these difficult war
years from London news broadcasts were made in Norwegian and this inspired the people
of Norway and kept there hope of freedom alive the Oslo Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square
has come to symbolise the close and warm relationship between the people of Norway and the people
of Britain Norwegians are pleased and honoured to see that this token of their friendship
probably the most famous Christmas tree in the world has become so much a part of Christmas
for Londoners and its lighting up ceremony has come to signify the beginning of the Christmas
season in the heart of the British capital the tree a Norwegian spruce comes from one
of Oslo's own forests it has been chosen with great care and was ear marked for its place
of honour in London several years ago it is a twenty two meter high one hundred and sixteen
years old and in keeping with the Norwegian tradition is decorated with white low energy
lights so yeah that probably made things a little clearer than I did earlier so that
is why we are here I'am going to go and listen to the band have a sing along I've got the
words and we will come back for the lighting of the tree OK are you ready for this years
tree The National anthems of Great Britain and Norway Finally I would like to thank you
all for coming tonight and I hope you have enjoyed the ceremony as Lord Mayor of Westminster
and first citizen of this amazing city I want to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and
to our Norwegian friends god jul now please join me in our closing carol O'Come all ye
faithful pretty cool huh now it is Christmas in London I hope you enjoyed this this trip
to Trafalgar Square to check out this years tree it looks amazing the choir are singing
now I'am going to head off it won't be the last time I see that tree this festive season
so yeah thanks for watching I hope you I hope you enjoyed this this visit Thank You Norway
Thank You Oslo until next time Toodles!