Scandinavian Americans have made a significant impact on the history and culture of the South Puget Sound. To celebrate these ties, Sweden’s Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland, visited Lakewood in 1958.

Prince Bertil

Bertil Gustaf Oskar Carl Eugén was born on 28 February 1912. His mother, Margaret of Connaught, was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and his father became King Gustaf VI Adolf in 1950. Although the third son (and fourth child) became Bertil Gustaf’s heir in 1947 after that his eldest brother Gustaf Adolph died in a plane crash. His brother Sigvard had been removed from the line of succession for marrying a commoner, and his sister Ingrid was Queen of Denmark. Bertil remained heir to the throne until Gustaf’s son came of age.

Prince Bertil actively promoted the welfare of his country. A keen sportsman in his youth, the “Sports Prince” (as he was sometimes called) promoted athletics through the Swedish Sports Confederation and the Swedish Olympic Committee. Bertil also supported industrial development in Sweden and led several industrial delegations all over the world.

Bertil visits America

Bertil’s 1958 tour was his fourth visit to America. After attending the centennial celebration of Minnesota’s accession to the Union, where many Swedish immigrants moved, he flew to Sea-Tac Airport in Washington on May 12, where he was met by Governor Albert Rosellini and other state officials.

That evening, the governor held a banquet in the prince’s honor at the governor’s mansion in Olympia. The following day, Bertil was guest of honor at yet another dinner in Seattle sponsored by Swedish-American associations.

The next day, the last day of his Washington tour, Bertil was invited to Lakewood for a banquet sponsored by the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce at the Viking Restaurant, attended by 170 people.

“Tacoma is proud and happy to have hosted Prince Bertil today,” reported the Tacoma News Tribune, “…Tacoma has lately become closer to Sweden over time because of air traffic across the Arctic regions. But people draw nations closer than time can do, and Prince Bertil’s visit has renewed the bonds of friendship so valued here.”

The Viking restaurant

The Viking, “Tacoma’s most unique restaurant,” opened at 9702 South Tacoma Way in 1951. It served Scandinavian cuisine as well as American steaks, chicken, seafood and the “Deluxe Viking Burger.” It was owned and operated by Hemming and Majalisa Benson, David Benson and Mr. and Mrs. CO Benson.

The restaurant was a gathering point for the community, especially for Scandinavian Americans. An annual Leif Erickson celebration was held there for many years. According to owner Majalisa Benson, the restaurant was popular with soldiers from Fort Lewis (now JBLM) and a number visited after returning home from the Korean War, having heard about it from their friends.

Tacoma Chamber of Commerce Reception

The Viking restaurant was spruced up for the royal visit with copper service and flower arrangements in miniature Viking boats. Waitresses wore Swedish folk costumes. Blue skies and snow-capped Mount Rainier could be seen through the windows. “Beautiful country,” Bertil was heard saying in a British accent, “Most beautiful.”

The banquet was attended by Fort Lewis officers, Tacoma city officials (including Norwegian-American Mayor John Anderson), and Swedish consular officials. Judges Bertil E. Johnson and Fred C. Hansen hosted the two-hour Chamber of Commerce banquet.

Bertil enjoyed the meal and cleaned the plate in seven minutes. “My only regret,” he said, “is that the plates are not big enough.” He also lamented, over a cup of coffee, that the sandwich became somewhat less popular in Sweden during that time.

The prince received a certificate from Clinton Reynolds, president of the Automobile Club of Washington (now AAA Washington), making him an honorary member. “If you get in trouble on the highways in Washington state, we’ll take care of you,” Reynolds joked. This prompted Judge Bertil Johnson, the master of ceremonies, to quip: “I might have something to say about that!” Johnson also joked, “The prince and I have had quite a discussion about our first names. We have decided that he is named after me because I was born first.”

As a celebrity, reporters listened with interest to the prince’s views on cars (his hobby) and his hopes for Volvo and Sweden’s economic growth. “We are industrializing enormously,” he said, “Sweden is no longer to be considered a nation of fishermen and carpenters.” But for politics, he had no comments. “I am non-political, you know,” he said, “the only thing I can say is that Sweden would be neutral if there were to be another world war.”

After lunch, Bertil went to Portland in Roselini’s car. He was met at the border by Oregon dignitaries. From there he went to Los Angeles to catch a flight home.

Later years

In 1973, Bertil’s nephew was crowned King Carl XVI Gustaf. With his nephew’s permission, Bertil was finally able to marry Lillian Davies Craig, a Welsh commoner whom he met in 1943 while working as a military attaché in London. They had kept their relationship quiet. Bertil died on 5 January 1997 at his home in Sweden.

The Viking restaurant closed in the 1970s. Majalisa Benson herself moved back to Sweden in 1972. She told reporters at the Tacoma News Tribune that she wanted to introduce hamburgers there. She was a little late Max (a popular Swedish hamburger chain) opened in 1968 and McDonald’s opened its first Swedish location in 1973.

Although Prince Bertil never revisited Tacoma, the area’s rich Scandinavian heritage and current ties remain strong to this day.