William and Kate to visit Norway and Sweden

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to make a four-day official visit to Norway and Sweden in January and February.

William and Kate will travel to the Nordic countries at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Kensington Palace has said.

The royal couple will visit the Swedish capital, Stockholm, from January 30-31 then travel to Norway’s capital, Oslo, from February 1-2.

The duchess, who is expecting her third child, will be well into her pregnancy when she makes the trip.

The visit appears to be a continuation of “Brexit diplomacy” trips by members of the royal family, tours of EU member states like Sweden – Norway is not a member but part of the EU single market – to reinforce ties as Britain leaves the European Union.

William made a brief two-day visit to Finland in November.

The palace had originally planned for William and Kate to make a short tour of Norway, Sweden and Finland in late November.

But the Swedish and Norwegian legs were moved to 2018 as earlier this year the duchess was suffering from a severe form of morning sickness – hyperemesis gravidarum – which she now appears to have recovered from.

The British royals have strong bonds with the Norwegian and Swedish royal families.

King Harald V of Norway and Elizabeth II are second cousins and the Queen’s first ever state visit was to Norway in June 1955.

Picture: PA. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will visit the Nordic countries in the new year.