King Harald V appointed Albert Henry Daniels, an Honorary Consul, as a Knight 1st Class of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, recognizing outstanding service to Norway.
This was conferred during a recently concluded meeting of Honorary Consuls of Norway to the Caribbean, held in the Dominican Republic. Present at the meeting were the Ambassador of Norway to the OECS along with other officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Norway and several Consuls for Caribbean territories representing Norway.
In practical terms, being appointed Knight First Class means the individual has received recognition from the Norwegian Crown that goes well beyond routine professional achievement. It is an official state honor awarded on behalf of the King of Norway after a formal nomination and review process.
This is a notable international honor from the Kingdom of Norway, a rank that sits above the basic Knight grade and signifies that Norway considers the recipient’s contributions to be particularly distinguished and valuable to Norwegian interests, international cooperation, diplomacy, culture, business, humanitarian work, or other areas of service.
About The Order:
King Olav V, Grand Master of The Order, founded it in 1985, primarily to honor foreign nationals, and Norwegians living abroad, who have advanced Norway’s interests.
The rank: The order has six grades: Grand Cross, Commander with Star, Commander, Officer, Knight 1st Class, and Knight. Knight 1st Class is the second-highest of the knight grades. It is often given to honorary consuls after years of service.
The role: An honorary consul is an unpaid representative of Norway in a country without a Norwegian embassy. The responsibility is to help Norwegian citizens in trouble, support trade, and handle relevant documentation. The award is usually given after a long and well-regarded record in that role.
In practice: The bearer receives an insignia (a cross on a ribbon) and a diploma. While Norwegian knighthoods do not recognize official titles, recipients may wear the decoration at formal events and may list it after their name. While the Order of Merit is a modern order, its insignia shows that it is deeply rooted in Norway’s history, tradition and culture, and at the same time, it reflects values and customs that are held in high esteem far beyond Norway’s borders.
This is a meaningful personal honor, given sparingly by Norway, and only on the recommendation of its foreign ministry.
Saint Lucians continue to perform well above the weight of the expectations of small island nations and as such, Honorary Consul Albert H. Daniels is the latest in a string of high performing Saint Lucians to have been elevated for service above self on the international stage.