Prince Bertil of Sweden paid a visit to Tacoma in May of 1958. He enjoyed a delicious meal at the Viking Smorgasbord, 9702 South Tacoma Way, which was owned by Swedish-born Majalisa Benson. The Prince and a woman dressed in Swedish costume, believed to be Mrs. Benson, are pictured conversing before a huge painting of a Viking sailing ship. The two-hour luncheon at the Viking Smorgasbord was sponsored by the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce and attended by various dignitaries including Mayor John Anderson, Judge Bertil Johnson (who was master of ceremonies), City manager David Rowlands, and Swedish consul Lars Hedstrom of San Francisco. (TNT 5-15-58, A-1-article)

Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland; Foreign visitors--Sweden; Viking Smorgasbord (Lakewood); Women--Clothing & dress--Sweden;

On May 14, 1958, Prince Bertil of Sweden has emerged from his vehicle and will be entering the Viking Smorgasbord, 9702 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood. The Viking Smorgasbord featured American and Swedish cuisine with one of the largest smorgasbords in the Northwest. The Prince spent two hours at the Viking Smorgasbord, enjoyed their delicious buffet, gave a brief speech and then departed for Portland in Governor Rosellini's vehicle. (TNT 5-15-58, A-1-article)

Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland; Foreign visitors--Sweden; Viking Smorgasbord (Lakewood);

Prince Bertil of Sweden graciously shakes hands with an employee of the Viking Smorgasbord, 9702 South Tacoma Way, on May 14, 1958. The Prince had dined on Swedish dishes at the large buffet and would shake hands with everyone that jammed the restaurant for the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce-sponsored two-hour luncheon. Prince Bertil, 46 and third in line to Sweden's throne, was in the United States primarily to take part in ceremonies honoring the 100th anniversary of Minnesota's statehood and the state's settlement by Scandinavian immigrants. He then traveled to Seattle, stopped briefly in Tacoma, and then onto Portland. Both Washington and Oregon had large Scandinavian populations. The Prince was accompanied on his journey by his aide, Ove Borlind, marshall of the Swedish Royal Court. (TNT 5-13-58, A-1-article; TNT 5-15-58, A-1-article)

Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland; Foreign visitors--Sweden; Viking Smorgasbord (Lakewood); Shaking hands--Lakewood;

Prince Bertil of Sweden admires the extensive selection of Swedish dishes at the Viking Smorgasbord, 9702 South Tacoma Way in Lakewood, on May 14, 1958. The menu included silsalat (herring salad), koldomar (meat wrapped in cabbage leaf), lax (smoke & salted salmon flakes), inlagt sil (herring) and Swedish meatballs. With the Prince is believed to be the restaurant's owner, Majalisa Benson, originally from Sweden. He devoured the food in a flat seven minutes, remarking "My only regret is that the plates are not large enough." The Prince had arrived days before in the U.S. with his primary purpose to participate in ceremonies honoring the 100th anniversary of Minnesota's admission to the Union and the infusion of Scandinavian settlers. (TNT 5-15-58, A-1-article)

Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland; Foreign visitors--Sweden; Viking Smorgasbord (Lakewood); Buffets (Cookery)--Lakewood;