DECORAH, Iowa (AP) – Norway’s King Harald and Queen Sonja have taken their American tour to Iowa, renewing their country’s emotional ties with the American descendants of Norwegian immigrants.

In his appearance at Luther College on Thursday in Decorah, the king said the immigrants took pieces of Norway with them and that “nowhere is that more obvious than in Decorah.” Norwegian immigrants founded the college.

The king also said that his World War II experiences warmed his heart toward the United States. Members of the royal family fled Norway during World War II. Harald was only 3 when he came to the United States, where he spent five years.

He says he’d come to view the United States as a second home.

The royal tour includes stops in Minnesota and New York.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)