Norwegianne.net

Category: Other bits

  • Ingrid Alexandra turning 6

    On the occasion of Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s 6th birthday, the Norwegian Court has released a series of pictures of the princess.

    Ingrid Alexandra had her first big official duty last summer, when she assisted her mother in an environmental duty in front of the palace. Later, she was the co-star of King Harald in a video aimed for children, as they together opened the children’s webpages on the royal court’s home page.

    In November, she assisted in another royal duty at the National Football Championships for Men, when she handed out trophies to the winning team, Aalesund.

    Ingrid Alexandra is currently attending nursery school/kindergarten, and will start school officially in August, when she enters first grade. She will presumably forego the royal tradition of going to school in Oslo, given the commute, and rather follow in the footsteps of her half brother, Marius, who went to the local elementary school.
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  • Marie’s new protectorate: The Danish Ski Federation

    In a move I suspected back in 2007, Princess Marie has taken on the patronage of the Danish Ski Federation.

    The Federation has been working for a while to achieve this matter. It is an effort in trying to make winter sports more attractive to Danes, and increase its publicity.

    The head of the Danish Ski Federation says: “We’re incredibly happy that Princess Marie has accepted to be the protector of our association. That she herself is an active skier is not inconsequential in this regard.”

    The Federation is the umbrella organization for sports such as Slalom, Bob, Freestyle, Cross Country, Roller skiing, Snowboard and Telemark skiing.

    The announcement comes just under a month before the Olympics in Vancouver, where Denmark is sending its largest delegation ever. The final decision on the size will be determined on January 18, when the final spots in the delegation will be awarded.

    Where it seemed like Crown Prince Frederik would be the only member from the Danish royal family to head for Canada in February, it would now seem strange if he did not get accompanied by his sister-in-law.

  • Richard Manley passed away

    B.T. reports that the father of Countess Alexandra of Frederiksborg, formerly Princess Alexandra of Denmark, Richard Manley has passed away January 13. He had been ill, and his wife and his three daughters were at his bedside at the hospital in Vienna, Austria.

    The Manleys moved to Austria from Denmark after Prince Joachim became engaged to Marie Cavallier. Previously, they had been living on Schackenborg estate.

    Richard Manley was born in Shanghai in 1924.  He became 85 years old.

  • Märtha Louise and the princess title

    In January 2002, King Harald decided that Princess Märtha Louise would lose her style of Royal Highness from February 1, the same year. The reason for this decision was to avoid possible conflicts of interest when the princess started her own entertainment company. From January 1, 2002, she also lost the money she was receiving from the government.

    “It is a liberation, so I can enter the working force and earn my own money. It is the best thing for all parties,” the Princess said after the news was released.

    Unlike her aunts, who took the name of their husbands upon marriage, Märtha Louise did not become Princess Märtha Louise, Mrs. Behn after her marriage.

    In the years since the change of style, there has been some ups and downs in the media and population with regards to Märtha Louise and her business affairs. Probably the biggest hullaboo came when she said she had been talking to angels, and started the so-called Angel School, Astarte.

    In early December 2009, Respons on behalf of Aftenposten polled 1003 Norwegians to see how they felt about Märtha Louise retaining her Princess title while working. A small majority of just over 50% answered yes to the statement: Märtha Louise should keep the princess title, even after starting a private business.  30% are indifferent and 20% feels that she should have lost the title.

    Sociolog and researcher Hedvig Skonhoft Johansen says in the article that accompanied the poll:

    “The King, Queen, Crown Prince and Crown Princess do the serious and important engagements from the Palace and Skaugum. Märtha has apparently received acceptance for being the business princess, and people have become accustomed to anything that is spectacular or out there is being done from Lommedalen.”

  • A decade ago: Crown Prince Haakon has a new girlfriend.

    Ten years ago, today, the Norwegian regional newspaper, Fedrelandsvennen, broke the news that Crown Prince Haakon’s newest girlfriend was called Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby and was from Kristiansand, although she was living in Oslo.

    Other media outlets jumped onboard, but there were no immediate comments from either the Palace or Mette-Marit herself. According to an anonymous friend who was cited as a source in VG, 30-12-1999, the couple had been quietly together since the summer that year.

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  • Crown Prince Haakon on Children’s television

    This morning Crown Prince Haakon visited the Christmas Eve morning televised programme for children on the National Television Channel, NRK.

    The programme was taped beforehand, as Haakon is spending Christmas in the mountains with his family. One hopes that they also have television coverage there, as one of the traditions for the royal children apparently is to watch the programme.

    He revealed that it is difficult in these days when you don’t have a last name, especially when it comes to registering on the internet. But he has found solutions. “I often use Magnus as my replacement last name when I register, and then it works out nicely that my son is also called Magnus in addition to Sverre.”

    I suppose using Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderborg-Glücksburg would draw a bit of attention.

    Like the other guests of the show Crown Prince Haakon was also asked to make a gingerbread portrait of himself.

  • Norwegian Cooking: Serina Cookies

    The finished product
    The finished product

    When I was younger, I thought that these cookies were just a tradition in our family. See, my great grandmother was called Serina, and I obviously thought that was the reason for why we were making them. At any rate, they are a delicious butter cookie that you just keep eating and eating… and uh… soon there is nothing left. This recipe has been doubled from the original recipe, from Meierienes Prøvekjøkken.
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  • The Norwegian Christmas plans

    Unlike the previous years where Crown Prince Haakon and his family have celebrated the holidays at home or with the King and Queen, they will try something new this year, NTB reports. The family of five will be celebrating Christmas at their winter home in the mountains.

    The King and Queen will follow the same procedures as they usually do, and spend the Christmas break at Kongsseteren. This year, Princess Märtha Louise and her family will be joining them on Christmas Eve. Princess Astrid and her family might stop by during the holiday, as may the Queen’s brother and his family.

    The royal family tend to go to church on Christmas Day in Holmenkollen Chapel when they spend the time at Kongsseteren.

  • Cakes: Redcurrant or blackcurrant cake

    Before the Christmas baking set seriously in, my mother had to have a birthday cake. Mum does not particularly care for cream cakes, so this was an easy choice to bake. It first came into the family when Sister started Home Economics in sixth grade and it has been with the family since then. Especially since we usually end up with more redcurrants than we can reasonably eat. (Personally, I’m not a big redcurrant fan, but I like them in this cake.)

    It is a quick and easy cake to make, and if you don’t have blackcurrants or redcurrants, I would think you could substitute with blueberries or other similar berries. Given the season, it might not be easy to get fresh berries, so frozen berries work perfectly.

    I ended up making double the size to fill a Bundt pan. (Otherwise, it is the recipe for two 22 cm round cake pans)

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