Norwegianne.net

Category: Other bits

  • Princess Marie collaborating with the University of Southern Denmark

    The University of Southern Denmark reports that Princess Marie will be starting a new collaboration with them. The purpose of this is to increase the knowledge of the university’s programmes, research, and other affairs. Another reason for the princess’ involvement with the university is to nationally and internationally increase the awareness of the region of Southern Denmark as a place to study and live.

    The Principal of the University says this:

    Princess Marie has an international profile, and different experience that can inspire our Danish and foreign students. She knows what it means to study abroad, and she has worked in international corporations. We’re looking forward to seeing what tasks HRH Princess Marie can perform for the university.

    The collaboration will officially begin at the yearly university party in Odense this Friday. The princess will attend with her husband.

    The University of Southern Denmark has campuses in Odense (on Funen), Esbjerg (on Jutland), Kolding (on Jutland), Sønderborg (on Jutland), Slagelse (Zealand) and Copenhagen (Zealand). This latest bit of news just confirms that Marie’s focus will most likely lie outside of the Copenhagen area, and most likely in Jutland, as the main focus of the university is in Jutland/Funen.

  • Trouble finding farmers

    Early last week, Norwegian newspapers reported that Haakon and Mette-Marit were having trouble finding farmers for their farm at Skaugum. It has been a long-time plan for the couple that the production at the farm should go ecological.

    The application process went through without much trouble. After the prospective farmers took a look at the files, however, they declined the royal job offer. The prospect of turning the farm around to ecological production apparently was a bit troublesome from an economic point of view.

    Since the above news came out, however, there have been renewed attention from applicants with an interest in ecological farming, E24 reports.  Perhaps, the position will be filled just in time for the new agricultural season?

  • Count Christian of Rosenborg has cancer

    According to a release sent out by the Danish court today, Count Christian of Rosenborg has been examined at Gentofte hospital, north of Copenhagen, and been diagnosed with throat cancer. The Count is currently undergoing treatment, but the court is not commenting on his health beyond the announcement.

    Count Christian was also in the hospital last year, around Joachim and Marie’s wedding, when he was the victim of a virus infection that the doctors were worried would have spread to his heart, and that he quite possibly had gone around with for months. He recovered from that, and was on the guest list for the Prince Consort’s birthday earlier this summer.

    Queen Margrethe’s cousin, Christian is 66 years old. He is the second son of Hereditary Prince Knud and Hereditary Princess Caroline-Mathilde. He has an older brother, Count Ingolf, and an older sister, Princess Elisabeth. He is married to Anne Dorte, and they have three daughters together, Josephine, Camilla and Feodora, who in turn have given them seven grandchildren.

  • The Clinton Global Initiative

    Queen Rania of Jordan and the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative

    After Haakon and Mette-Marit visited Hungary earlier this week, they went to New York and  the Clinton Global Initiative and its fifth anniversary. The meeting was opened by President Obama on Tuesday. Haakon and Mette-Marit attended Thursday and Friday of the four-day-long meeting. Some of the other royals attending all or parts of the annual meeting, according to the Clinton Initiative were Queen Rania of Jordan, Princess Maxima, Infanta Cristina of Spain and Prince Turki AlFaisal Al Saud.

    Queen Rania was one of the speaker’s on Thursday’s event, where the topic was education.

    Also on the programme for Haakon and Mette-Marit while they are in New York is an interview with Christine Amanpour on CNN, although there have been conflicting reports whether or not that will be going through. CNN claims that the taping time (Monday the 28th) is not set in stone, and that it might be postponed, whereas the royal court says that after earlier agreements with CNN it is definitely that time, and that there is no plan B for taping from their side. The topic of the interview, should it go to taping, is Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s work for UNAIDS and UNDP.

    For more information on the Clinton Global Initiative click here.

  • Fairytales in Rogaland

    Märtha Louise was fortunate with the weather today. The Princess had a marathon of story-telling gigs in Rogaland, and the sun was shining, unlike when her brother and sister-in-law was in the area earlier this month.

    Among other things, she told local fairy tales and stories for an audience in Ryfylke – outside Preikestolhytta.

    Pictures from Stavanger Aftenblad

    Afterwards the trip went on to some of the other municipalities in the county.

  • Princess Marie will be giving out prize

    Amidst the recent news that Prince Henrik is stepping down from some of his royal duties, comes another revelation.

    Billedbladet reports that the annual “Prix Littéraire des Ambassadeurs de la Francophonie” awarded by the Prince Consort, this year will be awarded by his new daughter-in-law, Princess Marie, instead.

    The prize has been given out since 2001, and is a monetary sum of 10,000 Danish kroner given to Danish authors who have been translated to French.

    It is not up on the royal calendar yet – it usually takes place early/mid-October, but it will be interesting to see if Billedbladet is correct in their guess. I would not think it was strange if it turns out to be true – Prince Henrik has been voicing thoughts along the lines of retirement for a while, or at least stepping down, whereas Princess Marie is looking for patronages or events that would not be stepping on her sister-in-law’s turf.

    Pictures from the event last year.

  • Crown Prince Haakon participates in lifesaving exercise

    “Are you cold, Daddy?”

    Prince Sverre Magnus, and Princess Ingrid Alexandra took the trip from their home at Skaugum to watch Crown Prince Haakon participate in an exercise by the Norwegian Air Ambulance today.

    The Crown Prince was emulating being lost at sea, after being deposited in the lake by the police and fire department’s boat, and the rescue team saved him by helicopter.  The exercise took place in the Sem lake, close by the royal home.

    The Information Manager in Norwegian Air Ambulance admitted to the NTB that it was a special feeling, having the Crown Prince in an operation such as the one they were practicing, even though it was completely safe.

    Article in Norwegian, and pictures from VG, and the same from Side2

  • Visit to a family care centre

    Coverage of her event today was overshadowed by the coverage of results from the Norwegian elections yesterday, but Crown Princess Mette-Marit was beaming in the sunshine as she was visiting a Child Welfare home in Vestfold county earlier today. The visit was instigated by the Crown Princess, after hearing about of the institution and the work they do for families and children.

    In short, the institution can take in two families at the time, to help the families before it becomes necessary to break them up by taking the children away from the parents. The families learn communication, as well as how to structure their everyday life so that the children can receive the help they need from their parents in regards to homework and other necessities.

    After meeting the resident family and receiving briefings on the institution, Mette-Marit said that what made the most impression on her was:

    The treatment they receive that encompasses the whole picture. I believe it is important to receive a treatment that covers all aspects of life.

    Pictures and video from NRK. Video from TAST.no

  • Prince Henrik stepping down

    Today the Danish court released the news that Prince Henrik, the Prince Consort, will be stepping down from his role as chancellor of the Danish royal orders. The Queen has appointed Prince Joachim as his successor in this role.

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