Norwegianne.net

Category: Other bits

  • The new royal dog

    The family of Haakon and Mette-Marit has acquired a new member, the dog Milly Kakao. Milly Kakao is a labradoodle, which caused a bit of a stir from the Norwegian poodle association.

    It has been alleged that the reason for the choice of labradoodle is that the Crown Princess and/or Marius might be allergic to other dogs.

    The tradition of dogs in the royal family in Norway is something that Queen Maud brought with her from the UK. However, there haven’t been a public “family dog” of this type in the family since King Olav’s death.

    Pictures of the family with their new dog and article in Norwegian: here and here

  • AIDS conference in Norway

    It seems that AIDS is the topic for the month of June, as Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway started on Saturday by opening the youth arrangement called “Thinking ahead.” The arrangement dealt with questions regarding how youth can fight discrimination and other issues connected with how people view HIV/AIDS.

    She also opened the campaign “The City Cares” along with the mayor of Oslo, Fabian Stang.

    Today, the Crown Princess, along with the Norwegian minister for environment and development, is hosting the conference Young Leaders Summit II at Losby Manor.

    Haakon and Mette-Marit participated in the first conference when it took place in San Francisco a couple of years ago, and this time around they’re playing hosts to around 30 youth leaders from all over the world. They are gathered together to discuss the fight against HIV/AIDS, and the challenges around discrimination of people with HIV.

    Included in the conference, there will be a closed reception at Oslo City Hall for the participants of the conference, as well as people in Oslo who have been marked by the HIV virus in one way or another.

    This evening, there will be a garden concert, where also the Crown Princess and Crown Prince will be attending.

    Tomorrow, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess will be hosting a reception at the Royal Yacht, Norge.

  • Danish referendum on law of succession

    Danish Royal Family Celebrates Queen Margrethe Of Denmarks Birthday

    June 7 – the Danish population go to the voting booths. On the table, other than the election for the European Parliament, is the law of succession to the Danish throne.

    I was reminded of this last week, when I spotted a full-page advert in one of the free newspapers lying around the laundry room at my student dorms. The advert featured a picture of a family from the fifties, with the text covering the age of the current law. It ended with encouraging everybody to vote, regardless of what they would be voting for.

    (more…)

  • Moving into the Palace

    Earlier this year, in an effort to combat the financial crisis, the Norwegian government set out an emergency financial package. Part of that package was 12.6 Norwegian Kr to renovate the exterior of the residence of the Crown Prince, Skaugum. Additionally, something was to be done about a longtime drainage problem around the property, that had resulted in mold and rot in the building.

    The work began, but has resulted in some changes in the life of the Crown Prince and his family.

    The ongoing renovations was the reason for change of scenery on the National Day. The Children’s parade in Asker are usually greeted by the Crown Princely family from the steps of Skaugum. Instead, this year, they were greeted from the entrance to the property. (As seen by Mette-Marit and Sverre Magnus in the picture.)

    And now, an additional change has come. Haakon, Mette-Marit and their children have temporarily moved into the Palace in Oslo, for the duration of the renovation, the court reports. It was speculated that they would move into Bygdø kongsgård, which is the summer residence of the King and Queen, and boasts a bit more garden to act as play area for the children.

    School and kindergarten won’t be out for a month, so the children will have to be transported back to Asker for their schooling and child-minding.

    I suspect the family will be out of the palace, perhaps to their spiffy newly bought summer house in Risør or the King and Queen’s summer house, as soon as the children are out of school.

  • Queen Sonja visited a Norwegian Mosque

    For the first time, Queen Sonja of Norway visited the newest Norwegian Mosque, to learn more about the religion and the culture. It was opened in February, 2009. It is also the location of the Islamic Cultural Centre Norway. The Queen wore a more conservative outfit than usual, covering her hair with a scarf.

    In the middle of her visit, she opened the exhibition: “Islamic Exhibition 2009.” It is designed to inform the Norwegian population of Islam, and, hopefully, minimize misunderstandings that can arise between the two cultures.

    Aftenposten has a video of the event. In her speech, she praised the women at the center and the network they have created. She said it was impressive to meet so many resourceful and engaged women, and urged them to keep going.

  • The Norwegian National Day, pt. 2

    Aftenposten has a series of pictures from the Palace balcony as well as from earlier in the day.

    Public events to this length might be too long for someone Ingrid Alexandra’s age, without anybody else to play with up there. But all in all, a decent day’s work for a five year old.

  • Norwegian National Day pt. 1

    It is the National day of Norway today, and in true fashion, the Crown Princely family started the day by greeting the children’s parade in Asker. However, unlike previous years, they weren’t doing it from the front steps of their house, but rather the gate to the estate. Skaugum is being renovated as a part of the financial package from the government to help against the recession.

    All members of the family wore their national costumes. Haakon, Mette-Marit, Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus wore their Asker costumes, whereas Marius wore the same costume as last year, his Hardanger costume.

    As the parades in Norway are Children’s Parades, Marius observed the parade until his school walked past, and then he joined his class for the rest of the parade. (Picture here from after that.)

    Later today, the members of the Royal House will greet the Children’s Parade in Oslo from the Palace Balcony. The Members of the Norwegian royal house are HM the King, HM the Queen, HRH the Crown Prince, HRH the Crown Princess and Princess Ingrid Alexandra. (Edit: Apparently Prince Sverre Magnus also made a brief appearance).

  • Prince Albert of Monaco in Stavanger

    First, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway started the Hydrogen Rally… and in Stavanger, Prince Albert II of Monaco was ready to welcome the winners.

    Later in the day, he went to the conference area, and tried out one of the environmental cars indoors. The Car was made by students at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and can go 1246 km (roughly 774 miles) on a litre of petrol. (0.26 gallons)

  • His Royal Rallydriverness

    Crown Prince Haakon was scheduled to be the map reader for Norwegian race car driver, Henning Solberg, but ended up as the driver of the car.

    The occasion was the opening of the Hydrogen Road along the southern coast of Norway, and the car race following it. The race goes from Oslo in the east to Stavanger in the west. Only cars that run with zero-emission are allowed to be participating in the race.

    The Crown Prince filled the first tank of Hydrogen in the race.

    Crown Prince Haakon only took part in the first leg of the race, from Oslo to Drammen. After that Henning Solberg took over as driver, and will complete the race with different map readers along the different legs of the race.

    On the 14th, Haakon will be attending the Electric Vehicle Symposium in Stavanger.