Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and his wife Mette-Marit are expected back in Oslo on Wednesday marking the end of their five-day tour of three Norwegian counties. The Crown Princess carried out her first official duty as a member of the royal family this week as the newlyweds mingled with citizens, giving some their first real-life view of the much-photographed couple.
Early on Monday morning Mette-Marit opened the Vormstad daycare centre in Trondelag, drawing a crowd of eager visitors for her official debut. However, five-year-olds Susann Johansen and Frederick Damli left the celebration disappointed. The two tots met the Crown Princess at her limousine and presented her with a stunning bouquet of flowers, but were upset to learn that Mette-Marit’s four-year-old son Marius hadn’t come along for the ride. Yet while Marius missed out on the trip, he certainly wasn’t far from the people’s minds. The Crown Princess, who received her own fair share of gifts, will also return home with toy trucks and other such presents the townspeople purchased for her little boy.
Highlights of the five-day jaunt – which began with a stop in Lillehammer, the sight of the 1994 Winter Olympics – included Monday’s visit to Aure, a township in mid-Norway which boasts a population of just 2,000. Local residents treated the royal couple to a tour aboard a traditional fjord fishing boat called a geitbat, or literally “goat boat”. Such was the excitement at the chance to row the royal couple across the fjord, the 12-person crew was decided by lottery. And while Haakon and Mette-Marit reportedly enjoyed their time in Aure, they were forced to stay overnight at a nearby boarding school as the town has no hotel.
The couple will return to Oslo via the royal train on Wednesday after visiting Sunndal and Oppdal.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
