Combining the roles of dedicated father and future king can be a delicate balancing act, but Norway's Crown Prince Haakon obviously knows a thing or two about keeping his equilibrium. Indeed the popular royal proved there was nothing shaky about his parenting skills when he gave his stepson Marius a windsurfing lesson this week.
The royal pair were obviously intent on enjoying a bit of quality time together, as the rest of the family were nowhere to be seen. With a life-jacket tied over his wetsuit, the nine-year-old watched carefully while his stepfather, who was sporting white Bermuda shorts and shades, prepared the board and sail for use.
Little Marius, who is Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship, was just three years old when his mother first met the country's future monarch. At the time there was intense media interest in the fact that Haakon's new girlfriend was a single mother, but the statuesque prince was unfazed by all the attention.
After their wedding in August 2001 the youngster was welcomed with open arms as a member of the royal family. And his mother's romance with the heir apparent has since provided him with two younger siblings, Princess Ingrid, who was born in January 2004, and little Sverre Magnus, who made his debut in December last year.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
