Norway's Princess Mette-Marit goes sledging with young asylum seekers


February 1, 2010

There may have been snow outside, but it was definitely spring in the heart of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit on Sunday. 

The kind-hearted wife of Prince Haakon took time away from her own beautiful children to play in the snow with some of her country's least fortunate residents. 

Taking to a sled with young asylum seekers, the 37-year-old laughed exuberantly as she slid down the slopes in Hvalstad, just outside Oslo. She also offered some skiing instruction to the youngsters, who are staying at a nearby refugee centre, and joined them on a cross-country trek. 

Later there was the chance to relax around a campfire, over which the group cooked sausages on skewers. ChangeWeNeed, the organisation that put together the event, was delighted with Mette-Marit's contribution. 

"We very much appreciated that Crown Princess Mette-Marit visited us and did such a good job," ChangeWeNeed's Fredrik Aars-Rynning told Norwegian newspaper NRK

"As well as giving the youngsters memorable days, we feel it's nice to share great Norwegian values such as voluntary work and skiing. It means a lot to the asylum seekers to be able to participate on an equal footing with others in their community." 

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