The Crown Couple arrived in the southern Norwegian county to a warm welcome. They were met by crowds of children and other residents waving Norway’s flag despite the drizzly weather. Princess Mette-Marit was decked out in practical boots as the couple went about their official duties.

Tree-planting and a tour by carriage were part of the activities for the royals’ first day. As for the fun part, Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit were presented with an enormous ball printed with their images. Looks like they quite enjoyed rolling that across the room.

images: Bauer-Griffin

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It was quite windy and chilly out in the water, and Princess Mette-Marit had her hands full just trying to contain her hair in the breeze.

Rogaland, a county at the southern end of Norway, is the the center of the country’s petroleum industry. It also boasts of magnificent fjords and beaches.

images: Bauer-Griffin

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Queen Sonja spoke during the opening ceremony. She then toured the art installations with Norway’s Minister of Culture Trond Giske, and the exhibit’s curators, Danish artist Michael Elmgreen (below, left) and Norwegian artist Inger Dragset (below, right).

Image: Zuma Press

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Today’s fashion feature is Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, during an official visit this week with her husband, Crown Prince Haakon.

The royal couple toured the Bergtun Care Facility on April 14, 2009. Princess Mette-Marit wore a moss green ensemble which she topped off with a pair of dark brown gloves and peep-toe stilettos. We also get a nice look at the beautiful 3-diamond ring she’s wearing.

One of fun things we do on a Royal Fashion Friday is to try and identify the designer of items that a royal has worn. Today, how about taking a close look at Princess Mette-Marit’s shoes and see if you can let me know the designer (I don’t know myself, so shoe fans, please help me out!)?

Click on the images for larger versions:

Images: Newscom

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Prince Haakon (center) with countrymen, men’s sprint Gold medal winner Ola Vigen Hattestad (right) and Silver medalist Johan Kjoelstad (left) at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship on February 24, 2009.

Crown Prince Haakon is in Liberec, Czech Republic, where the FIS Nordic World Ski Championship is being held. Prince Haakon is not competing, but is there to cheer on his countrymen.

Yesterday, the prince witnessed Norwegian skiers Ola Vigen Hattestad and Johan Kjoelstad take the gold and silver medals, respectively, at the men’s sprint final. The winner got to have dinner with Prince Haakon last night.

Prince Haakon continued to be an encouraging presence for the Norwegian participants today. The championships will continue until March 1, 2009.

via: Royal Twist; Image: Newscom

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Prince Haakon and  Princess Mette-Marit wear traditional Sami costumes during their visit to Kautokeino on February 5, 2009.

Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit so honored their hosts in Kautokeino as they started their official tour of Finnmark. The royal couple’s two-day visit of northern Norway started on February 5, 2008. For Sami National Day, they donned traditional costumes, designed to keep out the below-freezing temperatures and fashioned out of what was locally available. In this case, reindeer skin.

As part of their tour, Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit visited the Sami parliament, a reindeer farm and a church. Their modes of transportation included snowmobiles and sleighs pulled by reindeer.

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Part of being royalty is being glamorous and elegant. But it also means supporting their countrymen and showing unity with their communities. Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit happily demonstrate that royal fashion can be worn in many different ways.

Images: Bauer-Griffin

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Today’s couple is Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The royal couple were married on August 25, 2001 at the Oslo Cathedral. Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik was the best man. Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit have three children between them, Master Marius Borg Høiby, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit vacationing in Brazil in April, 2003.

A pregnant Princess Mette-Marit accompanies Prince Haakon on a tour of social centers, parks and factories around Norway, in September 2005.

Such a sweet look from Princess Mette-Marit at the ski jumping World Cup at the Holmenkollen Arena in Oslo in March, 2006.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon in a whispered conversation in August 2007.

Prince Haakon lays a loving hand on his wife’s lap at a local camp and school in Kafjord-Olderdalen, Norway in August, 2007.

Norway’s Crown Couple at the town of Krager in October 2008.

Images: Bauer-Griffin

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Today, January 21, 2009, is the 5th birthday of a lovely little girl, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra is the first child of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. She is second in line to the Norwegian throne, after her father.

Happy birthday, Princess Ingrid!

image by Julia Marie Naglestad/kolonihaven.no/ The Royal Court

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Princess Martha Louise, Ari Behn, and their children, (from left) Emma Tallulah, Leah Isadora and Maud Angelica.

Norway’s Princess Martha Louise and her husband writer Ari Behn christened their third child, Emma Tallulah, today, January 20, 2009 in the chapel of the Oslo Royal Palace. Emma Tallulah was born on September 29, 2008 at her parents’ home outside Oslo. Her two older sisters are Maud Angelica and Leah Isadora. The three sisters do not hold royal titles.

Emma’s godparents are her grandmother Marianne Solberg Behn, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Alexia of Greece, Sigvart Dagsland, Annbjørg Sætre Håtun, Carl Christian Christensen, and Christian Udnæss. About 200 guests attended the baptism. King Harald and Queen Sonja hosted a reception at the palace for their granddaughter.

Princess Martha Louise is King Harald’s oldest child. However, her brother Crown Prince Haakon became heir because, at the time they were born, Norway’s constitution didn’t allow females to inherit the throne.

You can watch a video of the christening here.

via Norwegian Royals; Image: Newscom

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From left: King Harald, Queen Sonja, Princess Mette-Marit and Prince Haakon at the Nobel Peace Prize Awards Ceremony on December 10, 2008. [image credit: Newscom]

Norway’s King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were royal guests at the awarding of the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize to former Finnish President and veteran mediator Martti Ahtisaari.

Martti Ahtisaari was recognized for his efforts to resolve international conflicts. Ahtisaari was influential as a mediator for peace and reconciliation in places like Indonesia, Northern Ireland, Namibia and Kosovo.  The Nobel Peace Prize Awards Ceremony was held on December 10, 2008 in Oslo, Norway.

In his presentation speech, Professor Ole Danbolt Mjøs, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, summarized Ahtisaari’s accomplishments thus:

The scale and scope of Ahtisaari’s activities are almost beyond belief. His greatest achievements have been mentioned. They are linked to Namibia, Aceh, and Kosovo. But he has also made important contributions to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland, in Central Asia, and on the Horn of Africa. In addition to all this, he has managed to serve for six years as Finland’s President.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo on December 10 of every year, and always in the presence of the King of Norway. The other Nobel Prizes are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden on the same day.

source: NobelPrize.org

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