Princess Mette Marit
After great concern, she also drives to flood areas
© Dana Press
After severe storms in Norway, King Harald, Queen Sonja and Prince Haakon visit the affected flood areas. There was only no trace of Princess Mette-Marit – until now.
State of emergency in southern Norway: Thousands of people had to be evacuated in the past few days after landslides and flooding in the region caused by storm “Hans”. King Harald, 86, and Queen Sonja, 86, together with Prince Haakon, 50, went to the affected areas shortly afterwards, according to the court’s official calendar. Princess Mette-Marit, 49, did not initially accompany her husband and parents-in-law, but that is about to change.
The royal couple and Prince Haakon on the way in flood areas
The trio was initially expected on August 11, 2023 in Mjøndalen in the municipality of Drammen, where from noon they were met by representatives of Norway’s Waterways and Energy Directorate (NVE), representatives of the local community, parts of the population and hard-working helpers are met. On Saturday, August 12, Haakon was expected in the flood-affected areas in Hole, Ringerike and Søndre Land municipalities.
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With these dates, the Norwegian royals reported back from their summer vacation. Only his crown princess was sorely missed by the people. But aOn August 16, the court announced further visits to flooded areas – and brought some relief: Mette-Marit will accompany Haakon to some extent. “On Thursday 17 August, Their Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess will visit the flood-affected areas in Østre Toten. Later in the day, the Crown Prince will also visit flood victims in the municipality of Ringebu,” the official said message from the court.
Princess Mette-Marit will soon be 50
Prince Haakon will also attend a celebration of 100 years of nature conservation in Norway on August 18 at the Fokstumyra nature reserve in Dovre municipality – without his loved one. She will be 50 years old the next day. The celebrations will take place on August 25th, the 22nd wedding anniversary of the crown prince couple. Then there are three reasons for the Norwegian royal family to toast, after all, Haakon also celebrated his 50th birthday on July 20th.
Mette-Marit’s health fluctuates
In the past it had been emphasized that Princess Mette-Marit’s participation or cancellation of public appearances depended on her state of health. Prince Haakon recently made it clear again how much this fluctuates. “How well that works varies from time to time,” “VG” quotes him from his interview on the occasion of his birthday. Something that is difficult one day can be good the next day, he explained about his wife’s illness. Symptoms can come on suddenly, making you tired a little faster than usual.
In October 2018, the court announced that Mette-Marit had been diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis. So far, the disease has been as stable as one could wish for, says Haakon, but: “It is a serious diagnosis and a chronic disease.”
Sources used: vo.no, teda.dk