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Norway

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit attend the Children’s Peace Prize Party

On Monday, the Children’s Peace Prize Party was organised as a part of the award ceremony for the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit attended the party at the Nobel Peace Prize Centre in downtown Oslo.

This year Children’s Peace Prize Festival was held for the 22nd time and the children who made this year’s peace prize party were from Sagene and Grünerløkka School in Oslo. The party has been a part of the official Nobel Peace Prize Programme since 1997. The party consist of an hour’s show where children interview the Peace Prize winners, and famous artists perform.

According to the programme published by the Royal Court, the Crown Princess was not due to attend the events. However, luckily she was well enough to attend. It was revealed earlier this year that the Crown Princess had an illness called chronic pulmonary fibrosis. The disease will prevent the Crown Princess from attending several other events in the future.

Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.

After the Peace Prize Party with the children, it was time for the more serious Peace Prize Award Ceremony in Oslo City Hall. There are 22 events together over eight days in Norway’s capital under the name of Oslo Peace Days with seminars, panel debates, film shows and concerts. The children’s party was just one of them.

One of the more professional events during the Nobel days is the Nobel Peace Prize Forum in the university building on Karl Johans Street on Tuesday. The main speaker is Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States and Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2007.

This year’s Peace Prize Exhibition at the Nobel Peace Centre opens to the public on Wednesday. The exhibition has been titled “The body as a battlefield” and visualises stories from women, men and children who have been exposed to sexual violence in war and conflict areas. The Peace Centre encourages the public to recognise sexual violence as weapons in war and armed conflict. Visitors can sign an invitation to prosecute sexual violence in war.

About author

Senior Europe Correspondent Oskar Aanmoen has a master in military and political history of the Nordic countries. He has written six books on historical subjects and more than 1.500 articles for Royal Central. He has also interview both Serbian and Norwegian royals. Aanmoen is based in Oslo, Norway.