His Majesty King Harald and Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit were present at Ullevål Stadium on Sunday during the men’s cup final in football. The final was played between Viking and Haugesund.
The two cheered on the football players from the most exclusive part of the VIP stand in Norway’s most famous football arena. Ullevål Stadium has a capacity of 27,000 people and this is where all the national team matches are played in Norway.
At the end of the game, King Harald according to old tradition handed over the royal trophy to Viking, the winning team. However, there was some comfort for the losing team as Crown Princess Mette-Marit awarded the runner’s-up prize to Haugesund.
This was the Crown Princess’ second football match in the last few weeks. Last weekend she joined her mother in law, Queen Sonja, and Norway’s Prime Minister Erna Solberg to watch the women’s football cup final. When it comes to football, it is Crown Princess Mette-Marit who is experienced in the Royal Family. Every year, a big football match is organised at the Crown Prince Family’s residence, Skaugum.
The annual match is a collaboration between the Crown Prince Family and the Norwegian Football Association. The purpose of the friendly game is to focus on the part of the “football family” that does not get the attention it deserves and on the sport as an integration arena.
King Harald is also very interested in football and has participated in most of the finals in the men’s national football cup throughout his life. This autumn, he made headlines when he flew tourist class on a scheduled flight from Oslo to Manchester to watch the football match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford. He was a guest of honour at Manchester United and was welcomed by their Norwegian coach, Ole Gunnar Solskjær.
The King is very interested in sport and closely follows English football. Still, King Harald’s favourite British football team is reported to be Tottenham.
