The Crown Prince and Princess of Norway have shown their support for Ukrainians amidst the ongoing conflict as they joined a gathering outside the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit joined in the awareness event to mark nearly a year since war broke out and to show support for Ukrainians in Norway, and Norwegian organisations supporting Ukraine.
The event was co-hosted by Caritas, the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Norwegian Church Aid, Norwegian People’s Aid, Save the Children, the Norwegian Red Cross, and the Nobel Peace Centre.
Its theme was “Hope in the Darkness of War” and served to highlight the ongoing need to support Ukraine in conflict. The Nobel Peace Centre’s exterior was lit up with photographs of Ukrainians in need and information on how to send support.
The head of the Norwegian Refugee Council spoke after the Crown Prince and Princess arrived, telling the crowd how vital support is. “Seeing how people stand up for those who need it is a big bright spot in what is otherwise very dark,” Torstein Bae said.
The royals were part of the remembrance portion of the event, where all those gathered lit flashlights on their mobile devices for a moment of silence. They were accompanied at the event by the Mayor of Oslo, the managing director of the Nobel Peace Centre, and the Secretary General of the Norwegian Red Cross.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit—along with the wider Norwegian Royal Family—have been active throughout the war in Ukraine, showing support for Ukrainians displaced in Norway.7
At an ONS Conference last summer, Crown Prince Haakon used his opening speech to throw support behind President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, saying “Mr. President, Norway supports your brave resistance – and all of us hope soon to see the end of the suffering of the Ukrainian people.”
