The Crown Princess of Norway has made an appearance at a major royal event got under way in Oslo. And the country’s king, Harald V, gave her a ringing show of public support at the same time.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit was with her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, and his parents, King Harald and Queen Sonja, as they took on the important role of welcoming the Belgian King and Queen to Norway for a State Visit designed to cement relations between the two countries.
Mette-Marit has come under fire again in recent days after an interview in which she talked, for the first time, about her friendship with the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. She had been mentioned hundreds of times in the Epstein files with emails showing her in regular contact for a while with the late financier. She also stayed at one of his homes.
The interview has been criticised after the Crown Princess said in it that she had been manipulated and declined to answer some questions.
The Norwegian royals have said that Mette-Marit’s official diary is fluid as she is undergoing treatment for pulmonary fibrosis and her doctors have indicated that she may need a lung transplant in the near future.
She is also under pressure over the trial of her eldest child, Marius Borg Hoiby, born in a relationship before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon. Marius Borg Hoiby is currently in court on a number of charges including rape with prosecutors seeking a sentence of up to seven years if he is convicted. He denies any wrongdoing.
(Kongehuset)
Crown Prince Haakon, who has been heir to the throne for 35 years since the accession of his father, arrived alone at a chilly airport this morning to welcome King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians to Norway for their State Visit.
Haakon, 52, has known King Philippe, 65, for many years and they are also related. Haakon’s grandmother, Crown Princess Martha of Norway, was a sister of Queen Astrid of the Belgians, the grandmother of King Philippe.
However, Crown Princess Mette-Marit was at his side as Norway’s royals welcomed Belgium’s royals into the Palace in Oslo where they had lunch and exchanged gifts.
The appearance was seen as a show of support for the Crown Princess after some polls in Norway indicated a growing number of people unhappy with the idea of her becoming queen when her husband takes the throne.
However, the Crown Princess did not take part in the State Banquet, the glittering centre piece of the visit. Crown Prince Haakon walked into the gala dinner alone, behind his mother, Queen Sonja, who was on the arm of King Phlippe. King Harald walked in with Queen Mathilde.
But there was a resounding show of support for her from King Harald who called her, in his speech, ”our dear Crown Princess”. He also said she was missing the State Banquet because of her health concerns.
King Harald remains hugely popular in Norway and his very public endorsement of his daughter in law will be seen as a major event.
The State Visit will continue over the coming two days and it remains to be seen if Crown Princess Mette-Marit will play a further role.
