Norway’s Royal Court has announced plans to mark the 50th birthdays of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
The Crown Prince Couple have decided to mark their 50 years with five trips with different themes throughout Norway. The Royal Court said the couple will use this to “highlight some of what they value most in Norway.”
Their first trip together took place on 28 March, when the couple travelled to Telemark, where they visited Raulandsakademiet – one of Norway’s most important academic institutions for traditional art and folk music. Norway’s cultural heritage is carefully preserved, and the 150 students can obtain bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as attend annual studies.
While there, Haakon and Mette-Marit saw demonstrations on making jewellery and instruments; they even had an opportunity to give it a go themselves.
The Crown Princess is familiar with Raulandsakademiet as she has taken weaving classes at the institution in the past and tried weaving in the workshop on the campus. The couple had fun when the Crown Prince, a little less skilled than his wife, tried weaving.
Their Royal Highnesses will continue their journey to Hovden and Bykle on 29 March.
Crown Prince Haakon got an early start on the 50-year visits earlier this year when he travelled to Stord to learn more about value creation, business and restructuring at Aker Solutions, Norway’s largest offshore shipyard.
Additional visits are expected to be announced in due course.
Crown Prince Haakon will celebrate his birthday on 20 July, while Crown Princess Mette-Marit will mark her special day a month later on 19 August.
