The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge today have completed their visit to the Norwegian capital, Oslo. The visit to Norway occurred after the Duke and Duchess spent two days in Stockholm. The British royals arrived yesterday morning at Oslo Airport where they were received by Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. On the first day of their visit, the royals, among other things, had the opportunity to visit Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s Sculpture Park and attended a solemn dinner at the Royal Palace.
The Duchess took good time to greet all the students at Hartvig Nissen. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
Also today, the Crown Prince Couple and their guests have had a varied programme. The visit began at Hartvig Nissen where the royals were received by the Mayor of Oslo, Marianne Borgen; Hanna Norum Eliassen, Principal at Hartvig Nissen; Thor Gjermund Eriksen, Director General of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation; Tarjei Sandvik-Moe, Actor from “SKAM” and students at Hartvig Nissen.
The Duke and Crown Princess in conversation with SKAM actor Tarjei Sandvik Moe. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
Inside the school, Their Royal Highnesses got a brief introduction to the students and the cast of from the popular Norwegian series “SKAM” in the auditorium. During this event, the Duke and Duchess had the opportunity to talk to the producers and the cast before being escorted to one of the classrooms. There they had an informal conversation with students about the impact of SKAM and broader issues around being young in Norway.
The Duke and Duchess enter the school. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
After the visit, the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, Duke and Duchess travelled to Skaugum where they had a private lunch. The Skaugum Estate is a beautiful estate set in a setting about 12 miles south-west of Oslo in the Asker municipality. The Skaugum Estate is home to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Norway.
The Duke and Duchess, accompanied by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess in Holmenkollen. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
In 1968, King Olav gave the estate as a wedding gift to his son Crown Prince Harald (now King Harald V) and his wife Crown Princess Sonja (now Queen Sonja). When Crown Prince Haakon married his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit in 2001, King Harald gave the estate as a wedding gift to his son and his wife. Crown Prince Haakon and his older sister, Princess Märtha Louise grew up there.
The Duke and Duchess in Holmenkollen. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
After lunch, the visit to Oslo ended with a two-part programme in Holmenkollen. First, Their Royal Highnesses visited the famous Holmenkollen Ski jump. They were received by Marianne Borgen, Mayor of Oslo and Erik Eide, Secretary General of the Norwegian Ski Association. At this large ski jump, they had a guided tour through the Ski Museum before visiting the top of the jumping tower. The foursome then had the opportunity to meet with some of Norway’s, and the world’s, best ski jumpers.
The Duchess and Crown Princess in Holmenkollen. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
From here they went on the to the Norwegian Royal Family’s private tribune where they could see some of the jumpers in action. Holmenkollen ski jump is the world’s most famous ski jump and Norway’s most visited tourist attraction. The first ski jump was built here in 1892, which makes it the world’s oldest ski jump still in use. Holmenkollen has been rebuilt a total of 19 times, the last time in front of the World Cup in 2011. The total audience capacity is about 34,000, and the Norwegian Royal Family has its own private tribune.
The Duke in conversation with one of the kindergarten children. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.
From Holmenkollen, the royals went on to the small lake of “Øvresetertjern”. There they had the opportunity to watch children aged four-five participate in outdoor winter activities including roasting sausages over an open fire and learn about the running of a kindergarten which is focused on outdoor activities and using nature as an integral part of teaching and learning. After the visit here, the Duke and Duchess were transported to Oslo Airport and back to London.
