What's up?

Left, Skaugum outside Oslo.

Frederik, Mary and Christian have spent the weekend at the home of the Crown Prince and Princess of Norway, actually an organic farm outside of Oslo. We don't really have photos of the goings on because the Norwegian couple's home Skaugum is a private property. Likewise with the christening, there were no arrival and departure photos because all the proceedings were inside the Royal Palace in Oslo. It was extremely cold in Oslo over the weekend (around -16 to -8!)so not too amenable to the outdoor life!

This is the christening gift by the Nowegian Government to Prince Sverre Magnus. His art appreciation starts early!

Good friends Queen Margrethe and Queen Sonja of Norway are now together on their annual skiing holiday.

Right, as Sverre Magnus is held by his grandmother Queen Sonja, Ingrid, the future queen of Norway takes in the christening from the stairs while her half-brother Marius checks her out.

Here are some news reports....

A pre-christening story from Hello! magazine.


A prince and his heir take to the air

by Fiona Hudson in London
5 March 2006




Denmark's newest royal hit the road again yesterday as his parents took him on his second official visit outside Denmark.
Crown Prince Frederik and Australian-born Princess Mary arrived in Norway with four-month-old Christian for Europe's latest royal christening.
Looking happy and relaxed, the prince carted his first-born across the airport tarmac in an expensive-looking baby capsule amid low-key security.
Rosy-cheeked Prince Christian was well rugged up against the cold.
One of the endearing features of the royal couple has been Prince Frederik's willingness to be seen in public as a doting father.
The royals were in Oslo for the christening of Prince Sverre Magnus, son of Norway's Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
The Norwegians were among the host of royals and other dignitaries who recently attended Christian's own christening.
Last month his parents took him on a whistle-stop tour to Germany.
A proposed trip to Australia has been put off until 2007.
From Sydney's The Daily Telegraph.

Meanwhile, a bit of cultural exchange has been reported in Australia and Denmark:

Danes flock to see land where Mary was born

By Phillip Hudson
March 5, 2006

THE fairytale marriage of Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik to Australian-born Mary Donaldson has created a tourism boom.
Since the prince found his bride in a pub during the Sydney Olympics, there has been a 23 per cent leap in the number of Danes visiting Australia.
Last year Danish tourist arrivals increased by 10 per cent to 22,597 people . Although it was just a fraction of the 5.5million visitors to Australia in 2005, the rise is against the trend for Europe and is being attributed to just one person.
"I am 100 per cent quite sure this is because of the royal wedding," says Danish consul- general Jorgen Mollegaard Kristensen. "So many people want to see where the Crown Princess was born and where she came from."
Many Danes were curious about Australia because they had seen so much about it on TV.
Federal Tourism Minister Fran Bailey said Tourism Australia had tried to capitalise on the publicity, particularly by attracting Danish backpackers.
"With her glamour and down-to-earth style, Princess Mary has proved a real success for Danish tourism to Australia," Ms Bailey said.
"In Denmark, awareness and interest in Australia has skyrocketed and more and more Danes are now making the trek Down Under. Last year's royal visit was very successful, with the accompanying Danish media beaming fantastic images back into Europe."
Asked if other Danes hoped to find their husband or wife in Australia, Mr Kristensen replied: "It could easily be so." But he also said Australians could be looking for love in Denmark. "I have girls call me and ask, How do I find a Danish prince?'," he said.
The Bureau of Statistics said since 2001 there had been a 37 per cent rise in the number of Australians visiting Denmark.
From Sydney's The Sun Herald/SMH and Denmark's B.T.

It has also been reported in Tasmania's Hobart Mercury that preliminary visits and meetings anticipate a sister city relationship between Hobart and Viborg. Both are the second oldest cities in their respective countries.
Links: Discover Tasmania 2 3 4 5 6 7 and Viborg 2 3 4 5 6