Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s 40th Birthday

Today, August 19th, Crown Princess Mette-Marit turns 40 years old.

On occasion of her birthday, an open air church service in the Queen’s Park was celebrated yesterday, hosted by King Harald and Queen Sonja. Since 2001, the Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been celebrating all her birthdays with a church service together with family and friends.

To the service, which was lead by former Oslo Bishop Gunnar Stålsett, who married then Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby and Crown Prince Haakon twelve years ago, the Crown Princely Family brought along their dog, Milly Kakao, and one of the nine puppies that were born two months ago.

Also Princess Märtha Louise and her family attended the service as well as about 350 guests, among them family, friends, members of the staff and representatives of organizations the Crown Princess met through her work.

Due to rain in the morning, all the family arrived in rubber boots while the guests were supplied with rain capes, but luckily the sun broke through when the service started. Princess Ingrid Alexandra – eldest daughter of the Crown Prince Couple – read a Prayer of Francis of Assisi, which has also been read during the Crown Prince Couple’s wedding in 2001, and the Crown Princess was visibly moved.

Following the service, King Harald and Queen Sonja held a little speech directed at the Crown Princess, praising her engagement, and both Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Mette-Marit had tears in their eyes. After the service, the King and Queen invited everyone present, including spectators and press members, for cake and coffee in the park.

On occasion of the 40th birthday of both the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince, who turned 40 years in July, a series of portraits was published.

Filed under Norway
Tagged Birthday, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Harald V of Norway, Marius Borg Høiby, Pets, Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, Queen Sonja of Norway, Religion.