Norway’s Crown Princess faces critics

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.

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.