Earl and Countess of Wessex: Visit to Finland - February 2-6, 2015


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Hovikirjeenvaihtaj said:
Is it always this hard or is this a special occasion? I live in Finland and it almost feels like they are not here at all. Very limited media coverage. :(
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When they do engagements for the DofE Award, it is always this hard, due to no press coverage. Press is simply not allowed to cover most of those engagements. Not sure why. But I think we will see more after the visit will end.
 
This article just tells that the Avartti-program was introduced to Edward and Sophie and at the camp at the program was curling, ice fishing, snowshoeing and cooking outdoors
Prinssi Edward ja kreivitär Sophie vierailivat Kuusamossa Yle Uutiset yle.fi

From the Facebook of YLE TV Oulu
https://www.facebook.com/yleoulu/ph...90153419756/10153017694039757/?type=1&theater

"The Reporters were not allowed there, but looking at the official images of the defence forces, the royals seemed to have had quite nice time in Sodankylä. And they got also coffee or something other warm to drink".
Katso kuvat! Brittikuninkaalliset nautiskelivat Lapin talvisäästä Lapin Kansa
 
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RexFeatures has some photos of Edward and Sophie visiting the Jaeger Brigade in Sodankyla.
 
annaelfka said:
https://twitter.com/ukinfinland/status/562992355834621953

Prinssi Edward narrasi mojovan hauen Kuusamon visiitillä | Kotimaa | Kaleva.fi

Do you know if Finnish Defence Forces share pictures like British and other ones? Puolustusvoimat
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No, I just found this
The Finnish Defence Forces - Puolustusvoimien kuvat¨

Molly2101 said:
RexFeatures has some photos of Edward and Sophie visiting the Jaeger Brigade in Sodankyla.
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They are the same photos by Finnish Defence Forces than in the Lapin Kansa article I posted.

Koillissanomat - Prinssi ja kreivitär viihtyivät Kuusamossa
 
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^^ Apologies, I hadn't read the links above. Thanks for your link - the photos make me wish we had snow to go out and play in.

I love that Edward and Sophie wore the clothes provided for them as they look so warm.

Sweet photo
 
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I love the clip of Sophie curling is funny with her when she says she may use her right arm (as she is left handed) with Edward hurrying Sophie up. "We've got a few other activities to get to so..."

I also love her bobble hat.

Who fell over at the end? That made me chuckle as well....
 
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No photos, but an article of the visit to the Finnish Sauna Society today.

The Earl and countess of Wessex, visited the Finnish Sauna Society's house in Lauttasaari, Helsinki, on Wednesday. They arrived just before seven. The visit lasted more than half an hour.
The Sauna Society's Executive Director Catherine Styrman describes visit as very warm.
- They were really interested in the sauna culture and very nice. Prince opened a new smoke sauna, Ilmatar, and they got to know it.
Due to the busy schedule of the royals did not have time to enjoy of the sauna. Styrman tells that the sauna club members showed how finnish people go sauna.
- They saw the people visiting the ice-hole, and were impressed by it. They find that it is a fine tradition that people go from the sauna to a hole in the ice.
Prinssi Edward kummasteli avantoa saunavierailulla Suomessa - Viihde - MTV.fi

A video from YLE News Northern Finland, starts at 5.02.
The children tell that Edward and Sophie seemed very satisfied to their visit. And that they said that the snow caves were bigger than they had seen yesterday at the army. The children said that it was quite exciting to meet the royals.
http://areena.yle.fi/tv/2638270
 
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Sophie looks amazing especially in the Tom Ford, and she really does get in and just does is cheerful through all that freezing weather good for her. Edward looks great good tour thnks for all the pics I guess again it is a challenge .. sadly
 
"The Sauna Society's Executive Director Catherine Styrman describes visit as very warm.":lol:
 
Mermaid1962 said:
"The Sauna Society's Executive Director Catherine Styrman describes visit as very warm.":lol:
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Yes, although they didn't go to the sauna. That would have been something if Edward would have gone to the sauna and from there to the ice hole.
 
Lovely photos, especially the ones of them having a go at curling. I can imagine they are both really competitive and I like that Sophie had two goes. The video of Edward hurrying Sophie up now makes more sense as she had had two tries.
 
Iltalehti tells, that Edward tested Bentley cars on Wednesday morning at a secret session at the track of Juha Kankkunen (the four-time rally world champion). Olli Kettunen from Juha Kankkunen Driving Academy confirmed this.
Sini Paakki from the youth camp was surprised how friendly the royals were, they seemed just like a common people. Sophie was interested in curling and seemed excited while getting to play at the -16 degrees Celsius. Jarkko Liikanen, who guided Sophie, told that she learned quickly and one could say that she was brilliant in curling. Teacher Laura Kainulainen said that the royals were friendly, down to earth and approachable. They seemed to be genuinely interested in the camp. Pirkko Määttä, the development manager of Oivanki Outdoor Education Centre, stressed that the royals came to see the young and wanted to see them in their natural activities.
Määttä has met the prince more than once, they are both interested in sports.
- We have been presented, and he knows that I am a Olympic medalist in skiing. However, they meet so many people that the prince does not necessarily remember my accomplishments.
Prinssi testasi luksusautoja Kuusamossa Iltalehti
 
LadyFinn said:
Iltalehti tells, that Edward tested Bentley cars on Wednesday morning at a secret session at the track of Juha Kankkunen (the four-time rally world champion). Olli Kettunen from Juha Kankkunen Driving Academy confirmed this.
Sini Paakki from the youth camp was surprised how friendly the royals were, they seemed just like a common people. Sophie was interested in curling and seemed excited while getting to play at the -16 degrees Celsius. Jarkko Liikanen, who guided Sophie, told that she learned quickly and one could say that she was brilliant in curling. Teacher Laura Kainulainen said that the royals were friendly, down to earth and approachable. They seemed to be genuinely interested in the camp. Pirkko Määttä, the development manager of Oivanki Outdoor Education Centre, stressed that the royals came to see the young and wanted to see them in their natural activities.
Määttä has met the prince more than once, they are both interested in sports.
- We have been presented, and he knows that I am a Olympic medalist in skiing. However, they meet so many people that the prince does not necessarily remember my accomplishments.
Prinssi testasi luksusautoja Kuusamossa Iltalehti
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I am extremely jealous that Edward got to test drive Bentley's in the snow - that would be so much fun! They were either given free merchandise or they bought some things as in some of the photos in the links above Edward has a fleece with the Bentley sign and Sophie had a parka with it. I still adore her bobble hat though! She is making it look trendy.
 
Edward was over 45 minutes late. He went to Landstinget (Parliament).
If there will be Live-TV's during the day, they are at this website:
Nya Åland - Nyheter

Nya Åland updates photos to their Facebook during the day:
https://sv-se.facebook.com/nyaaland

Also this website will have information
http://www.alandstidningen.ax/

Photo gallery of Nya Åland, will be updated.
Nya Åland bildgalleri - H.K.H. Prins Edward anländer till Mariehamn (119 visningar)

Videos of the arrival to Åland, parliament
http://www.nyan.ax/nyheter/?news_id=88075
http://www.alandstidningen.ax/nyheter/flaggorna-vajade-nar-prins
 
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Video from Åland News, almost five minutes right from the start
https://aland24.solidtango.com/vide...=150205-nyheter&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss

Video at the monument in Bomarsund
http://www.alandstidningen.ax/nyheter/har-avtacks-monumentet

Video at the Viking Hall
http://www.alandstidningen.ax/nyheter/prinsen-valkomnade-o-spelarna

https://www.facebook.com/Alandsland...9370787482536/768460716573540/?type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/Alandsland...0787482536/768461193240159/?type=1&permPage=1

From the Facebook of Britt Lundberg, Speaker of the Åland Parliament
https://www.facebook.com/BritttillBryssel/photos/pcb.816461118419448/816460928419467/?type=1&theater

From the website of the Finnish Sauna Society - with some nice big photos
Prince Edward inaugurated the new Sauna by revealing the name badge "Ilmatar" at the door and the royals looked in to the sauna from the door.
The couple came directly from Lapland in relaxed casual outdoor clothing. Their behavior was equally straightforward.
Prince Edward said that he knows that sauna is from Finland.
Countess Sophie knew the sauna's secrets of maintaining the health and as a source to a long life.
- You are probably all 110 years old, you just look so young, she said happily and shook hands with the Sauna Society members.
They watched from the terrace how few members went to the ice hole.
- Next time I will go for a swim. Now we have a bit of a hurry, prince Edward said.
Prince Philip visited the Sauna Society in 1952. Philip sent a thank-you letter which is it framed at the fireplace room.
The letter was shown to Edward. He was told that the Buckingham Palace was later interested in the letter.
- So they wanted it back, Edward joked.
Of course not, a copy was sent to the palace.
When Edward and Sophie were leaving, they greeted the people who were waiting them at the street.
Suomen Saunaseura ry Rennot kuninkaalliset saunatalolla

Edward visited this evening the Mannerheim Museum in Helsinki. He gave an interview to MTV. I hope this can be seen abroad.
Uutisklipit - MTV Katsomo - Ohjelmat - Uutisklipit

An article about the interview, with photos
Harvinainen haastattelu MTV lle Mannerheim hurmasi Prinssi Edwardin - Kotimaa - Uutiset - MTV.fi
 
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Thanks for all the updates, very happy for the pics from Sauna, I wrote an email earlier, but not sure they got it.
Yes, the interview is free to watch, I am in Poland and could view it with no problem.
 
Gallery from Åland
Bildgalleri Nya Åland

http://jp-ax.blogspot.fi/2015/02/han-madde-som-en-prins.html

On Friday Edward visited the company Rovio, famous from Angry Birds. And then he went to the Helsinki City Hall, where he met 200 schoolchildren. Benjamin Begley from first class of Kulosaari school hoped to talk to the prince.
- If I get a chance, I thought that I would ask about rugby, as England plays today against Wales. I have relatives in England, so I have learned to follow the royals, he told reporters before the prince's arrival.
- Good morning, you are talking about pretty good English, the prince begin to talk with the children.
Edward talked with almost every student. The 8-grader Petra Weiste exchanged a few words with the Prince.
- Prince asked your favourite school subjects and was interested in the play of our drama group. We were all pretty nervous, but he smiled and chatted very casually, so the nervousness disappeared. He is still a prince.
Prince got around a half hour from the school group to another, and seemed to be genuinely interested in the pupils, asked about their school and their favorite subject. He crouches on the floor seated next to the younger pupils. Children weren't shy in front of their guest. One shook hands with the prince, and the second asked him to play Playstation.
Benjamin Begley was given a chance to talk to the prince
- Unfortunately, I could not ask for rugby. I answered to his questions, and we were instructed not to make own questions. We talked about going to school and the exam week. The prince was easily approachable and relaxed.
The prince had lunch at the City Hall and then the visit in Finland ended.
Photos and video
Suomalaiskoululaiset eivät ujostelleet prinssi Edwardia Anteeksi, kuka sinä olet
 
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Thanks for all your researching LadyFinn! I love the Angry Birds game but had no idea it had originated in Finland.
 
Molly2101 said:
Thanks for all your researching LadyFinn! I love the Angry Birds game but had no idea it had originated in Finland.
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You're welcome! I, although am a Finn, don't know about Angry Birds anything else than that they are finnish. I have never played Angry Birds.

Photos from the visit to Rovio animation studios in Espoo
KUVAT Prinssi Edward kummasteli Angry Birdsejä Roviolla - Viihde - MTV.fi
Uutiskuvat Prinssi Edward kävi tutustumassa Rovioon Lehtikuva lehtikuva.fi

At the Maritime Museum in Åland on Thursday
Prins Edward besökte Ålands Sjöfartsmuseum - Visit Åland R.F.
 
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