Translation of the article Larzen posted the link to above. Translation by me.
Grandfather enjoys being the babysitter.
Aftenposten has met three generations of royals on the occasion of the 100-years celebration of Norway as an independent nation with a modern monarchy.
WENCHE FUGLEHAUG
It is a fresh King Harald who receives us with son and granddaughter. He is in better shape than he has been in a very long time, after a year with cancer and heart illness.
"I'm back in business, full-time now, with good energy. But I haven't been good enough to work out. Jokingly I say that I've grown out of working out, but I'm practising it," says the King.
Swimming, sailing, trips and plenty of free time this summer has done the monarch good.
"And quitting smoking?"
"Yes, and it was really disappointingly simple to quit. After I made the decision, I haven't given cigarettes a thought for five seconds. To me it wasn't problematic.
But King Harald has much respect for those who can't. That's why he won't share any concerte advice regarding stopping smoking.
"I think that those who succeed, has to want it very much. You really have to make up your mind."
We are on the third floor of the Palace. In the hallway between Queen Josephine and King Oscar's suites, where a delicate sitting group has been placed, so that we can enjoy a panorama view to Karl Johan. An official room, but just so intimate that we feel welcome.
And.. Suddenly she is there, walking in the hallway, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, or Ingrid as daddy and grandfather calls her. After a while she wants to study the inventory in the room. As most children that age, most things needs to be investigated.
"I didn't think I was going to get grandfather-crazy, but I did. Both the Queen and I very much enjoy spending time with the entire family," says the King.
As the King and Queen have many duties in the weekends, the sunday dinner is often changed to another day of the week. At the Palace, Skaugum or in Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn's house in Lommedalen.
"It's especially nice to spend time with the little ones. Development happens so quickly in the children's first years of life, that you should see them often as to not lose the contact," says the King.
He and Queen Sonja also baby-sit their grandchildren.
"Not over several days, but at the Palace when the parents need it, and we're gladly evening-babysitters in the vacations at Tjøme," tells His Majesty.
Heir to the throne
"Is Princess Ingrid Alexandra, as heir to the throne, going to be raised differently from her siblings?"
"Both yes and no. There will be a difference regarding the conciousness of it all. We will always be open to the fact that Ingrid is heir to the throne, and tell her what lies in that. She will gradually discover that she is heir to the throne, if she hasn't already. It is also important to talk about these things in connection to the other children, so that they know where they stand. But in the family, of course, everybody is equal," says Crown Prince Haakon.
Hopefully it will be long until the Princess ascends to the thone.
"There is no tradition in Scandinavia for a monarch to retire. I stay in my life's duty as long as my health is there for me," King Harald says.
Moral of Values
Yesterday, 18. November, it was presisely 100 years to the day, since the Storting chose a form of government and elected Danish Prince Carl to the first king in an independent Norway. 25. November 1905, he arrived in the country and two days later, King Haakon VII swore the oath.
"100 years after Norway left an union, many wants us to join another: the European. What thoughts to the King have about that?"
"I leave that question to the cabinet. We have nothing to do with that, as it is a purely political decision."
King Harald's answer isn't surprising.
Because, even if there is no law that says that The King and his family is without a right to vote, or a right to speak about political affairs, our royals keep a low profile.
"Why is it really like that?"
"I've read Johan Castberg, who thinks that the King hasn't a right to vote, but that the rest of the royal family does. It is a tradition from King Haakon, that we don't interfere in political questions. A constitutional monarchy is based on political neutrality, we are meant to pull the country together, not divide it. Once you take a political point of view, someone will disagree," says King Harald.
"But doesn't the King, from time to time, want to break with this principle?"
"No. It's buried well into the marrow, that it doesn't tempt."
"But the King and the Crown Prince speak with much authority about questions like immigration, homosexuality, bullying, etc.?"
"It's probably easier for the Crown Prince to do than me. I said things as a Crown Prince that I couldn't say as a King. On the other hand, King Olav was early making statements that later was interpreted as political points, ie. about our new inhabitants," says King Harald.
"It's a question of values that often are repeated in those kind of statements. It isn't statements that necessarily are tied to party politics. Even if everything is politics," adds the Crown Prince.
Not to gain support from the population
The People's support of the monarchy has been high and steady all the time, but the King never thinks tactical in regards to winning the support of the people.
"We are given a task by the Norwegian population as a monarchy and we do it as well as we are able to. We try not to "collect votes" from the population. We don't do anything, currently to gain something positive on a poll, or to win short-term personal popularity," King Harald underlines.
"What could the Crown Prince imagine doing if the monarchy was dissolved?"
"You mean if I wasn't born royal? It is often that you have a dream of what you might imagine doing, but when faced with reality, it might be less spectacular. But I might imagine doing something in music or movies. Or questions of development, something I work with in my current role as well.
Text messaging - no thank you
We live in a new age. The tecnological development is rapid.
"The way we communicate changes. Everything happens so quickly, headlines are made to be seen and heard and it interferes in ours and other official persons lives," says King Harald.
"The press has to, and should, show special care towards children and youths, and I hope they respect that," says Crown Prince Haakon.
Neither he nor the King read everything that is written about them, but the King catches some of the parodies of himself, which can be very invasive.
"The good ones are okay to watch. When they are bad, it is just sad," says the King.
He starts to laugh when we ask if he's an eager internet user.
"No, I don't use the internet or text messages. But the Palace as an organization is up to date."
Nor is the Crown Prince a computergeek.
"Technology is fantastic, but also extremely frustrating. I'm into new technology, but it isn't always I manage to do what I want... but we send text messages to each other; friends and family in the european royal houses," he says.
Learning from Marius
Mette-Marit is due in few days.
"To be the father of small children has changed my life. The biggest transition came when I became stepfather. To have Marius has been an enrichment to me. I have learned much from him, and I still do."
"I know how it is to have two children, but how it is to have three children and two arms...? That will be a challenge," laughs the Crown Prince.
"The Crown Princess and I wish to give our children values in life. We want to be listening and create limits around them that they will get to know well. Then they won't have to get insecure. That's our goal. Though, it isn't always we manage," smiles the Crown Prince.
The King is healthy and on the offensive. The Crown Prince takes over the day he has to. Princess Ingrid Alexandra's destiny is to be Queen. Few royals turn the back on their destiny.
