I would like to ask a question, will Marius be attending any of the "official" birthday celebrations? IMO Marius is not considered to be the equal of the "official" royal children. Although the Royal Family allows him to participate in their family celebrations such as weddings, christenings, royal birthdays of his "official" royal half-siblings, photo ops such as vacations (when he has not been sent off to be with his father), family weddings such as Mette Marit's brother's wedding (where he was most conspicuously absent in spite of the fact that he is "officially" a Hoiby) and of course the annual Christmas pictures where he is most often cut out of the pictures in which the focus (by parents and press alike) is mainly on the "royal" children. IMO the way that the "Official" Royal Family and their press corp treat Marius is elitist, offensive and discriminatory. He is officially dismissed by them as being a nonentity even when it comes to his own mother's "official" biography. The only mention of Marius is that he is tacked onto a paragraph of miscellaneous trivia about Mette Marit while her other "official" royal children are listed at the very beginning of her biography with full names and birthdates included. And in Haakon's biography he isn't considered worthy of any mention at all. So much for treating their children as equals (officially at least)!!! Will this Royal occasion be just another event in which Marius gets shoved into the shadows of the "official" royal family. And if he does get to attend, will every time his name is mentioned will it be followed by that horrible and insulting reminder ...Mette Marit's son from a former relationship. . . just so the world is once again reminded that he is in no way an "official" member of the Royal Family and therefore unworthy of the respect and attention that his "official" royal half-siblings will receive as their just due for being born to the "right" parents who cared enough about these children to be sure that they were married before they conceived.
I will bet that the most obscure "royal" in attendance at these festivities will get more attention and respect from the "Official Royal Family" than Marius will. The King's sister was not far off the mark when she said that as soon as Haakon and Mette Marit has their own "royal" children that Marius would be come " a nobody and a nothing"... And with each passing year and with each royal addition to the Crown Prince's family, Marius gets shoved more and more into the backround. The Royal Family does not treat him as an "officially" equal child. And that is the message that is sent out to the press and the world at large. While I hope that King Harald has a wonderful birthday celebration and lives to reign many more years, I would like to remind him and all of the Royal Family that if it were not for commoners just like Marius, their elite royal group would not be celebrating this birthday. The King owes his life and his royal position not to the fact that he was (like his royal children and grandchildren) born to the right parents, but to the many, many brave Norwegian commoners who by their bravery and courage saved Norway during the dark years of WWII. I am sorry if I have offended the many diehard "loyalists" who feel that every member of the Royal family is perfect and incapable of doing any wrong. But I will remind you that this is also a forum and not just a fan club. IMO it is the duty and responsibility of those who make any claim to being royalty to treat each and every person (royal and commoner alike) with equal respect and consideration whether in an official or unofficial capacity. IMO the Royal Family does not officially give this respect and consideration to Marius but rather treat him as an official nonentity. This occasion would be a great time to change their "official" way of dealing with Marius and accord him the respect and equal status which he is entitled both officially and unofficially.
