It's a Boy!

[KikkiB]

Originally Posted by Toledo

Thanks for the answer. Surprising as it is. I'm from Spain (but live in the USA) and the idea of an European Kingdom with no titled nobility or a office structured to grant arms is kind austere. I hope that when new Dad Haakon gets his turn for the throne he "monarchizes" the office of the monarchy a little more. Titles could be given as a form of national recognition for services to the country.

I doubt that will happen. Norway is a constitutional monarchy, where the King doesn't have any real power. The real power lies with the parliament. The King and Crown Prince Haakon, when he becomes king, will not be able to change the laws as the parliament is the only ones who can change laws. If he should try (which he most likely won't) my guess is that the monarchy in Norway would be abolished and Norway would become a republic. But time will only show.

And recognition for services to the country is awarded by the king, through the orders (i.e. Order of St.Olav) and medals of various degrees. Titles like count, baron, duke etc. will in my opinion not be brought back to Norway.

So the royal family of Norway will continue as great ambassadors to Norway and promoting Norway as best as they can. That is also what the Norwegian people expect from them, in my opinion.

And in my opinion, one can't really compare the Norwegian monarchy to the Spanish monarchy. As firstly, the Spanish monarchy is younger than the Norwegian, secondly Spain was ruled by a dictator while Norway was a democratic nation under union with Sweden. And thirdly, the Spanish constitution is 164 years younger than the Norwegian. The Norwegian constitution was created in the early days of democarcy (influenced by the ideas from the French revolution), while the Spanish constitution was created when democracy was more developed. And lastly, the constitution were there when King Haakon accended the throne in 1905.

So thus, will the little prince probably have a life similar to Princess Märtha Louise and the King's sisters. He would most likely chose a career of some sort and represent the royal family when necessary. I don't think he will miss the fact that he won't become king one day (as Prince Carl-Phillip of Sweden have said, that he is glad it is Crown Princess Victoria who will become monarch and not him).

All of this is based on my personal opinions :)

[Smilla]

Besides, Haakon is definitely not the one to "monarchize" the monarchy. On the contrary, he's the guy who's far from embracing protocol and the idea of being installed on a royal "plane" that is far above the "commoners.

[norwegianne]

Originally Posted by Smilla

Besides, Haakon is definitely not the one to "monarchize" the monarchy.

Had he been that, he'd have married someone other than Mette-Marit. She has turned out to be a fantastic Crown Princess (and two old people I met in Church today said: "Her past is that - her past. She does a good job for Norway now." Neither of them had a good word to say about her father, however.) but she wasn't the ideal wife for someone looking to make the monarchy more regal - to put it like that - if Haakon had been doing that.

[Alexandria]

Originally Posted by Smilla

Besides, Haakon is definitely not the one to "monarchize" the monarchy. On the contrary, he's the guy who's far from embracing protocol and the idea of being installed on a royal "plane" that is far above the "commoners.

I am very surprised by this assessment of Haakon. I have always perceived him as being very down to earth and modern in his approach to his role as Crown Prince. I never perceived him as being a prince who wanted to be "far above the commoners" but someone who was one with them. Didn't he and Mette-Marit live in an apartment before they were married? And their home in London while they were both studying seemed pretty normal and not very extravagant.

I can think of other royals who seem to live much more extravagant lives than the future King and Queen of Norway, such as the Wessexes whose home is quite lavish, or Pavlos and Marie Chantal who at one point owned homes in both Conneticuit and New York (not cheap places to own homes), or Caroline and Ernst August who also own multiple homes.

And I agree with norwegianne that had Haakon really wanted to be put up on a pedestsal, Mette-Marit as a choice of wife was a far off one. She is not a major fashionista, a glamorour puss or someone who draws a lot of attention (her past aside of course). Mette-Marit is rather quiet and even meek in that she doesn't really play up her role. She dresses by far the most casual of all the crown princesses and is the most laid back, too. If it weren't for her past, I don't think Mette-Marit would've made as many waves as she did.

[Alexandra]

Oh no, a boy! I, as always, should have liked the baby to be a girl. But it is good that it os over and everything went well and the baby is healthy. Many congratulations to parents and the "big"-sister.

[Smilla]

Originally Posted by Alexandria

I am very surprised by this assessment of Haakon. I have always perceived him as being very down to earth and modern in his approach to his role as Crown Prince. I never perceived him as being a prince who wanted to be "far above the commoners" but someone who was one with them. Didn't he and Mette-Marit live in an apartment before they were married? And their home in London while they were both studying seemed pretty normal and not very extravagant.

That's exactly what I meant to say. I said he was "far from embracing protocol etc. blah blah", in the sense that there is a big distance between him and the idea of unapproachable royalty. Sorry, must have been my English.
I really do think that among all the Crown Princes, Haakon is the most down-to-earth and modern, which is a very good thing at this day and age.

[Larzen]

http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...9-post131.html

Here is the picture of Ari and Maud Angelica from the same occation. They were entering the theatre in Oslo to see a childrens show

ML: Its very nice to become an aunt again, We are both very,very happy. We are also greatful everything went so well, yes its just so nice. But the most important is that all is well with mother and child
-Have you visited the little Prince yet?
ML: No, that is in the future still, but we will try to do it as soon as possible.
-It must be very nice that the CP couples children are the same age as the Princess children?
ML: Yes ofcourse
Ari: Its wonderful to be an uncle agian, Great

Haakons ex-girlfriend Cathrine Knudsen has the following message: I wish the Crown Prince Couple all the best and hope they will have it as great with their son as I have with my child

Princess Ragnhild: We think it is very nice and have sent our gratulations to the parents and grandparents.
Erling Lorentzen: We hope the child is healthy and will be a good person
They have no name suggestions.

The couple will come to Norway in January, they will celebrate x-mas in Brazil with their family.

All information and pic from Vg paper edition

Still nothing from Sven O in the papers or on TV, Im getting suspicious, maybe he has sold his reactions to Se og Hør

[photofan]

Thanks guys for all that important information!

[kwanfan]

The first photos of the little prince are up on the royal family's official website. http://www.kongehuset.no/ Click on De forste bildene av den nyfodte Prinsen. He's a cutie pie with his stuffed animals!

[Lena]

He´s cute! And clearly the brother of Ingrid Alexandra. They look very much alike.
I´ve saved them

[Lucidu]

Originally Posted by kwanfan

The first photos of the little prince are up on the royal family's official website. http://www.kongehuset.no/ Click on De forste bildene av den nyfodte Prinsen. He's a cutie pie with his stuffed animals!

Thanks for the pics kwanfan.He is so cute!
:) :)

[KikkiB]

Aw...Just adorable He is indeed what we in Norway call a "plugg", which basically means a big and healthy baby boy :)

[Emily]

Larzen, thank you for posting the RF's quotes. It is fun to read them. I have a question, though -- wasn't Princess Ragnhild the one who was so critical of MM a year or so ago? or do I have the wrong sister? If it is her, then I imagine something got worked out because I have seen photos of her with MM this year and she seems to be pleasant. Also, I am curious what the current RF (just Harald, Sonja, Haakon, ML) was perceived to be like when the kids were growing up? Were they a close family? Did they do lots together? Harald seems a bit 'remote' to me as a person, but was he involved as a dad -- at least as far as one can tell with royalty. Do you know if he and Haakon are close? I really knew almost nothing about this royal family until the past year and I am very impressed with Haakon, in particular. That has made me curious about his/their earlier family life.

[purple_platinum]

aaww.... what a adorable little prince...

and by the looks of it, he will inherit Ingrid's passion for that bunny doll (?) she loves so much

[Smilla]

Wow - this baby is BIG!

[Lena]

Dagbladet has the pics bigger:
http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2005...51204.html?i=4

[purple_platinum]

Ingrid has the white doll, and now den lille prinsen has the brown one...

and looks like Mette-Marit follow Haakon's step in photographing the baby herself...

[KikkiB]

Originally Posted by purple_platinum

aaww.... what a adorable little prince...

and by the looks of it, he will inherit Ingrid's passion for that bunny doll (?) she loves so much

I'd go for the elephant, since the prince and it is the same size

[carlota]

he looks just exactly as ingrid when she was born! i'm surprised we can se him in all the photos with his eyes open... normally babies keep them closed... it's true... the eyes look really deep blue.

[corazon]

is a beatiful baby! 50% mette marit 50 % haakon!