The Crown Prince family's trip abroad

[Duke of Marmalade]

yes, they did study but they didnt go in the first place because of the studies but because it was all too much in Norway for MM, she couldnt cope with her role, public life etc. doing some studies was the excuse to be able to leave the country for a while.

means that they labelled a decision of theirs differenty in order to get away with it before (wanting to get away from it all for some time = doing studies in London) therefore its a possibility that they are at it again (?whatever the true reason behind it? = travelling with the family to get some cultural experience).

[fortimo]

I mean IA and SM are too young for this "cultural experience". They won't understand it. Maybe they will remember later on "riding elephant" (?), but nothing what important for the future queen. MM and Haakon know already different countries and cultures, so they don't need it. I think there is something others behind this decision, not the cultural experience...

[rubies]

Very odd indeed....
I always chuckle when I hear Royalty, celebrities, heirs, trustfunders(you get the jiff) exclaim "I just want to live like a normal person" OK give up your money, palaces,servants and cushy life..you can clean your toilets and get a hard job for normal pay and scrape together enough money to take a a small vacation and be just like the rest of us!!

A really ridiculous thing to say, and probably just a statement so that no one knows the real reason for the trip. I would guess family trouble.

Oh and by the way, most of us "normal people"don't have the money or the time to just go away and "live abroad" for 2 months of our life. If they lived in the US, we don't get near the vacation our European friends get!!

[Sternchen]

I don't understand why you find it ridiculous. It is just the human nature to want things that we don't have, to experience more. Otherwise people wouldn't have carreers, there were no companies being built etc.
For Royals, Celebs, Heirs etc. who seem to have everything except "Living like a normal person" it is the only thing they are unable to get, so they long for it.

Pure and simple

[Her_Majesty]

I also don't really understand all of the negative comments. The thing I find a bit strange that they travel so short after IA started school. I don't see any problem about the travel itself. They want to experience other cultures and that's a great thing to do. I don't see why Royals shouldn't get this chance too. They usually do a good job for the Royal House and hey, they will only stay 2 months. Nothing tragic imo.

[Al_bina]

In my personal opinion, normal people are curious as to why Crown Princely couple decided to have the trip in question. The phrase" ... like a normal person", which is over abused by the poor rich and mighty languishing in their dull existence and wishing for some new experiences, angers many normal people. It is understandable.

[sm1939]

well they are going ahead with the trip weather people like or not , I say good on them , hope they have a good time ! see them in the new year .

[Scandinavian]

The people in Norway is has nothing against this. This is not a big deal in Scandinavian press.
So why people in USA and other countries is juding them, i do not understand.

They ar first of all royals for the Norwegian people. And when the opinion in Norway is ok with it, is that what really matters.

So i do not understand why so many of you make so big deal of this.

It is no reason to speculate and create "scandales"

[Esmerelda]

Originally Posted by Scandinavian

They ar first of all royals for the Norwegian people. And when the opinion in Norway is ok with it, is that what really matters.

That's a very good point.

[rominet09]

I really hope there will be pix and news sometimes in these two months

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Scandinavian

The people in Norway is has nothing against this. This is not a big deal in Scandinavian press.
So why people in USA and other countries is juding them, i do not understand.

They ar first of all royals for the Norwegian people. And when the opinion in Norway is ok with it, is that what really matters.

So i do not understand why so many of you make so big deal of this.

It is no reason to speculate and create "scandales"

since this is an international message board people are free to discuss and give their opinion and are not bound to what norwegian people may think or have to be norwegian to comment on issues that are relatated to the norwegian royals

[Her_Majesty]

Originally Posted by Scandinavian

The people in Norway is has nothing against this. This is not a big deal in Scandinavian press.
So why people in USA and other countries is juding them, i do not understand.

They ar first of all royals for the Norwegian people. And when the opinion in Norway is ok with it, is that what really matters.

Well, Scandinavian, in the end you are right. We can all discuss this , like or dislike the idea of the journey; but imo in the end the most important thing is that the Royal couple and the Norwegian people are fine with the CP couple's descission.

[Scandinavian]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

since this is an international message board people are free to discuss and give their opinion and are not bound to what norwegian people may think or have to be norwegian to comment on issues that are relatated to the norwegian royals

I know that, I'm just saying in the end the most important thing is that the norwegian people is fine with it.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Scandinavian

I know that, I'm just saying in the end the most important thing is that the norwegian people is fine with it.

Not so sure, in the end they do what they want anyway (eg Haakon getting married to MM or the couple escaping to London, clearly against public opinion). Most Norwegians arent exactly excited about what ML & Ari Behn do but it doesnt have any impact on their actions. Kind of family tradition.

[Her_Majesty]

"They do what they want" sounds very negative. It sounds like the CP couple often acts inappropriate which is simply not true. Apart from travelling to London for studying: what else did they ever do that was causing turmoil in Norway (I don't want to mention the pre-wedding time. I just mean their time as CP couple)? And: the Norwegian media only wrote about the journey soon after the announcement. Since then no one really seemed to care about all of this. Well, and imo Märtha and Ari don't really belong into this thread. They are responsible for their own behaviour.

[Duke of Marmalade]

I never said that they behaved not approriately. What I wanted to say is that especially Haakon (I will leave his sister out of this thread) is willing to take unpopular decisions that he thinks is right (choice of spouse, going abroad for some time with MM to study) regardless of public opinion or what Norwegians think about this decision.

Good for him that Norway is quite a tolerant country, I couldnt imagine any other CP couple getting away with travelling, staying out of the country to do studies etc.

[Her_Majesty]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I never said that they behaved not approriately.

Okay, sorry. Then it just sounded like this to me.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Her_Majesty

Okay, sorry. Then it just sounded like this to me.

No probs, I guess I could have been more precise!

[vestfoldlilja]

1. It was never any turmoil in Norway over the Crown Prince couple studying in London, why would there be? It’s tradition for the heir to the throne to study abroad, why would them taking a year in London be viewed differently than the Crown Prince studying at Berkley in USA as he did? The Crown Princess is also studying part-time now; clearly she sees the importance of improving her knowledge as a future Queen. And what she studied in London has been very relevant to her work later regarding HIV/Aids.



2. In regards to the Crown Prince’s choice in a wife, well he did prove everyone wrong. Mette-Marit did turn out to be well suited to be Crown Princess even though in the beginning a lot of people were screaming she were a bad choice for a future queen. She does a very good job; has taken her responsibilities seriously and won the hearts of the Norwegian people. The negativity, turmoil and to a large extent plain upheave from the press that surrounded the Crown Princess before and right after their engagement is all but gone now, and both of them are well respected and liked by their people. I don’t see why her past has to be dragged up at every turn. People all make mistakes and it wouldn’t be much of a world if people weren’t allowed a fresh start and a new go at it. I think many of her previous life experiences is what makes her such a warm and strong woman.

[4Pam]

I think it's a good idea for the CP couple to show their children that not everyone lives the same life that they do. And that their positions in society is a privilege, they should be grateful for what the life that they have and the support they have from their country.