– This can hardly feel generous?
– It is not always fun to read the comments on how I dress, but it is not what is most important in my role. I would take it much harder if the papers wrote I did my job poorly and I was not present for the people I meet. Besides it is not correct that I don’t use Norwegian design, I do, and have done the last 5 years, not least because it is part of my work as a Crown Princess to promote Norwegian interests and support Norwegian designers. But I can’t send a press release every time I wear something Norwegian, it is impossible and the editorial in Fedrelandsvennen I don’t want to comment on.
- What limitation does the Crown Princess role put on your work
- I don’t think it is relevant to focus on the limitations but would rather focus on the possibilities. It is a gift to be heard when I say something I think is important. What I need to think about is that to be to firm (sure/bombastic/righteous) in my statements. I balance in a field where it is necessary to think thoroughly before I speak (bet she got that from her hubby who never speaks without thinking...a lot)
- You have met a lot of people the last 5 years, who has made the strongest impression on you?
- For me the work for the mental health telethon has made and unforgettable impression, for the first time I felt like I could use the entire Crown Princess role in my work, the meetings I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Another meeting I will never forget was with two young women at a night dorm for prostitutes in Oslo. It is the most brutal meeting with Norwegian reality I have ever had. Two beautiful young women, with all their life in front of them who saw no other option that to prostitute themselves. IT was incredible strong.
- 1,5 years ago you were in Malawi, how has the meeting with suffering children affected you as a mother?
- I travelled there just days after Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s 1st birthday. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, and strongly affected by HIV/AIDS. The 4 days there was the worst I have ever seen, we visited many strongly affected areas, in one hospital there were 20 mothers with their sick children in their arms and it was so obvious that some of the newborns was not going to make it much longer. To then leave and go sit in you car, to leave them. It felt so… hopeless, I felt incredible guilty over the fact that I could just leave them, and go home to my healthy children. It was too absurd. But I cannot let go the fact that it meant something that I was there, and I thought I could not just forget about this, it was something we HAD to work with. HIV /AIDS are incredible complicated. It is necessary to focus on what you can do and not what you can’t do. Many African countries have gotten good results from humanitarian projects. It is important for the help to be successful that help is founded in the local community and resources; you need it to be directed on all levels.
- Does the Crown Princess not feel that the gap between the life you live and the life of many of the people gets very big?
- The starting point has to be that we are all humans, we al have he same dreams, we want a good life for our families and children, and those we care about, and if I can help create possibilities for people it is a good thing. I am grateful that I have gotten the possibility to meet so many different people
- It is not many who have experienced such changes in their life like you have?
- Everyone thinks my life has changed so completely, but I have been living it all the time so it does not feel so huge for me as I have been there the whole time, I am not a different person. Of course much is different, but I NEED to keep a level of normality, I have an everyday life as well, my work, the children, dinner, you know…. everyday stuff. No matter what life you lead the most important is to be around people you care about. If I’m going to go around focus on the differences in my life now and then I would have trouble relating to my life as it is now. I am the same but I have gotten incredible possibilities, I have grown a lot the last years and the learning curve has been pretty steep.
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- What do you like best in your role as Crown Princess?
- It is much I appreciate, but if I should focus on something it should be all the different people I get to meet
- What do you like the least?
- I t would be comfortable with a little less attention sometimes. I don’t think I`m created for it but it is something I must deal with.
She excuses herself, the lunch for the Spanish King and Queen is waiting and she runs of to get ready.
Next time we meet we are in the Crown Prince Couples private apartment at the Palace, a tastefully decorated two room apartment, a living room and a wardrobe (in addition to bedroom and bath I guess), wall to wall with the apartment of the King and Queen. The Crown Princess comes running from a meeting with two young Norwegian designers. The week before she had opened an exhibition “From Valdres to Vogue” where 8 designers present their work.
- It is a wonderful exhibition, I know several of their work from before, but it is interesting to see their work presented like this. I think Norwegian design has high quality but the possibilities for production is not that good here in Norway. But we are moving forward, and I think things will happen in this field as well.
Earlier in the day she was in a jury meeting with the Crown Prince Couples humanitarian foundations writing competition for schoolchildren, the theme is the UN 1000 year goals and HIV/AIDS and how the children see the world.
- Very inspiring, on top of the winner three others will be recognised and wee will meet with them here at the Palace.
- It seems your agenda is always fully booked, do you have time to keep in contact with your old friends.
- Yes I do, I keep contact with many of my old friends, but as peoples life and situation change your circle of friends do as well, especially as you get married, and then I have gotten several new friends as well.
- Is it difficult for you to trust people?
- I would have a poor life if I should go around and think that people would betray my confidence. Besides if people break my trust it is often more of ignorance than for being evil. Of course I hope people I know won’t blabber about my private life but I cannot make my life more complicated by going around being suspicious.
……..
How did you meet Haakon?
- We met trough common friends, at Quart festivalen
- What did you fall for?
She jokes, when the most sought after bachelor is in front of you, you don’t focus on the details. No, seriously, I fell for his warmth, his peculiar humor, it’s a little strange. We laugh a lot together; it happens so much when we travel. On one of our first trips in Norway suddenly it was announced that the Crown Prince would give a speech, that was not in the plans at all, but he did it anyway of the beat because he did not want to disappoint anyone. It was a little empty of content and stottering but I don’t think anyone noticed it, and we had a complete giggle attack about it in the car after words.
- What famous person has had the biggest impression on you?
- My husband no doubt. He is a generous person, one of the most unprejudiced persons I know. He has a strong inner moral and that he lives by. I make an effort everyday to be a good person together with Haakon. He does not speak negative about anyone, and he has but rarely prejudices. My parents in law are also very impressive in how they live for their role. I admire the work they do for Norway. The joy and work they put in their duty I am enormously respectful for.
- You are the most public people in the country, how do you keep the romance.
- We have the same challenges as other parents with small children. But we have great respect for each other and common values but we need to decide to put of time for just the two of us and our love..
) and now I am hooked on it. In the beginning I only walked to Frognerseteren because that was the way I knew the best but now I walk and ski a lot in the nature in Asker, it is incredible beautiful and not so crowded. We put on the skis at Skaugum and walk right out from there, in the weekends we go the whole family together. Marius has gotten so accomplished, and Ingrid as well, she is only two but she can stand down the hills if she stands between the legs of her brother. I think it is important to raise your children with the Norwegian traditions, and I do really see the value of keeping yourself fit and in good shape, it is essential with the program and agenda we have in our lives.
