Marte (18) held a speech about a taboo themed issue - Queen Sonja touched to tears
Marte (18) decided to raise a difficult topic when she was going to talk to the royal couple at the garden party.
"It was very scary, but when I got into it, it went very well. Then it was just to talk from the heart'', says Marte Sklet Johansen to TV 2.
When the 18-year-old was told that she was going to hold the main speech for the royal couple and 600 guests, she decided that the speech was should be about mental health.
The reason is that many youngsters in Lillehammer have committed suicide lately, and Marte has even lost a close friend.
"The sadness you have when you lose someone becomes easier to bear when you are open and talks about it," she told TV 2.
She explains that she considered dropping to include it in the speech, but she was convinced that there was a good opportunity to talk openly about the subject.
In her speech she said, among other things:
"Both parents, family, teachers, friends all have their expectations for us. And last but not least, maybe our own expectations to ourselves are the greatest. And for some, this is so heavy and so demanding that some chooses to end their life. Here in Lillehammer we have experienced more young people and youth who have chosen to do just that. And after such a death you will be left with a deep grief and many unanswered questions. And maybe the hardest question you're left with is; Was there anything I could have done?"
She stressed that openness is the key to processing this pressure.
"I want a society where we dare to see each other into the eyes and say; Here I am and I care about you. We in Norway can be very proud of a royal couple and a crown prince couple who are standing with these values."
The speech also moved the Queen to tears.
"Yes, I saw she felt some tears, and it's very good to see because it shows how much everyone cares," she says.
According to TV 2's royal expert Kjell Arne Totland, there may be an extra reason why this theme touches Queen Sonja.
He explains that the Queen's sister Gry committed suicide in 1970 and that the Queen has talked about her feelings in the last biography about her.
"The Queen has later told that she blames herself, and as it was said from the scene, one wondered what could have been done differently", said Kjell Arne Totland.
Lots of people and a good reception
During their anniversary trip in Oppland and Hedmark, the royal couple met both young and old. Today there was the museum at Maihaugen, which was the place for the troyal couple's 80th anniversary. 600 guests are invited to the garden party.
''Lots of people and good reception everywher.''
That's what the king said about the anniversary trip to TV 2's reporter.
The royal couple and the Crown Prince couple came with horses, and the ladies had their bunads on for the occasion. The Queen was in rondastakk med rutaliv, a traditional costume from Gudbrandsdalen, while Crown Princess Mette-Marit was in the hardangerdrakten she received to her wedding
Greeted the royal couple
Among the invited were Marcus Bøe Gaarden (16) and Ingrid Tungen (16). The mayor in their hometown Nord-Fron was also glad that the youth was represented at Maihaugen.
"We are so proud of the many engaged youngsters, so we wanted to them here," says Rune Støstad (Ap).
Nord-Fron is a so-called MOT municipality, which means that they is commited to creating youth environments that are open to all. The youth organizes non-smoking parties, they promise to involve themselves, include everyone, take care of each other and care.
"I am absolutely sure that the royal couple appreciates meeting the fine youth within the MOT environment", says Støstad.
And the two youngsters were of the lucky ones who got a handshake with King Harald and Queen Sonja.
The garden party at Lillehammer started with the king holding a speech where he talked about the kindness he meets no matter where in the country they come.
"Wherever we come in Norway, notified or not, we are always welcomed with open arms. It brings great gratitude to us.''
- Means a lot
He said that Hedmark and Oppland mean much to him and the the Queen.
''Hedmark and Oppland mean a lot to the Queen and me. It was in Støa in Trysil that my mother, my sisters and I had to flee from home to Sweden, April 10, 1940. It is to Sikkilsdalen we go when we need to relax. And we are often here at Jørstad at Maihaugen.''
The Queen's childhood home now stand at Mihaugen. The villa from 1935 was moved last year from Vinderen in Oslo to Maihaugen where it is part of the collection "Boligfeltet". It is a collection of 19th-century houses, where houses, interiors and artefacts create complete, contemporary homes.
"Many move from home at a young age, but the Queen is the only one I know where the childhood home has moved after", said the King.
Tomorrow, the anniversary trip in the inland ends with visits to Nord-Odal and Kongsvinger.