NordenBladet – Crown Prince Haakon is currently on a special journey in southern Norway. The goal is to learn more about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected various Norwegian industries and the Norwegian people. Last week the journey started in Østfold on Tuesday, when the Crown Prince visited a virus test station. On Wednesday and Thursday the journey continued to Vestfold and Telemark.
Now a new week is starting and the journey continues to Western Norway and the city of Kristiansund. Crown Prince Haakon was on Tuesday accompanied by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette Marit. The royals used the royal yacht “KS Norge” during the visit.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were greeted by children waving flags when they started the day by visiting the Allanengen Primary School. The rector of the kindergarten accompanied Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit to the “Breathing Room” where they met five children and three teachers. The conversation was about integration and the children’s everyday school life during the pandemic.
From the kindergarten, the royals continued to a school in downtown Kristiansund. Here they got to learn about the children’s experiences in the last six months with home schooling. Then followed a visit to the campus of Norway’s western university. Crown Prince Haakon visited the university alone to learn more about the new plans for new buildings at the university. His Royal Highness also oversaw the opening of a brand new house for students at the campus.
Cultural life in Norway has also been hit hard in the last six months by the pandemic. Outside the city`s Opera House. Crown Prince Haakon was greeted by the local opera director and young people who danced in the west-Norwegian Opera House. Inside the opera, Crown Prince Haakon received briefings about the Opera and about the cultural school.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit also visited the municipality’s test station for Covid-19 together with Mayor Kjell Neergaard. On Wednesday, the journey continues to the city of Florø. The journey ends on Thursday in Stavanger.