SOCIETY / BUSINESS

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark delivers powerful speech to the United Nations Human Rights Council

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has delivered a powerful speech on women’s rights to open the 44th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The 48-year-old gave her heartfelt address virtually, as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic meant she was unable to travel to Switzerland.

Despite the distance, her words were no less powerful as she discussed how the health crisis has had a “disproportionate” devastating effect on vulnerable women in developing countries.

“Human rights do not end just as an emergency begins, pregnancies do not end when emergencies begin… Sexual and gender-based violence does not end, rather, on the contrary, it increases in emergencies,’ she began, addressing the UNHRC Commissioner and assembled delegates.

“This year the world is in the grip of a major global health crisis,” she said. “COVID-19 is not only a global health emergency, but it is also devastating for economic and social development for humanitarian situations and the protection of human rights. While it is true the virus, itself, does not discriminate, the way it impacts does.

“Conflicts and displacement impacts women and girls disproportionately, as too the consequences of the current pandemic. Women and girls’ vulnerabilities are unique, they face different risks and they often not have access to the resources and services that society has to offer,’ she explained.

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The wife of the future heir to the Danish throne added that the increased risk of violence against women had created a “crisis within the crisis.”

The Crown Princess has a longstanding relationship with the United Nations, having been named as a patron for the UN Population Fund in 2010.

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Their mission is to “deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled”.

For her role, the Australian-born royal has visited developing countries to campaign for the rights of women. In November, the mother-of-four travelled to Kenya where she co-hosted a summit calling for an end to violence against women and child marriages.

In December, she visited Indonesia on behalf of the UN to see mobile clinics designed to improve access to contraception throughout the country and took place in discussions speaking out on the illegal practice of female circumcision.

Featured image: By UNRIC – CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Sweden’s Crown Princess Family has fun on Instagram with exercises

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel are passionate about staying fit and encouraging others to stay in shape. They find it especially important that children get up and move and not just stay inside in front of a screen all day.

Through their initiative Gen Pep and Rädda Barnen (Save the Children), the platform “Digifritids” was created for children in the lower and middle school age brackets. Digifritids has jigsaw tips, games, workout films for children and families to take part in.

The Crown Princess Couple founded Gen Pep, a non-profit organisation, to encourage children and young people in Sweden to “have the ability and desire to live an active and healthy life.” The organisation also spreads information to assist young people in finding information on living a healthy life.

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In the Instagram video on Gen Pep’s feed, the Crown Princess Family is seen in their Haga Palace home. There, Princess Estelle says that she is bored and asks the family to come up with something to do. Prince Daniel asks her, “Are you tired of just sitting here?”

The Crown Princess then asks Estelle, 8, for suggestions, and Estelle pulls up Digifritids on the laptop nearby. Four-year-old Prince Oscar then helps select a video on the screen showing an activity where one person is in a push-up position while another crawls under them before hopping back over them.

Prince Daniel is then seen on the floor with Prince Oscar on his back while Princess Estelle crawls under him and then hops over him and her brother. Crown Princess Victoria watches on as her husband and two kids fall to the ground laughing.

Photo: Anna Lena Ahlstrom/Kungahuset.se

Norway: Oslo’s Royal Palace to be closed this summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Royal Palace in Oslo will not be open for guided tours this summer. In a statement, representatives from the palace apologised and said that they hoped to welcome people back in the summer of 2021.

The Royal Palace in Oslo is ordinarily open to the public in the summer. Ticket sales always start on March 1st for tours of the same year. Everyone who visits the Royal Palace must follow a guided tour, and during the season, tours are held every 15-20 minutes during operating hours each day.

In addition to an exhibition that is new every year, visitors receive a guided tour of the Royal Palace’s most beautiful representation rooms, such as the Minister’s Lounge and the White Lounge, as well as the famous Bird Room and many of the palace’s grand halls. The small and large banquet halls are in use at major events, and when there is a gala dinner at the Royal Palace, more than 200 people can be seated in the Great Dining Hall. Visitors are also able to visit the palace’s most beautiful guest room, the King Haakon Suite.

Although the Royal Palace itself is closed, you can visit the Palace Park all day. The Palace Oscarshall, located close to the Royal Palace, is open from 27 June to 30 August, and Queen Sonja’s Art Stable opens 4 July with the exhibition “The Palace + Munch”.

The Royal Palace in Oslo was built in the first half of the 19th century as the Norwegian residence of the French-born King Charles III John of Norway, who reigned as King of Norway and Sweden. The palace is the official residence of the current Norwegian monarch while the Crown Prince resides at the Skaugum Estate.

The palace is located at the end of Karl Johan’s Gate in central Oslo and is surrounded by the Palace Park with the Palace Square in the front.

Featured image: Oslo’s Royal Palace. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Norway: The Norwegian Royal Family’s summer plans revealed

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – The Norwegian Royal Family has revealed its plans for the summer. A spokesperson for the Royal Court told the state run Norwegian TV channel, NRK, that the family will spend their holidays in Norway because of the coronavirus pandemic. King Harald and Queen Sonja will be at their country house on Mågerø, while Crown Prince Haakon and his family will be vacationing in the southern part of the country. The Royal Family will also spend time aboard the Royal Yacht.

The Crown Prince and his family will probably stay at the villa “Vogt”. It became known in April that the municipality of Kristiansand, where Crown Princess Mette-Marit grew up, has unanimously agreed to rent out the villa and the surrounding area to the Crown Prince couple for another five new years.

The family has already rented the villa for the past ten years and used the property sporadically, mainly in the summer. As a tenant, the Crown Prince couple has paid each year just over NOK 200,000, about USD 20,000, to rent the property, which includes both a villa, two boat-places and a 22-acre site.

King Harald and Queen Sonja will have the opportunity to visit their son, daughter in law and grandchildren there this summer. However, they will also be on their property at Mågerø. The Villa Mågerø is King Harald’s private summer resort, south of the city of Tønsberg. The modern villa was completed in 1993. The property is close to a Norwegian military base guarding the property as an honorary assignment. The property ensures the royal family’s privacy as it is completely inaccessible to ordinary people and the press. Several royal birthdays have been celebrated here.

Queen Sonja has already used the royal yacht this summer, but the yacht will be used more this summer. The Norwegian monarch has had a royal yacht since the Viking ages. The current yacht is “KS Norge”.

The Norwegian Royal Yacht is one of the world’s two remaining royal yachts. The other is the Danish Royal Yacht Dannebrog. The Royal Yacht was a gift from the people of Norway to King Haakon VII in 1947, purchased in the wake of a nationwide collection effort. The ship is owned by His Majesty The King but is manned and maintained by the Royal Norwegian Navy.

Featured image: The Norwegian Royal Yacht “KS Norge”. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Norway: Princess Martha Louise’s daughter Maud Angelica Behn talks about impact of Ari Behn’s death

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Maud Angelica Behn, daughter of Princess Martha Louise and Ari Behn is also the granddaughter of King Harald and Queen Sonja. She impressed many with her moving speech at her father’s funeral in January this year. Ari Behn took his own life on Christmas Day 2019. For the first time since the death, Princess Martha Louise and her daughters have talked about the hard time with the Norwegian Telegram Agency.

Maud Angelica Behn, who is seventeen, says that she felt overwhelmed and in shock after her father’s death. Nevertheless, today she is proud of the poignant speech she made in his honour. She says: “It was so important to me to give that speech. It meant so much to me that I could get some value and something nice out of all the awfulness. And I felt that I could do that with my speech and to use my grief to say something to others.”

Princess Märtha Louise and her daughters Emma Tallulah Behn, Leah Isadora Behn and Maud Angelica Behn also gave NTB a tour of Gallery Varden where a selection of Ari Behn’s art will now be on display. The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday.

This week the family has been on several trips to Jeløya, where a memorial exhibition is being prepared. It will include a selection of Ari Behn’s paintings as well as prints made by Maud Angelica.

Maud Angelica was very open about receiving support from a psychologist and from a care group she has participated in. Nevertheless, she told NTB the past months have been painful. She continues: “Mom has said it is a bit like breathing in and out. Sometimes you have to think about it, and sometimes not. My father was very good with words and compliments. It was so poetic and nice.”

Princess Märtha Louise says it has been difficult time for the children after their father died, continuing “luckily, things are getting better and better gradually. At the same time, there are many good memories to look back on. That they are going to grow up without a father is just heart-breaking.”

Featured image: Princess Märtha Louise (By Richter Frank-Jurgen – Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

Queen Silvia of Sweden and Germany’s First Lady Elke Büdenbender unite to fight abuse of children

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Queen Silvia of Sweden had had a telephone meeting with the First Lady of Germany to discuss the opening of Germany’s third “Children’s Home”, set up to support and protect young people who have been subjected to sexual abuse. The initiative, started by Her Majesty the Queen of Sweden, offers children help from doctors, judges, psychologists and social services all in one place.

The Swedish Queen and Germany’s First Lady, Elke Büdenbender, have been involved in this work for a long time. They work together to provide German children with strong support when they need it. The Queen and Mrs. Büdenbender last year united to open the new “Childeren House” in the city of Heidelberg. Mrs. Büdenbender is a German judge, and, since 1995, the wife of Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the current President of Germany.

During the event in Heidelberg in 2019 Her Majesty the Queen said: “Children rely on us adults and are shaped by what we say or do near them. In an ideal world, a facility like the Childhood Home would not be necessary. Nevertheless, unfortunately the reality is different. When the terrible thing has happened and a child has experienced violence, it is important that they receive the best possible support.”

In Germany there are already “Children’s Home” facilities in Leipzig and Heidelberg, and in September of this year a brand new Children’s Home will be set up in Berlin. Another is expected to open in the autumn in the German city of Düsseldorf.

In a Children’s Home, children who have been subjected to sexual abuse receive support and protection. A multi-professional team consisting of doctors, judges, psychologists, social services experts work together for the best interests of the children. All the Children’s Homes established in Germany have been opened with the support of the World Childhood Foundation which is governed by the Queen of Sweden.

The World Childhood Foundation was founded by Queen Silvia in 1999 in an effort to reach and support children at risk around the world. The Foundation’s focus is on protecting children from sexual abuse as well as supporting those who have already been abused, with a focus on girls and young mothers. The World Childhood Foundation currently supports over 115 programs in 17 countries.

Featured image: Queen Silvia on the phone with First Lady Mrs. Büdenbender. (The Royal Court)

Denmark: Crown Prince Frederik’s emotional visit to Syrian refugee camp

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Crown Prince Frederik paid an emotional visit to the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan last week, visiting with Save the Children Denmark to mark the organisation’s 75th anniversary.

The Zaatari refugee camp is just east of the Jordanian city of Mafraq and is the world’s largest Syrian refugee camp. It opened in 2012 following the Syrian Civil War and housed around 76,000 refugees, of which over half are children.

Crown Prince Frederik was joined by the Danish Minister of Development, Rasmus Prehn, and Save the Children’s Secretary-General, Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, for the visit which, according to the Royal House, “focused on the work to strengthen the mental health and psychosocial well-being of children and young people in humanitarian crises.”

“I have learned today that in the middle of a dark and gloomy outer area, light can be made in transmitted meaning to larger groups and especially to children and young people,” Crown Prince Frederik said in a media release on Save the Children Denmark’s official website.

“It is useful to be here [and it] is important to elucidate issues in order to help and lift children out of trauma. It is Save the Children once again front runners on. It is fantastic.”

At the Zaatari refugee camp, Save the Children Denmark has opened both educational and football training centres to help children in all aspects of their development. Crown Prince Frederik and Minister Prehn joined young people at the camp in playing with Lego and football and joining in for a meal of kebabs and meatballs.

At the education center, educators are trained “to care for under-stimulated children who, through play and friendships, enhance their learning ability, positive behaviour and mental well-being.” Nearly 40 per cent of children are educated at Save the Children Denmark’s centre.

Crown Prince Frederik and Minister Prehn then visited a football training project to see how learning the sport is also giving the children life skills such as “tools to resolve conflicts, deal with difficult emotions and develop their confidence.”

“It is absolutely invaluable that the Crown Prince and the Minister of Development help us to focus on how crucial the work on children’s mental war damage is,” said Schmidt-Nielsen.

“Children fleeing must have food, water and shelter for rain and cold. But they also need psychological first aid and support to process their traumatic experiences. For children at war are destroyed inside. The great news is that they can heal, and I am so happy to showcase our important work.”

Save the Children Denmark was founded on 14 March 1943 to help Danish children who were displaced and starving during the Second World War. Today, it still helps children displaced by war but has grown to become an international operation.

Crown Prince Frederik is the patron of Save the Children Denmark (redbarnet.dk).

Featured image: Crown Prince Frederik (By Mogens Engelund – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Sweden: Her Royal Highness Princess Adrienne Josephine Alice of Sweden, Duchess of Blekinge turns two

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Sweden’s youngest royal is celebrating her second birthday today with her family in Miami, Florida, where the family resides. To celebrate, Princess Madeleine posted a beautiful photo of her youngest child on Instagram. In her post, she said, “Happy Birthday to the sweetest little sister and best baby girl!”

Princess Madeleine regularly posts about her children on her Instagram account and marked her eldest child, Princess Leonore’s birthday in February with a special post.

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Princess Adrienne, the youngest child of Princess Madeleine and Chris O’Neill, was born one year ago in Danderyd Hosptial in Danderyd, Sweden. She joined older siblings, Princess Leonore (b. 20 February 2014 in New York) and Prince Nicolas (b. 15 June 2015 in Danderyd).

Her Royal Highness Princess Adrienne Josephine Alice of Sweden, Duchess of Blekinge, was born on 9 March 2018. As tenth in line of succession to the Swedish throne, Adrienne is the third granddaughter and seventh grandchild of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.

Adrienne was christened into the Church of Sweden on 8 June 2018 in the Royal Chapel of Drottningholm Palace; the date is a special one for her family as it was the day her parents married in 2013 and the date of Leonore’s 2014 christening.

The Princess’s godparents are Anouska d’Abo, Coralie Charriol Paul, Nader Panahpour, Gustav Thott, Charlotte Kreuger Cederlund and Natalie Werner.

She held the style of Royal Highness until October of last year when her grandfather removed the Royal Highness status and position in the Royal House from his grandchildren through his son, Prince Carl Philip and his wife, Princess Sofia, as well as the children of Princess Madeleine and her husband, Chris.

Princess Adrienne’s cousins, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar, retain their place in the Royal House and status as Royal Highnesses as they are the children of Crown Princess Victoria – the future queen.

Featured image: Instagram/@princess_madeleine_of_sw

Norway: Norwegian Royal Family family cancels event due to coronavirus

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Due to the coronavirus, the Norwegian Royal Family has cancelled its participation at the Holmenkollen Ski Festival this weekend, the Royal Court said in a press release on Friday afternoon.

The full release stated the following: “Unfortunately, the Royal Family finds reason to cancel their presence at the Holmenkollen Ski Festival. This is in line with the decision made by the authorities to cancel the public event.”

The virus has now affected many royal families. The Belgian state visit to Italy has been cancelled due to fear of infection. Princess Estelle’s school is closed after one of the students got the virus, and the Swedish Royal Family also postponed a Representation Dinner in fear of the virus.

As of 6 March, a total of 105 Norwegians have tested positive for the virus.

It has been known for several weeks that Princess Astrid, King Harald and possibly other members of the family were expected both on Saturday and Sunday at the ski festival. The municipality of Oslo said the event will take place without spectators but will be broadcast on TV. It was expected that around 30,000 people would attend the ski festival in Holmenkollen this weekend.

Guri Varpe, Head of Communications at the Royal Palace, does not want to comment further on the issue. However, when King Harald and Queen Sonja met with the Norwegian press in Petra in Jordan earlier this week, the royals explained that they were not particularly afraid of the virus. His Majesty the King said then: “We are here, so the virus has not had any impact. We follow very simple rules of hand hygiene and such, which should make it more difficult for the virus to get us.”

On Friday morning, there was a known total of 105 cases of coronavirus in Norway. As a result, several changes have been made to Norwegian airlines and other institutions. On 26 February, Norway confirmed the first case of COVID-19. The Norway Institute of Public Health announced that someone tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 after returning from China the previous week.

Featured image: holmenkollenskifestival.no

Sweden: Princess Estelle’s school cancels classes after student diagnosed with coronavirus

By
Helena-Reet Ennet
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NordenBladet – Princess Estelle of Sweden’s school has cancelled classes today (06.March) after a student at the elementary school tested positive for the coronavirus last night. The school says they are gathering more information on what to do from Infectious Diseases Stockholm and the Public Health Agency, and at the moment school is only cancelled today. Further decisions will be made this afternoon with the guidance of the organisations.

A letter was sent out to the parents today cancelling classes saying they “choose to stay closed one day to wait for guidance.” They are getting clear guidance on how the school should act to minimise the risk of infection of other students.

The school said, “We have full confidence in the Public Health Authority and the recommendations of the healthcare system.”

Several students, besides the one who tested positive, are in voluntary isolation as they live in infected areas.

The Royal Court has confirmed to Expressen that it is not the eight-year-old Princess who is infected.

Teachers at the school are preparing lessons and assignments in case the school has to be closed for more than one day.

Sweden has 52 cases of the deadly virus, 31 of which are in Stockholm.

The Swedish Royal Family postponed a representation dinner earlier this week due to the virus. It was due to have taken place last night at the Royal Palace.

Last week, it was revealed that four pupils at Thomas’s Battersea in London, where Prince George and Princess Charlotte attend, were in self-isolation.

Featured image: Anna-Lena Ahlström, The Royal Court of Sweden

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