Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s Day
HRH Mette-Marit is the Crown Princess of Norway and the wife of Crown Prince Haakon, who is the heir apparent to the throne. If this should happen, then HRH Mette-Marit would become the Queen consort of Norway. Her importance to the hierarchy of Norway’s nobility is apparent with Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s Day, a holiday that is observed on the 19th of August each year on her birthday.
Norway (Flag day)It is a day when Norwegians fly the country’s flag and show their respect and admiration for the Crown Princess. However, it is not a public holiday, so businesses and government offices remain open for the day, and it is not a day off for the general population.
A Quick Biography of Crown Princess Mette-Marit
Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby was born on August 19, 1973, to parents Sven O. Høiby and Marit Tjessem in Kristiansand. She attended Oddernes upper secondary school in Kristiansand and then spent 6 months at Wangaratta High School in North East Victoria, Australia, as an exchange student.
She later attended Kristiansand Cathedral School and passed her final exams in 1994. In the 1990s, she attended the largest music festival in Norway, the Quart Festival, where she met Crown Prince Haakon at a garden party. She met him again years later at another party related to the festival. The two got married in 2001, making Mette-Marit the Crown Princess of Norway.
Observing Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s Day
For most people, this holiday is celebrated by flying the Norwegian flag. However, there are also official ceremonies that celebrate the birthday of the Crown Princess. These ceremonies are usually private, however, so they are not open to the general public. It is also a day when the Norwegian Armed Forces celebrate the day with a 21-gun salute.
Norway (Flag day)
