– It is very fun and honourable, says Mette Marit Bie Sørum about the invitation. Earlier this summer, she was surprised when she opened the mailbox. There was an extra nice envelope. Mette Marit, who was to celebrate her 70th birthday a few days later, initially thought it was a card from a guest. But on the back of the envelope was a royal emblem. – It’s not every day you get an envelope with a royal emblem, says Mette Marit Bie Sørum, who was a little shaken when she received the invitation. Photo: ROBERT HANSEN / news – That emblem is not from just anyone. I was completely shaking and had to go into my husband’s garage, and then we opened it together, she says. Mette Marit does not disregard the fact that her name has been important for the invitation. – They meet a lot of nice people, so my name probably means something in that context, she smiles. Backyard party at the castle Tonight – on the crown prince couple’s 22nd wedding anniversary – Mette Marit Bie Sørum is among nearly 400 guests who will celebrate Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s 50th birthdays together with the celebrants and the rest of the royal family. Instead of a gala dinner with foreign royal guests, the crown prince couple have chosen to invite people from all over Norway to an outdoor backyard party at the castle. In 2018, Mette Marit Bie Sørum met the crown prince couple on their tour in Vestfold. Photo: Liv Anette Luane, The Royal Court The marking of the 50th anniversary already started in February, when the couple undertook the first of five anniversary trips around the country to highlight some of what they value most in Norway. Get to know the people and the country. – We weren’t too keen on celebrating ourselves, some of us, said Crown Princess Mette-Marit when news met her on the occasion of her birthday this summer. – So instead we wanted to celebrate what we like about Norway, and the nice people who live in this country. Say “hello, we appreciate you, you are important to our country”. When the crown prince couple visited Asker football and the street team earlier this year, the summer’s jubilants each received their own football shirt with their name and “50” on it in gold lettering. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news The Crown Princess asked to take a picture It will not be the first time Mette Marit from Holmestrand has met the royals. Three times she has been responsible for visits by the royal family in Vestfold. In 2018, she worked at the University of Southeast Norway and welcomed the Crown Prince couple on their tour of the county. When she greeted them and said her name, the crown princess smiled. – And the crown prince said that he should probably remember that name, says Bie Sørum. A little later, Crown Princess Mette-Marit informed the Chief of Court that she wanted a picture together with Mette Marit from Holmestrand. – It is not every day that I meet a Mette Marit, said Mette-Marit, she says. The picture of the namesake sister was posted on the castle’s Instagram page, and Bie Sørum was called by Se og Hør, who made a case about the meeting. Although it has been five years, she received confirmation that the Crown Prince couple still remember her. When they visited another campus at the university in March, the rector was urgently told to greet Mette Marit. Mette Marit Bie Sørum is a firebrand and cultural figure in Holmestrand. In addition, she has been responsible for three royal visits. Photo: ROBERT HANSEN / news Switchboard lady kept fainting Mette Marit from Holmestrand is one of 94 women in Norway with the first name, according to Statistics Norway. Fewer than four use a hyphen and are named Mette-Marit. Mette Marit Bie Sørum was born 20 years before the crown prince couple. It was the older sister who chose the name because she was so excited about the Mette Marit books, she says. She thinks it has been great that the crown princess bears the same name. Mette Marit Bie Sørum has her outfit ready for the celebration in the backyard of the Palace on Friday. Photo: ROBERT HANSEN / news – I get a lot of comments, and it’s just nice. Once I called news and introduced myself, I think the switchboard lady was about to pass out. I didn’t even manage to say the last name. Eventually she realized it wasn’t the crown princess, she laughs. Organized a concert as a birthday present Now she is very much looking forward to celebrating at the castle on Friday. In the invitation, it was stated that the crown prince couple did not want gifts, but instead encouraged guests to do something nice for the local environment. Mette Marit took the birthday wish from the royals in stride. The day before her own 70th birthday celebration, she and others organized a concert for volunteers in Holmestrand and the surrounding area. The singing group in which Mette Marit participates, Ørens Lyd, performed at short notice. Mette Marit Bie Sørum and other volunteers organized a concert for over 100 audiences in Holmestrand, at the request of the crown prince couple to do something nice for the local environment. Photo: HOLMESTRAND PHOTO CLUB Over 100 members of the audience enjoyed music, cakes and coffee. The evening was documented and the photos were sent to the Castle, at the request of the celebrants. – It was so nice, she says. Bie Sørum does not think it will be difficult to find something to talk about with the crown prince couple. – They are a like-minded couple who want to create a good dynamic and understanding when you meet them. They make you feel good, she says. The 50-year crisis While Crown Princess Mette-Marit turned 50 just a week ago, on 19 August, Crown Prince Haakon turned 50 on 20 July. He has several times laughingly stated that he “absolutely knows the 50-year crisis”. – Now it is the 50-year crisis that applies. So it’s just a matter of getting on with the 50-year crisis and getting the most out of it, the crown prince told news this summer. – How is that crisis? – For me, it’s probably something like water activities, skiing… Doing things that I think are fun and that give me energy. – I am often asked what I would have done if I were not the crown prince. Then I would have been a pro surfer on the World Tour. Maybe an ex-professional by the way, because now I’m almost 50, Crown Prince Haakon acknowledged and laughed.
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Mette Marit from Holmestrand celebrates the crown prince couple – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
