Crown Prince Haakon's trip ends with a visit to Berlin
Berlin has a royal visitor - on the fourth and final day of his tour of Germany, Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon is stopping off in the German capital. Norway's heir to the throne has been traveling through Germany since Monday, touring the country's largest cities. The 50-year-old royal had previously visited Munich and Hamburg.
In Berlin, he will be joined by his wife and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The couple are among the most popular royals in Europe and represent a young, modern and nature-loving Norway. The 50-year-old will accompany Haakon on his appointments in Berlin. Haakon arrived in Berlin by train from Hamburg early on Wednesday evening.
Commemoration of November 9
The aim of Haakon's visit to Germany is to strengthen the close relations between Norway and Germany. Key topics in Munich and Hamburg were initially the economy, energy, shipping, defense and culture. Haakon is traveling with a business delegation and members of the Norwegian cabinet.
Today, the royal couple will attend a commemoration ceremony for November 9 at the Berlin Wall Memorial. The 34th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 is being commemorated with numerous events in Berlin and Brandenburg.
Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner welcomed Haakon and Mette-Marit's participation in the commemorative event. "The day the Wall fell will always remain a day of ambivalence," Wegner said in a statement in advance. "On November 9, 1989, we joyfully remember the end of the Wall regime that divided Berlin and Germany. But at the same time, we remember the dead, those injured in body and soul and the Germans who were prevented from developing their opportunities and freedom by the SED state for decades."
Meeting with Steinmeier and Scholz
The royal couple will also meet Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Bellevue Palace and will then be received by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in the Chancellery.
The fact that Mette-Marit will only join her husband at the end of the trip to Germany could be due to her state of health. In 2018, she was diagnosed with the chronic lung disease pulmonary fibrosis, which means she often has to take short breaks. She was last on sick leave for a few weeks in late summer.
In Munich, Haakon has already dealt with the topics of armaments and literature. In addition to a visit to the arms manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, he also attended a German-Norwegian literary event. Literature is the hobbyhorse and passion of his wife Mette-Marit. Most recently, she and Haakon promoted the works of Norwegian authors at the 2019 Frankfurt Book Fair. In Hamburg, the Crown Prince took part in a business conference at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, among other things.
- During their visit to Berlin, Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will meet with both Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, further strengthening the close ties between Norway and Germany.
- Despite being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, Crown Princess Mette-Marit will join her husband Crown Prince Haakon towards the end of their trip to Germany, showcasing the shared nobility and resilience of the royal couple.
- On the occasion of the commemoration ceremony for November 9 at the Berlin Wall Memorial, German Governing Mayor Kai Wegner expressed gratitude to Haakon and Mette-Marit for their participation, acknowledging the importance of recognizing the historical significance of events that shaped both Germany and Europe as a whole.
Source: www.dpa.com
