By Bettina von Schimmelmann
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway (50) spent three days in Germany, meeting with business and cultural representatives in Munich and Hamburg. In Berlin, his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit (50) was at his side – and became very emotional.
The visit of the Norwegian Crown Prince was planned down to the last detail over months and it quickly became clear: Crown Princess Mette-Marit would probably not be able to take part in the entire program. She suffers from chronic pulmonary fibrosis.
Haakon completed the reception in the Munich Residence and the harbor tour in Hamburg alone. But the appointment on Thursday at the memorial site for the fall of the Berlin Wall was so important for the royal couple that Mette-Marit even decided to give the speech herself.
Due to current events, the area around the memorial on Bernauer Strasse was cordoned off and secured by numerous bodyguards. Met at 10am HaakonMette-Marit, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner (51, CDU) and other representatives at the memorial.
In her speech, Mette-Marit primarily addressed young people and called on them to be hopeful and stick together Photo: picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS
Their rows of chairs were surrounded by around 200 young people from various European schools and organizations. After the mayor’s urgent words about the current world situation, the meaning of November 9th and the political riots in Berlin, Mette-Marit took the podium.
The Crown Princess adapted to the windy weather with a dark blue wool coat, matching suit trousers and black heeled boots. Only her blonde curls kept falling over her face.
And she actually began her speech in German: “The Crown Prince and I are deeply impressed to be here today at the memorial site of the Berlin Wall – the wall that fell exactly 34 years ago.” She then continued speaking in English.
She reported on the moment when she was a 16-year-old student in Kristiansand (Norway) and Haakon was sitting in front of the television in Oslo and, like thousands of other young people across Europe, saw people dancing on the Wall. She felt the connection of freedom and hope.
Radiantly beautiful: Mette-Marit gave a speech in Berlin at the memorial to the fall of the Berlin Wall – even spoke in German Photo: picture alliance/dpa
And then the Crown Princess became emotional, her voice trembling: “Unfortunately, wars are raging in our neighborhood again. We are shocked by the human suffering in Ukraine and the Middle East.”
And further: “But we must not give up our hope in the power of human will to resolve conflicts and break down barriers. As we stand here today at the memorial wall, we are reminded that the German people did exactly that. That gives us hope.”
The guests of honor then placed roses in a slot in the wall and then took part in a service in the Chapel of Reconciliation. The royals then lit candles at the wall monument. A palace spokeswoman confirmed to BZ that the Crown Princess was doing very well that day. She had already traveled to Berlin the evening before.
And even though they shook very few hands, the royals clearly enjoyed the large number of young people and spoke spontaneously with the Norwegian delegation.
Mayor Kai Wegner emphasized the importance of the appointment to BZ: “It shows the international significance of the fall of the Wall here in Berlin. November 9th is such a great and important day for Berlin and with the Crown Prince Couple it was very exciting. The two of them are very open-minded, great, likeable and really nice people.”
In the afternoon there were appointments with Chancellor Scholz and Federal President Steinmeier.