Crown Prince Haakon's birthday

Prince HaakonOn July 20, 2003, the Norwegian crown prince turned 30 years old. Crown Prince Haakon invited guests to a modest 30th birthday party. In total, 50 members of the royal family and friends of the crown prince gathered, who came to the dacha of the royal family to congratulate Haakon and have breakfast together. But to hide completely from journalists and the public on this day, the anniversary and failed, because his wife, Mette-Marit, prepared for his wife a surprise: tickets to the concert of the Norwegian jazz star Jan Garbarek.

Jan Garbarek is one of the crown prince's favorite musicians, and Haakon did not miss the opportunity to continue celebrating his birthday with his wife at the concert of this famous Norwegian jazz player, which took place on the historic hill of Slottsfjellet in Tönsberg south of Oslo, where up to 2,000 fans of Jan Garbarek gathered. Among the spectators were other members of the royal family: Queen Sonya, the older sister of Crown Prince Martha Louise with her husband and daughter. Only King Harald, who was abroad, was absent.

Both Haakon and Mette-Marit have previously reported that the family does not intend to hold special events related to the 30th anniversary of the crown prince, as they did not have enough time to prepare the traditionally lush birthday celebration for many reasons: studying in London, participating in other events of the Royal house of Norway, pregnancy Mette Marit (their daughter Ingrid-Alexandra was born in January 2004).

Answering questions from journalists, the crown prince noted that he is happy on this day, and he personally even enjoys it, despite criticism that this birthday is celebrated quite simply in the circle of his family.