Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mette-Marit |
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| Crown Princess of Norway | |
Mette-Marit in 2013
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| Born | Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby 19 August 1973 Kristiansand, Vest-Agder, Norway |
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| House | Glücksburg (by marriage) |
| Father | Sven O. Høiby |
| Mother | Marit Tjessem |
| Religion | Church of Norway |
Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway (born Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby on 19 August 1973) is a member of the Norwegian royal family. She is married to Crown Prince Haakon, who is the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne.
Mette-Marit came from an ordinary background. Her engagement to Crown Prince Haakon in 2000 was a big event. It was unusual for a royal to marry someone who was not from a royal family. She became Crown Princess of Norway when she married in 2001. The couple has two children: Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus. They are second and third in line to the Norwegian throne. Mette-Marit also has a son, Marius Borg Høiby, from a previous relationship.
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Early Life and Education
Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby was born in Kristiansand, Norway. Her parents are Sven O. Høiby and Marit Tjessem. Her father worked as a journalist and advertiser. Her mother was a bank clerk. Her parents later divorced.
Mette-Marit has a sister and two older brothers. Her step-brother, Trond Berntsen, sadly passed away in the 2011 Norway attacks. Mette-Marit grew up in Kristiansand. She spent many weekends and holidays in the nearby valley of Setesdal. She also enjoyed time on the coast, where she learned to sail.
During her youth, Mette-Marit was active in the local Slettheia youth club. She was also an activity leader there. As a teenager, she played volleyball. She even qualified as a referee and coach.
After starting at Oddernes upper secondary school in Kristiansand, Mette-Marit spent six months in Australia. She was an exchange student at Wangaratta High School in North East Victoria. This was part of the Youth For Understanding exchange program. Later, she attended Kristiansand Cathedral School. She completed her final examinations there in 1994.
After school, she worked for several months in London. She was at the Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce. When her work in London ended, Mette-Marit moved back to Norway. She took preparatory college courses at Agder College. She also worked as a waitress at Café Engebret in Oslo.
In the late 1990s, Mette-Marit attended the Quart festival. This is Norway's largest music festival, held in her hometown. She first met Crown Prince Haakon at a garden party during the festival. Years later, she met the prince again at another party related to the festival.
Since marrying Haakon, Mette-Marit has continued her education. She has taken several university-level courses. In 2012, she earned a master's degree in executive management.
Marriage and Family
When Crown Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit announced their engagement, it was a big surprise for many. Mette-Marit came from an ordinary background. This was not typical for someone marrying into a royal family.
The couple married on 25 August 2001 at the Oslo Cathedral. After her marriage, she received the title, Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Norway. The couple has two children together. Princess Ingrid Alexandra was born on 21 January 2004. Prince Sverre Magnus was born on 3 December 2005. Both were born at The National Hospital in Oslo.
Before her marriage, Mette-Marit had a son named Marius Borg Høiby. He was born on 13 January 1997.
Royal Duties and Education
From 2002 to 2003, the Crown Princess studied development at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. She also interned at NORAD. NORAD is a Norwegian government organization that helps other countries.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit is a patron of the Norwegian Red Cross. She also supports several other organizations. In 2010, she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. In 2012, she joined the international Foundation Board of the Global Shapers Community.
In 2015, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Kate Roberts started Maverick Collective. On 26 April 2017, the Crown Princess became an ambassador for Norwegian literature. This role helps promote Norwegian books around the world.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit established The Crown Prince and Crown Princess's Foundation. This foundation supports projects for young people in Norway. Its goal is to strengthen youth leadership and integration.
In October 2018, Crown Princess Mette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. This is a lung condition. It means she sometimes has to limit her official duties. She receives treatment at Oslo University Hospital.
Working with UNAIDS
Crown Princess Mette-Marit became a UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador in 2006. Her main focus is helping young people in the fight against AIDS. The Crown Princess has attended many international AIDS conferences. She has also visited several countries to raise awareness.
She helps UNAIDS with its youth programs and leadership initiatives. In recent years, her work has also focused on the role of young women and girls. She highlights their importance in the global response to AIDS.
During the 2014 United Nations General Assembly, she spoke about how stigma and discrimination make it harder to fight AIDS. She also talked about how social media can help young people advocate for change. During a visit to Tanzania in April 2016, she met mothers who were healthy. Their children were born free from HIV thanks to medicines. She found this very moving. She also opened the Youth Pavilion at the XVIII International AIDS Conference.
Titles and Honors
Titles
- 19 August 1973 – 25 August 2001: Miss Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby
- 25 August 2001 – present: Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Norway
Arms
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Monogram
Honours and medals
National honours and medals
Norway: Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav- Norway: Dame of the Royal Family Decoration of King Harald V
- Norway: Recipient of the Medal of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of King Olav V
- Norway: Recipient of the Royal House Centenary Medal
- Norway: Recipient of the King Harald V Silver Jubilee Medal
Foreign honours
Austria: Grand Cross, 1st Class of the Order of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
Brazil: Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross
Bulgaria: Grand Cross of the Order of the Balkan Mountains
Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant
Estonia: Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana- Estonia: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Star
Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
France: Grand Officer of the National Order of the Legion of Honour
Germany: Grand Cross, 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Iceland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon
Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Japan: Paulownia Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown
Latvia: Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Recognition
Lithuania: Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great
Luxembourg: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
Netherlands: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau- Netherlands: Recipient of the King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal
Poland: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry
Spain: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Sweden: Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star
See also
In Spanish: Mette-Marit de Noruega para niños
