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The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Norway finalized their official visit to Malaysia Wednesday. They spent their last two days promoting their country and social awareness, as well as touring some of Malaysia’s landmarks.
 Royal Press Europe/Albert Nierboer Yesterday, Haakon was present at the seminar “Malaysian-Norwegian Forum of Competence” in Kuala Lumpur. In his opening speech, he talked about how the two nations had strong connections due to petroleum-related activities. The Crown Prince voiced how he wished that cooperation would continue in other fields.
Haakon then visited the Petronas Towers and the national petroleum company of Malaysia with the same name. The towers were the world’s tallest buildings when construction was done in 1998.
Joining him was wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit. She had just come from a gender equality seminar, where the discussion was on how women can overcome obstacles in society. The Crown Princess pointed out that the family gives a woman support. “Family friendly policies are a prerequisite for women and men to combine work and family. If we are to meet today’s challenges, women and men must be able to take part in family and working life on an equal footing. Family-friendly policy is vital, both for production and for reproduction.”
The Crown Princely couple also attended an award ceremony for Malaysian students, held by the communications company, DiGi. The students had to develop solutions for energy-efficient mobile communications and renewable energy for poor communities in Malaysia. Haakon also gave a speech there.
“Preserving the environment on our planet can be regarded as the greatest team building session the world has ever seen. Everybody has a role to play. We must all pull together at the national and international level, governments and businesses, cities and small communities alike. Then we can hope for a greener future.”
Later, the Crown Prince went to the Berjaya University College of Hospitality. There, students held a cooking competition by trying to create the best dish featuring Norwegian salmon, Malay style.
 REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad On Wednesday, Mette-Marit opened an exhibition of Norwegian architecture. She emphasized the importance of looking beyond national borders for inspiration.
“Seeking inspiration from other countries is extremely important. Traditionally, Norwegian architects have traveled widely in order to learn from others. Today, Norwegian architects are also contributing to the international architecture scene through lectures, seminars and exhibitions, and by winning awards and competitions abroad,” she said.
While that was happening, Haakon was at a seminar on sustainable forestry and climate before going to the company facilities of Jotun and Aker Solutions.
Finally, the royal couple were given a guided tour of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque in Shah Alam outside Kuala Lumpur before ending their trip and returning to Norway.
The Norwegian Crown Princely couple started their three day official visit to Malaysia Monday, on the anniversary of bilateral ties between the two nations. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit arrived Kuala Lumpur and were greeted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, at at Dataran Perdana where they received a state welcome.
 REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad Haakon inspected a 103-man honor guard and men of the first battalion Royal Malay Regiment while at the Perdana. Afterward, he and his wife held talks with the Prime Minister.
The couple then went to the Istana Negara for an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Nur Zahirah.
Haakon and Mette-Marit are accompanied by 130 representatives of Norwegian business and trade leaders, who along with the royal couple will promote Norway to Malaysia. Prior to this visit, the Crown Prince told the Malaysian media that he hoped to broaden ties between this country and his.
 Bauer Griffin/Getty Images The Norwegian Royal Court announced today that Crown Princess Mette-Marit will go with Crown Prince Haakon on an official visit to Malaysia starting March 8th.
The Crown Princess had to cancel three weeks worth of engagements last month after she injured her the vertebrae in her neck.
But the court says she is healing from the injury, and will resume some engagements.
However, the engagements on the Malaysian trip will be cut down for Mette-Marit so she could continue improving.
 One week into the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, and royalty has been just about everywhere. They’ve been cheering on their country men and women as they compete in the various sporting competitions, but mostly anonymously. Meaning, many ordinary people probably did not know there was royalty in their midst as they watched the events.
Earlier this week, Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon was photographed watching the downhill skiing and at the women’s biathlon. He likely went unnoticed with his dark sunglasses.
 Also watching the biathlon was Denmark’s Crown Princely couple, Frederik and Mary. They also were at the downhill skiing event. As an IOC member, Frederik took part in the medal ceremony for the Men’s Biathlon 10 km Sprint at Whistler Medal Plaza.
Later, he and Mary were photographed watching one of the hockey games.
Another royal taking part in a medal ceremony was Prince Albert II of
 REUTERS/Lyle Stafford Monaco. A five-time Winter Olympian in the bobsledding as well as an IOC member, the Prince awarded the medal winners of the the Alpine skiing Men’s Super-G event at the Whistler Medal Plaza.
Royalty come and go at these Games, some of them arriving halfway through. Those that did were Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia and their son Prince Carl Philip. The Swedish royals came on Thursday, just in time to watch the women’s round robin curling event. They watched as Sweden beat China 6 – 4.
On Sunday, Norway’s future King, Crown Prince Haakon took his stepson, Marius Borg Høiby, to the Oslo Opera House to watch a benefit concert for Haiti’s earthquake victims. The event raised more than $700,000 and the money was distributed to the Norwegian Red Cross, UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations.
 Christian Thomassen/Scanpix “I’m impressed with all those who have set up, both the artists and all those working in the Opera House. It was very nice to see the voluntary work spirit. It was also nice to see all those who contribute in other ways, including those that help from home,” Crown Prince Haakon told the newspaper VG Nett after the concert.
Haakon also said the images from Haiti have had an affect on him.
“They make an impression, and I think we have a need to help. At the same time, I hope, and dare me to believe that it also means a lot to those living in Haiti to see that there are concerts all over the world,” he said.
13 year-old Marius is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, whom she had in a relationship prior to meeting Haakon.
On Friday, Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit went on a tour of the Asker municipality. It was to mark the environmental certification of their palace in Skaugum. The couple visited the town hall, and the Crown Princess stopped by the Asker Library. 
While at the town hall, Haakon and Mette-Marit were given their environmental certificate by the Eco Foundation, which awards private and public foundations that are eco-conscious. In Skaugum’s case, its main building, park, garage and workshop were considered green friendly.
Later, Mette-Marit went to the library, where she met with pre-school students. The kids were playing or reading when the future Queen sat down and chatted with them. Some of the kids were pretending to be royalty themselves, by wearing crowns and tiaras upon the real-life royal’s visit!
The royal family of Norway released their annual Christmas photos Thursday. As always, they chose an activity to show them enjoying each other’s company. This year, that activity was building a gingerbread house.
 Terje Bendiksby/Scanpix King Harald V, Queen Sonja, the Crown Princely couple and their children built the house at the royal palace in Oslo. The house was big enough for Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus to walk through. It included gingerbread and cookies with the names of the children of Princess Martha Louise, their cousins.
While building the house, Ingrid and Sverre felt tempted to eat the gingerbread. But their mother made sure they didn’t.
“Ingrid, no. You are not allowed to eat the house. You can get one of the loose,” said Mette-Marit, who was dressed in traditional Norwegian clothes, as was Queen Sonja.
Luckily, Ingrid and Sverre found and ate some pieces not yet on the house. The gingerbread was made by the palace chefs.
This Christmas, the King and Queen will be in Oslo, along with their eldest child, Martha Louise and her family. Haakon and Mette-Marit will be in a cabin in Nore and Uvdal.
Not since 2004 has the entire royal family been together.
Click here to see a video of the family (you have to scroll down to the middle of the page).
The three heirs to the Scandinavian thrones were present this weekend at the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen. Together, they participated in the opening of the Bright Green Expo, where the world’s largest companies discussed eco-friendly solutions and renewable energy technologies they could use.
 Jens Nørgaard Larsen / Scanpix Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik, Swedish Crown Princess Victoria, and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway gave their thoughts and experiences on the environment, which all three said needs to be taken care of.
“Combating climate change is both a fun, exciting and long struggle. We can see that the technology is on display here today. At the same time it provides the opinion to counter climate change,” said Crown Prince Haakon.
The three royals together have gone on expeditions to the Arctic area in 2008 and 2009 to see firsthand how climate change is affecting the area. However, as the Danish Crown Prince pointed out, seeing how the natives are now living with the changes gives a glimpse on how the how world can adapt.
“They have through time adapted to the changes, and it would still make them. It gives me hope and shows that it makes sense to make a difference,” said Frederik.
The Swedish Crown Princess also talked about how her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf, has long been speaking out on environmental issues.
“In the beginning he felt quite alone on the subject, but today he feels that no one listens to him because everyone is talking about climate,” she said.
Haakon, Frederik and Victoria all said that it is the parents responsibility to teach their child to take better care of the planet.
“One need not let the water run continuously while brushing teeth,” Crown Prince Frederik reminded those in attendance.
When asked if the three royals will be going on another expedition anytime soon, neither could give an answer. This is mainly because Victoria will be getting married in June 2010.
Sweden and Norway are still celebrating their annual Nobel Prize ceremonies. There was a star studded concert in Oslo, and a gala banquet in Stockholm in honor of this year’s laureates.
 REUTERS/Chris Helgren First, Norway. A concert was held in honor of U.S. President Barack Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Hosted Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, the artists at this event included Alicia Keys and Wyclef Jean. At one point during his performance, Wyclef Jean climbed to where Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette Marit and her son, Marius, were sitting in the audience. Jean shook hands with the royals and went on singing from where he was.
 Over to Sweden where their royals’ love of dressing up took place once again for a gala banquet at the royal palace. Known as the King’s Dinner, it was where the royal family personally congratulates the Nobel laureates on their winning.
Crown Princess Victoria stole the show once again with her glamorous gown and tiara. But sadly, she was not accompanied by fiance, Daniel Westling, who was told by doctors to avoid this event due to his kidney transplant earlier this year.
But younger sister Madeleine was happily on the arm of her fiance, Jonas Bergstrom. She also looked stunning in her gown, which was worn to last year’s Nobel Prize ceremony, minus the bordello this time.
Click here to see more photos of the King’s Dinner
The royals of Norway were present, front row and center, as U.S. President Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize at Oslo City Hall Thursday. Although there has been some controversy over the President receiving the Prize, King Harald V warmly gave him the award in front of nearly a thousand attendees.
 AP Photo/Odd Andersen The royal family – the King, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit – sat and watched intently as Obama delivered his 35 minute speech following actual receiving of the Prize.
Earlier in the day, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama met with the royals in the Bird Room at the royal palace.
However, there has been some controversy over Obama’s treatment of King Harald in regards to the monarch welcoming him to Norway and congratulating the President on winning the Peace Prize.
First, he cancelled his lunch with Harald, then did not visit a Peace Center. Finally, Obama cancelled his appearance at the annual concert in honor of the Peace Prize which is to be held Friday.
 AP Photo/John McConnico, pool Most Norwegians are not thrilled about this. According to an InFact poll, 44 percent say the President not having lunch with the King was impolite. Those numbers rose to 53 percent when it came out that he was not going to the concert.
First Lady Michelle Obama will be having audience with the royals, though. But with some Norwegian politicians voicing their dismay over President Obama cancelling the lunch and skipping the concert, that may not be enough.
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