It's a Princess!

Once again, Scandinavian bloodlines have been extended with the birth of a future ruler! This time in Denmark. Denmark's royal palace has announced that French-born Princess Marie has given birth to her second child, a girl. Due to Danish tradition, the child's name is not revealed until the christening ceremony.

The mother of the new princess is Royal Highness Princess Marie of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat.The proud father is His Royal Highness Prince Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian, Prince of Denmark. The Prince is the second son of HM Queen Margrethe II and HRH Prince Consort Henrik, and the new-born princess becomes tenth in line to the throne.

Marie Cavallier was born in Paris, France , later moving to Switzerland where she attended boarding school. After graduating, She then enrolled at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts and Geneva, Switzerland to study international business and economics. While on a Switzerland outing in 2005, she was noticed by Prince Joachim. After their courtship, Joachim and Marie married in May 2008. Marie gave up her French citizenship and converted to Lutheranism. The newborn is the couple's second child.

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The 42 year-old prince has two sons from a previous marriage with Hong Kong-born Alexandra Manley. The couple divorced in 2005, the first Royal split in 160 years in Europe's oldest monarchy.

Prince Joachim has a lengthy military record, beginning in 1987 while serving as a Platoon Commander of a tank squadron, rising in the ranks to commander in the Prince's Own Regiment, and remains active in the defense reserve at HQ Danish Division.

--------------------- The happy grandmother is HM Queen Margrethe II who, on January 14, 2012 celebrated her 40th year on the throne. As Queen, she serves as the Colonel-in-Chief of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment. Other than that, the Danish Queen's duties are to represent the Kingdom abroad and to be a unifying figurehead of Denmark. As an unelected public official, she takes no part in politics . Although she has the right, she opts not to vote in order to avoid partisanship.The Queen and Prince Consort Henrik have two children and eight grandchildren.

The Royal Family of Norway descends from Frederick VIII of Denmark, Queen Margrethe II's great-grandfather Haakon VII of Norway.

Mother and daughter are reported to be doing well!

A Winter Vacation

Here in the Midwest , we have been waiting for winter. It finally arrived with a blanket of snow that should stay for some time! Now, skiiers and winter enthusiasts can finally get their activities underway. However, there are some who would rather not have winter arrive at all, and have become immigrants to warmer climates. For these people, winter is vacationtime. --------------------------- Most American vacationers choose to visit their ancestral roots in the summer or fall. There are very few Power-Point presentations of “Our Visit To Scandinavia In January”. Possibly cheaper? Less tourist-congestion with cheaper travel rates? Consider this four day winter Scandinavian experience doing something other than skiing:

Your plane lands in Tromsø where you will be driven to your fjord hotel to enjoy your dinner and, later, head for the glass-fronted sauna overlooking the fjord. After a good night’s sleep and breakfast, you board a fjord icebreaker on a Northern Lights hunt while enjoying the on-board hospitality of food and drink.

Tromsø has earned the reputation for being one of the best places in the world to view the Northern Lights. Stops will be made to visit small villages that welcome the winter visitors. That night, the famous show of lights is enjoyed.

Your next day will find you driven to remote Camp Tamok, on your way to a camp famous for Huskies waiting for you to lie back on the blanketed sled where anxious happy sled-dogs are waiting to get under way to help you enjoy a 16 kilometer safari, and what a view!

You will thrill to the course that follows the steep sided valley formed by the spectacular coastal mountain scenery.

The next day after breakfast, you have to choose whether to extend your visit to the winter shopping centers or elect to be transported back to Tromsø for your flight home.

---------------------- Or...Perhaps you wish to experience a winter adventure of life inside the Arctic Circle, assisting the Sami people of Finnmark on their annual reindeer migration. This opportunity is rare. The Sami have for years shunned interaction with outsiders. Many attempts have been made in the past to eradicate them and their 4,000- year-old culture.Taking part in the reindeeer migrations means eating, sleeping and living like a Sami person. You will become part of a journey which runs deep into the bloodlines of these people, dating back thousands of years.

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The journey begins in Kirkenes, northern Norway, close to the Russian border. Here, you will be trained in the working methods of the Sami people as they escort their reindeer from their winter grounds to the summer grazing area.

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You live close to the reindeer, assisting the sami in herding by sled or skidoo, moving and sleeping when they do, your direct participation will be required at all times.You will sleep in a lavvu ( Sami tent) and gain insight into Saami cooking, done over an open fire.This means long hours and little sleep for up to five days.

You will probably spend the night popping out to watch the northern lights flash over the wild and remote area where a night is said to be a unique and special experience not soon forgotten.

Tourism in Norwegian Lapland has become a main source of employment and income, replacing traditional industries such as forestry.

When the herd stops, it’s time to say goodbye.

Adjø!

Long Live The King And Queen!

Unless you live in an area populated by Scandinavians, you probably were not aware of the royal visit of King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway as they visited the United States last October. The Norwegian Royal Couple made stops in the Midwest and New York City as they toured several Wisconsin and Minnesota colleges of Scandinavian backgrounds. In the fall/winter issue of News of Norway, a sampling of their visit was published.

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Excited and enthusiastic crowds greeted the couple as they arrived at the various

destinations.

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Augsburg College in Minneapolis, Luther College in Decorah, Iowa and St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota have close ties to Scandinavian heritage and were honored by visits of the Royal Couple. Speaking to the citizens and students, here are portions of the King's speeches.

"My personal bonds to the United States have developed since my early childhood, when I spent five years here with my mother and two sisters during World War II. I have visited regularly since then, and my fascination and admiration for this beautiful and complex country is still growing.."

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" Norwegians who came to America have made an extraordinary impact in the process of building this country, and your history is full of examples of dedicated people who have left "footprints on the sand of time". You have been contributing to all aspects of American society, in a number of areas – like education, politics and business life. Every one of you should be proud of what you have accomplished in this great country...."

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"We are gathered here tonight to celebrate what it means to be Norwegian and what it means to be American. There is something special about each and every one of you, a reflection of your combined Norwegian and American heritages. I wish you all the very best in preserving these values as well as taking care of the pride and awareness of your Norwegian ancestry. I am confident that these special bonds of friendship will stay alive in the future." ----------------------------------------

At their St. Olaf College visit, the King and Queen sat in on a "Beginning Norwegian" language class. In this photo, the king apparently had some humorous reply.

(Perhaps, they thought his accent was funny?!)

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Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja were in the United States October 13-22, 2011. In Minnesota and Iowa, the Royal Couple met with representatives from the state governments and visited Norwegian-American environs and institutions. In New York, the King and Queen were among the Honorary guests at the American Scandinavian Foundation’s Centennial Ball celebrating 150 years of cultural exchange and close relationship of the United States with our Scandinavian neighbors.

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A full report of their USA visit is available online at norway.org/royalvisit2011.