The starting shot for the winter holidays has already gone off in parts of Norway, and in the coming weeks school pupils across our long country will have a holiday. Many people use their days off for winter sports, preferably a combination of downhill and cross-country skiing.
Hinter: – Of course a plan
Also in the royal ranks, it is common to seek out King Winter at these times. Several of the European royal houses have a tradition of holidaying in the same place year after year, while others prefer variety. Yes, such as our own royal family. They probably choose sun and summer!
King Harald’s birthday on 21 February usually falls at the same time as the winter holidays in Eastern Norway, which has made it possible for him to be away on the day with his entire extended family around him. When the king turned 80, he took his wife, children, daughter-in-law and grandchildren to South Africa. And last year, when he turned 85, Mauritius stood for tour with the same gang.
However, last year’s winter holiday was cut short due to the war in Ukraine. First, Crown Prince Haakon (49) and Crown Princess Mette-Marit (49) had to return home earlier than planned, and then the royal couple decided to do the same.
Traveled away after the photo scandal
This year’s plans
It is not known where the family is going this year and whether they are going in a combined squad. But what is absolutely certain is that the king has a birthday this year too, and that the family will surely show him respect, regardless of whether they are in a group or not.
In Norway, the royal family has also often traveled to one of the popular winter sports resorts in the Alps in the past. Among other things, they have been to Courchevel and Val d’Isère in France, Mürren and Klosters in Switzerland and Lech in Austria.
IN THE ALPS: King Harald and Queen Sonja often took their children to the Alps before. Here we see mother and son in motion. Photo: Se og Hør.
sea view
The Crown Prince family has also been wave hunting in Mexico, and the royal couple with Princess Märtha Louise and their daughters spent a year in Uruguay.
In other years, they have gone for shorter trips, such as to the crown prince couple’s cottage in Uvdal and Maihaugen in Lillehammer.
Had to cancel the Norwegian holiday
Someone who is far more tradition-bound when it comes to winter holidays is Denmark’s Queen Margrethe (82). She has traveled to Norway, specifically Gausdal, during the winter holidays every year. But unfortunately her health has failed her in the last two years.
That’s why she spoke Swedish
Last year, she was diagnosed with covid-19 the day before she was due to travel, and it was all cancelled. And this year, the back has turned upside down, and once again the trip to Norway had to be shelved. Instead, back surgery is on the agenda.
THAT TIME: Queen Margrethe on winter holiday in Gausdal in 1977 with Prince Henrik and their two children, Crown Prince Frederik (in red) and Prince Joachim. Photo: NTB
sea view
However, the Crown Prince couple Frederik (54) and Mary (51) were able to carry out their plans, and took their children Christian (17), Isabella (15), and the twins Vincent and Josephine (11) abroad the week before the winter holidays started in this country. They usually travel to Verbier in Switzerland, where they have their own hideout.
Must rest
The Swedish royal family like so many other royals use to travel to the Alps. Crown Princess Victoria (45) and the family have also visited Norway several times, including in Hemsedal and Trysil.
But it is not yet known what the plans are this year.
Ice front: Reported historic cancellation
The sports holiday, as the winter holidays are called in Sweden, falls in week 9 in Stockholm, and there are no program entries listed in the official calendar on the Swedish royal house’s website at this time.
ALPINE IN THE ALPS: Here we see Sweden’s royal couple with their two eldest children, Victoria and Carl Philip, on winter holiday in Verbier in 1983. Photo: Svenskt Pressfoto / TT / NTB
sea view
Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel (49) have recently been on a long trip to Australia, and are probably looking forward to a holiday and quality time with their children.
However, King Carl Gustaf (76) will have surgery the week before the winter holidays, and will probably have to take it easy during this period.
Traumatic winter holiday
For over 60 years, the Dutch royal family has been holidaying in the shield dorado of Lech in Austria.
Royal Tragedy: – Completely crushed
In 2012, however, the royal traveling party had a very tragic end to their winter holiday.
King Willem-Alexander’s (55) brother, Johan Friso, was taken by an avalanche, and lay in a coma for a year and a half before he died. The family has nevertheless continued to holiday there.
Northern lights and whale watching
King Charles (75), then a prince, was often seen in the Alps with his former wife Diana.
Just like the Dutch royal family, the couple had a very traumatic experience during one of their skiing holidays to Klosters in Switzerland. While Charles was just recovering from the accident, he lost a good friend.
Diana and Charles also traveled several times with their sons, Prince William (40) and Prince Harry (38) to the Alps, and they have both returned several times as adults.
Harry has also been on winter holiday in Norway with his wife Meghan (41)!
In Norway: – Bought potato chips
Then both the northern lights and whale watching were on the programme. It also did so for Harry’s two cousins Princesses Eugenie (32) and Beatrice (34) when they recently visited Troms with their husbands and their mother Sarah Ferguson (63).
The family usually used to spend the winter holidays in Verbier, where the girls’ father Prince Andrew (63) had his own chalet. But it was according to Express sold last year to a British family for a staggering sum!
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