Haakon's speech
Wedding diner
)
Your Majesties,
Your Royal Highnesses,
President of the Storting,
Dear Mette-Marit,
Now we’re here. Now we’re together.
I would like to thank you, Father, Marit and the President of the Storting for your
inspiring words.
Dear Marit, Sven, Espen, Per and Kristin. It has been a great pleasure getting to know you
and your families. I felt welcome from the very start. And although it’s not always
easy to be related to the woman who is to marry the Crown Prince, you have never let this
get in the way of our friendship. I always enjoy visiting you in Kristiansand, at the
family parties at Høyvoll, or at Aunt Sidsel and Uncle Ivar’s. I feel I’ve got
to know you well in the relatively short time we’ve been together, and I’m happy
that I can now call you my family.
Dear Mother and Father, dear Märtha, you have always been a fantastic support for me, and
now also for Mette-Marit. We’ve spent many long evenings talking and discussing over
the last year. This has taught me a lot and given me a good feeling. Although it has been
tough at times, I feel that it has helped us grow. You are all strong, tolerant people
with a great capacity for love. The way you have accepted Mette-Marit and Marius has been
wonderful. Thank you for all your support and care.
I would also like to thank Lord Chamberlain Lars Petter Forberg, Private Secretary Berit
Tversland, Head of Information Wenche Rasch, and the entire staff of the Palace. Thank you
for your tireless efforts and dedication. You have all been of invaluable assistance to
us.
My heartfelt thanks also go to all those throughout the country who have supported us in
their thoughts and prayers, with handshakes, letters and good wishes. This has warmed and
brightened our days.
Dear Mette-Marit,
Your soul glows with light.
Living, that means loving
The loftiest part of your soul;
Living, that means striving
To achieve the most worthy goal.
This is what is essential. Everything we do with love comes alive. If loving is combined
with striving, each of us can achieve “the most worthy goal”. Mette-Marit, you
are sensitive, easy to please, detail-oriented, sometimes a bit apathetic, intensely
committed, highly strung, courageous, inscrutable. You can be defensive – or
resolute. You have a good sense of humour and a big and warm heart. In other words you are
an absolutely fantastic, complex person.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so angry with anyone as with you.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so weak or so strong as when I’ve been
together with you.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so filled with love as when I am together with you.
You bring out everything that is in me. When we communicate I feel like a whole person.
Thank you for giving me this feeling.
Today you are no longer only my friend, my girlfriend and my fiancée. Today we have been
married, and you have become Norway’s Crown Princess. I am looking forward to taking
up our tasks side by side with you, and together with Marius. I cannot promise that it
will be easy or that there will be no problems, but it will be interesting and meaningful.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live together with Marius. This is a gift in
itself.
Thank you for your love and for everything you’ve done, Mette-Marit. I’m proud
to call myself your husband.
For now we’re here. Now we’re together.
Mette-Marit, I love you.
And now I would like to propose a toast to the bride.
Taken from the press release by the Royal Court.
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