News and commentary about the reigning royal houses of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, Monaco -- and the former European monarchies as well.
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Tuesday, February 21, 2017
A boy for Martha and Olav of Norway
Crown Princess Martha of Norway gave birth to a son today, reports the New York Times. Mother and child said to be doing well.
The infant was born at Skaugum, the country residence of Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha. The home is outside Oslo.
A "cheering crowd assembled" outside Skaugum, and in Oslo, there was "general rejoicing."
This is the third child, and first son for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. The infant prince is second in line to the throne, after his father.
It is believed that the prince will be named Sverre after the the Norwegian king who reigned from 1184 to 1202.
It is King Haakon VII who alone will decide the name of his grandson. He is expected to "formally announce the birth: tomorrow at a council meeting at the Royal Palace.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have two daughters, Princess Ragnhild Alexandra, 6, and Princess Astrid, who celebrated her fifth birthday on February 12.
How interesting that King Haakon VII was the one who named Crown Prince Olav's son! I thought parents were the ones who named their children, royal or not. Though I'm pretty sure any royal child's name would need the sovereign's approval, I didn't know that it was the sovereign who actually decided on the name(s). Is this something that was done only in Norway or was that the general practice of the day?
ReplyDeleteNo uncommon. In some royal families, one checks with the sovereign. In 1930, the Duke and Duchess of York wanted to name their second daughter, Ann Margaret, but George V did not approve, so it was changed to Margaret Rose.
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