Queen Sonja of Norway and her daughter-in-law Crown Princess Mette-Marit are joining hands in patroning this year's Norwegian telethon concert to benefit the Red Cross.

The place was very appropriate for Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were seen sitting this Monday, April 25th on the red bench that sits in the Royal Palace in Oslo park to meet the press, it is in no way a coincidence. This bench is one of those that the Red Cross has installed in 2015 in various public places in Norway, to break the loneliness encouraging people who sit there to discuss them. But just what is the Red Cross whose wife of King Harald V and that of Crown Prince Haakon came to talk.

Already together last week on April 19th to participate in a waste collection with volunteers in a city of northern seaside, Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were again found side by side in front of the flashes of photographers or the microphones of journalists for a good cause. The two women, who chose to wear casual outfits for this appointment media, were there to announce that sponsoring concert the next edition of the Norwegian Telethon in October 2016. Which one will see its fundraising for the Red Cross Norwegian -Red. The money raised will go to help the people affected by the war in Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Myanmar, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, as well as refugees received in Norway.

Launched in 1974, the Norwegian Telethon titled "TV-aksjonen" is dedicated each year to a different cause. Norwegians participate generously. For example, for each of the editions of 2013 and 2014, a sum equivalent to more than € 200 million had
Photo Credit: Paris Match/Kongehuset.no

Each with a white plastic garbage each clip its garbage. Queen Sonja of Norway and her daughter-in-law Crown Princess Mette-Marit had taken part in a very seriously the task on their April 19th. This was however far from their usual royal engagements. Thiey join forces with volunteers who clean the streets and beaches of Sandefjord, a town of the edges of the North Sea south of Oslo. Objective: To make the cleanest town in the whole kingdom of Norway.

The Royal House explains that, at a reception she gave last October with King Harald V of Norway for seniors engaged in volunteering, Queen Sonja had met one of the volunteers of this team. Very impressed with their results -more than 28 tons of garbage collected since 2014-, Sonja had promised to come and help. So she kept her word, resulting Mette-Marit in its wake, as well as the mayor of Sandefjord.

Once the collection performed, Sonja and Mette-Marit were rewarded for their efforts, like the other participants, with a hot drink and "kanelboller" (the cinnamon rolls). The Queen of Norway took advantage of the media coverage of her participation in the cleaning of this coastal town to remind Norwegians needed to change the bad habit of throwing garbage into the sea, especially the plastic bags.
Photo Credits: Paris Match

We may have last seen her a couple of weeks ago but Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette Maritt visited the East African country Tanzania today to assess progress made in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and to see how young people are engaging in the country’s AIDS response.

 "It is moving to meet mothers who are in good health and caring for children born free from HIV thanks to antiretroviral medicines,” said Crown Princess Mette-Marit. “It is also particularly rewarding for me to see young people taking up leadership roles in the AIDS response and being equipped with the skills to guide the United Republic of Tanzania towards an AIDS-free generation."

During her visit, the future Queen visited facilities providing services for women and young people living with HIV and also met with mothers living with HIV whose children have been born free from the virus. She went to one of the 26 PASADA (Pastoral Activities and Services for People with AIDS Dar es Salaam Archdiocese) clinics operating in the Dar es Salaam and Pwani regions that provide HIV prevention, treatment and support services for people and communities most in need. She met with youth activists and engage in taking part in activities at the Stepping Stones Community of Practice, which offers life-skills training for adolescents and young people, including comprehensive sexuality education and programmes relating to HIV and gender equality.

 Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been engaged in the AIDS response since 2003 and advocates for the empowerment of women and young people at events and speaking engagements all over the world.
Photo Credits: Kongehuset.no