Prime Minister expresses congratulations at royal birth

Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik has this comment following today's report from the Royal Palace that Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has given birth to a daughter: "On behalf of the Government it is a great pleasure to congratulate Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit with the birth of their daughter.

We congratulate King Harald and Queen Sonja with their new grandchild, and the Norwegian people with a new heiress to the throne." The birth is an historic event, as this is the first time a daughter of Norway's crown prince and crown princess is born to inherit the throne. In 1990 section 6 of the Constitution was changed to give both sexes equal right to inherit Norway's throne. The child now born thus enters the order of succession as number two - next to her father the Crown Prince. Foreign Minister Jan Petersen says he is convinced that the birth will further strengthen the role of the monarchy in Norwegian society.