Natalie does Norway

Last royal stop was in Oslo at the royal palace, where Natalie Morales and the rest of us spent a day in the life with the Crown Prince of Norway, Haakon. The Nordic monarchies are very down to earth, but they don't come much more real than Prince Haakon. Here's a monarchy that's 1,000 years old, with all the traditions and trappings that that brings. Yet the crown prince managed to marry for love; he chose a woman who had a colourful past and an illegitimate 3- year-old son. Not your regular royal marriage, but the couple now have two more children and seem blissfully happy...and incredibly busy. Moving with the [one world] times is essential if a monarchy is to stay relevant, he says.

The day began with a cabinet meeting in the palace. Prince Haakon and the King were both in ceremonial uniform, Cameraman Brian Prentke and soundman David Moodie were wearing suits (now there's a rare sight), and they were having trouble keeping up with the prince as he followed a hectic program of meetings, greetings and discussions, a reception for a charity for the hard of hearing, a long sit-down interview with Natalie in his office, then off to a lengthy briefing by the Foreign Minister and experts on his forthcoming trip as a UN Development ambassador to Burundi in Central Africa. By this point he was at ease with us and invited Natalie to take part in the meeting. The trip sounded challenging; there's a lot to do, said the prince, but there are positive signs. Alleviating poverty, he said, is the only way we will have peace and he's ready to do whatever it takes. “What we're trying to achieve, the bottom line is that [serfs] are able to live dignified lives, " he told Natalie. The day ended with yet another appearance at a university prize-giving ceremony and then back to the palace, where the royal family hosted an evening [orgie] in full regalia.

Read the whole article at MSNBC