– I am very proud of my city. I would have liked to have been in the church, but those tickets were ripped away. I was in the first row behind the benches, so I could see very well, actually.
Hanne Merete Haugen is naturally in place in the center of Kongsberg, in the center of the events.
The city has a birthday. 400 years.
The city jubilee is thus crowned in an extravagant way.
4,800 months ago, on this day, Kongsberg was founded by Christian IV.
400 years later, the king and queen visit the town jubilee.
There is pomp and splendor and flags and bands and red carpets and sun and children with flowers.
And not least a crowd that radiates at least as much as the omelette sun that lies floating and beautiful in the blue, vast sky above the mining town.
Took the train alone as a 12-year-old to see the king
Among those present we therefore find Hanne Merete Haugen, wearing a freshly ironed dress and with a waving flag.
– It was probably quite uncertain whether the king had the health to come. But when he is back and prioritizes Kongsberg, I think it is very big, says Haugen.
However, it is not the first time she has experienced the king up close in Kongsberg. Let’s rewind 50 years in time.
Then the town had its 350th anniversary – and Hanne Merete Haugen was 12 years old then.
– I heard that King Olav was going to come to Kongsberg and take part in a church service. So, I really wanted to be in church that day. But my parents would rather be at the cabin in Telemark.
This was not entirely according to her plan, to say the least.
Parents, cabin and Telemark had to give way. It was a very specific 12-year-old mother and father were dealing with.
Unge Haugen was soon over all heaps. That is, she got on the train alone, traveled back to her hometown – and attended the service. She was going to see King Olav.
– So, the king was the biggest in Norway. That opportunity, just to catch a glimpse of him, I wouldn’t pass it up, recalls Haugen.
Can’t be away from work all day
At the time, she was in place in Kongsberg church. And she firmly believes that King Olav sat in what was called the Royal Palace.
Today she had to settle for a place outside. Not that it dampened the experience.
– No, it’s very big, huge! exclaims Haugen, who notes that it’s great that Kongsberg “celebrates its birthday all year with many nice events”.
– But today … it’s a bit clumsy in the middle of a working day – we can’t be gone all day, she says.
Regardless. After all, you have to allow yourself a little freedom. It’s not every day that the city celebrates 400 years – and that the royal couple are guests at the birthday celebration.
– I didn’t get tickets, but I got to see what happened in the church on a screen – and then I saw the king just 50 meters away from me, she gushes – almost with a 12-year-old’s eyes full of stars.
