4 JULY 2003
Crown Prince Haakon and his wife of two years Princess Mette-Marit have revealed they are expecting a new addition to the family.

Father-to-be Prince Haakon was met with congratulations as he announced the happy news while leading a weekly meeting with government ministers. "This is extremely good news both for the royal family and for the Norwegian people," said Foreign Minister Jan Petersen.

The baby, which is due in January 2004 will be the first for the royal couple, though the princess already has a son, Marius, from a previous relationship. Regardless of the gender of the new arrival, he or she will become second in line to the throne behind Prince Haakon.

There may be some changes in Mette-Marit's calendar in the coming months, but the princess is in "fine shape" and expects a normal pregnancy, said the royal palace on Friday.

She and son Marius have moved back to Oslo after a one-year stay in London, and her husband Prince Haakon continues to travel between Norway and the UK as he finishes up his coursework at the London School of Economics.