The Norwegian media descended on the University of California at Berkeley yesterday to cover a story that is common knowledge back home but still a well-kept secret on campus: Norway's crown prince has broken royal tradition by attending a U.S. university.
Unlike his father, King Harald V, and his grandfather King Olav, the 23-year-old prince will not attend Oxford University in England. After completing two years at Norway's naval academy and attaining the rank of lieutenant, Crown Prince Haakon Magnus enters Berkeley as a junior in political science, according to Norwegian press reports and other sources.
But he is adamant about keeping a low profile at Berkeley.
"The palace in Oslo hopes the prince will have peace and quiet," said Inguild Bryn, a Washington- based correspondent for Norway's national broadcasting station. Bryn, a celebrity back home, said she flew to San Francisco on Sunday to do the story.
Earlier this year, the royal family announced that Haakon would study in America, and 24-year-old Princess Maertha Louise would study in the Netherlands. The prince issued a plea to the Norwegian press corps: "We too have a right to privacy," he said. "Please let us live a normal life when studying abroad."
With an entourage of Norwegian officials, Haakon held a press conference at Berkeley's International House yesterday. But only Norwegian reporters were invited. Campus officials were tight-lipped about Haakon.
"The only thing I can do is verify that Haakon is a transfer student who is enrolled on the campus," said spokesman Jesus Mena.
Student body president Grant Harris called the news "a tidbit of trivia."
But Prince Haakon himself could not be reached. A telephone operator at the International House, where he is living, refused to put a call through to him.
"We're not to do that," she said. "I can take a message."