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Oslo police ‘grumpy’ over royal birthday bash

Norway's crown prince and his wife Mette-Marit are both set to celebrate their 40th birthdays, but a disagreement is brewing with the police about how much the security detail should cost for the high-profile summer bash.

Oslo police 'grumpy' over royal birthday bash
Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit at Skaugum in June. Photo: Lise Åserud/Scanpix

Norwegian business newspaper Finansavisen reports that the crown prince and crown princess are planning a joint birthday party on the weekend of July 19th to 21st at Skaugum, their official residence in the Asker neighbourhood of Oslo. 

Yet the security needs of several prominent guests on the invite list had the couple looking at a policing bill of about 20 million kroner ($3.3 million). 

What's more, local police have grumbled about the personnel stretch it would entail as officers are on holiday over the summer. As well as demanding that police officers break off their summer leave, the potential need to draft in staff from other police districts has annoyed the Oslo police, Finansavisen reports.

The police, however, after first refusing to comment on the matter, on Friday said there was no grumbling. 

"We have not noticed that our help with the event has caused conflict internally," Asker and Bærum police district chief Ingrid Wirum told the NTB news agency on Friday.

"The cost tied to this event is also much lower than what the media claims." 

SEE PICTURES OF NORWAY'S CROWN PRINCE HAAKON AND CROWN PRINCESS METTE-MARIT – FROM WEDDING TO CHILDREN

Finansavisen reported that the add-on security bill was in part due to the large number of guests, which meant that several party-goers would have to stay at the nearby Asker Hotel. 

Now the guests themselves have inadvertently come to the aid of the constables, as several have had to decline the invitation. All guest now have a room at Haakon's and Mette-Marit's house, yet the police are still looking at having about 40 officers working day and night over the weekend.

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