Last weekend’s referendum concerning an amendment to the Danish constitution on royal succession resulted in a majority vote for adopting absolute primogeniture, while the European Parliament elections saw success for the last national election winners. Read the full story

Although a majority of Danes appear to be in favour of changing the law of royal succession, a scheduling conflict could distract many citizens from casting their vote in this important referendum. The problem is the referendum is set for 7 June, the same day when European Parliamentary elections take place. Read the full story

Recent remarks by Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf XVI that wolves should be hunted in Sweden immediately raised cries of concern from local members of the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF). Speaking to journalists last week, the King stated that he was not against the idea of allowing Sweden’s wolves to be hunted out of a concern that the nation’s wolf population could potentially “explode.”

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In a landmark move, Denmark will put its traditional rules for royal succession to a public referendum on 7 June 2009. The plan to challenge this historic procedure has been in place for more than 3 years, but Denmark’s Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has finally announced the date of the public vote.

According to Rasmussen, the reason Read the full story

Norway’s controversial Princess Martha Louise has given birth to her third daughter, named Emma Tallulah Behn. Like her previous daughter, Emma Tallulah was born at the princess’ home in Lommedalen, west of Oslo.

Martha Louise and her husband Ari Behn have provided plenty of controversy in Norway over the past few years. The princess’ vocal support of home birthing has angered certain facets of the country’s medical community. Her second daughter, Leah Isadora, was also born at home in 2005.

Norway’s newest royal brings the tally to five grandchildren for King Harald and Queen Sonja. However, none of Martha Louise’s daughters have a royal title since the princess relinquished her title “Royal Highness” in 2002 when she chose to marry a commoner, Ari Behn.

Princess Martha Louise has bucked royal family traditions on many occasions, and continues to raise eyebrows with her public statements and actions. Having once Read the full story

Norway’s Crown Prince and Princess recently purchased a modest hytte on a private island off the southern coast of the country and have announced that they will not be renovating or expanding the house.

The couple paid NOK 9 million (USD 1.8 million) for the 1960’s-era holiday home. The building is located on Flatholmen, close to Risor. The home is just 60 square meters, in the style Norwegians refer to as a hytte.

After news of the purchase broke, most members of the public believed the couple would extensively renovate the home, perhaps even tear it down for a more spacious home. Although regulations on developments on the coast are quite restrictive, local authorities pledged to remain cooperative with any plans the royal couple might have proposed.

Instead, palace officials told local newspaper Aftenposten that the royals had “no plans” to rebuild or restore the hytte. The couple and their three children may live a relatively normal existence far away from luxurious royal trappings.

There has been no comment to date from the police who are responsible for the royal family’s security. The family of five will be living in a three bedroom space with no room for the police to stay with them. Instead, Aftenposten predicted police may sleep on moored boats near the hytte.

This year, Prince Carl Philip plans to make his debut on the international race car scene. According to the Associated Press, however, the Swedish royal is off to a bad start. A race official from Sweden says that the Prince went off the track during a test session while preparing to race in the Carrera Cup Scandinavia.

Johan Meissner, an official for the Carrera Cup confirmed that the Prince had driven his Porsche 911 GT3 off the track, but had not been injured or harmed in the incident. His car reportedly skidded off the circuit while on a test drive at the Knutstorp racing track, after spinning several times.

The Prince, according to Meissner, is scheduled to compete in a qualifying session on Saturday, pending the inspection of his car, which appears not to have been damaged by the incident.

Carrera Cup official Thomas Johansson said: “He is totally fine. He is mostly irritated and disappointed at himself.” According to Johansson, the incident was the result of the Prince’s decision to come into a straight with too much speed.

The Carrera Cup Scandinavia is a race specifically for Porsche drivers, which stretches over nine weekends of competition.