Extreme royalty

A little bit of extreme sport seems to be a growing trend for Europe's royals at the moment.  Albert of Monaco might have decided petanque was the way to go after a lifetime of bobsleighing for Monaco but the heirs and the spares have started going a bit daredevil in recent months.  Latest member of the club is Princess Mary of Denmark who had a go at abseiling during her Home Guard training.

 

It might look like a smile of relief but this is Princess Mary of Denmark looking happy and excited before she began her abseil.

 

Hubby Frederik had already had a go at the Ironman Copenhagen competition in August which involved him swimming almost four kilometres, then hopping on his bike for a 180 km ride and finishing off with a 42 kilometer run.  It took him 10 hours and 45 minutes.  And just a few weeks later he was off to America to have a go on one of the boats in training for the America's Cup.  And then no doubt a bit of a lie down.

 

 

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark at the start of his participation in this years' Copenhagen Ironman competition

 

Across the bridge to Sweden and Prince Carl Philip has been indulging his love of fast cars this summer.  The prince has a racing licence from the Swedish Motor Sport Association and this year he got his own fast car tournament when he launched the Carl Philip Racing Cup for karting which is part of a competition to encourage young drivers to improve their skills. 

 

 

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden presenting the cup that bears his name for the first time - August 2013

 

But none of them come close to their Norwegian cousin, Crown Prince Haakon.  In surely one of the most bizarre announcements ever made by a royal household, Norway's court let everyone know in July this year that the heir to the throne had just arrived at his fortieth birthday party by parachute.  Normally, courtiers document audiences with ambassadors or the opening of events but every now and again you have to expect to issue information on a parachuting Crown Prince.  He's set the bar pretty high for other royals to follow.

 

 

Back on terra firma, the heir to the Norwegian throne at the start of his 40th birthday party