Norway’s Crown Prince Family Finds Quiet Refuge in Uvdal Mountain Village

The Norwegian crown prince family has long favoured the quiet mountain village of Uvdal as their private retreat, where locals say they are treated “like ordinary people,” reports Dagbladet. Despite past controversies, residents insist the royals blend in seamlessly—shopping in stores, queuing at bars, and skiing without fuss.

“Here, they can just be themselves,” said Oddvar Svendsen, mayor of Nore og Uvdal municipality, where the crown prince built two cabins in 2007—one for his family and another for security staff. “We want visitors to recharge. That’s why everyone comes: for peace, nature, and good skiing.”

Locals describe Uvdal as a “low-key” alternative to busier resorts like Hemsedal, with shorter lift lines and cheaper beer. “You can ski more in two hours here than all day there,” said visitor Nina Eriksen. Even TV personality Harald Rønneberg, a frequent guest of the crown prince, has bought multiple plots in the area, naming one cabin after himself and baptising his son in the local church.

The municipality—home to just 2,500 residents but nearly twice as many cabins—relies on hydropower and tourism. Its 12th-century stave church, one of two in the area, draws history buffs like Jorunn Wiik (84), who notes the royals occasionally visit. “They’re just part of the community,” she said.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also owns a cabin nearby. When asked about the royal presence, Svendsen shrugged: “We notice when they arrive, but they’re treated no differently. That’s the Uvdal way—open, welcoming, and unpretentious.”