The heir to Norway's throne set off royal shock waves during the weekend by announcing, via an official palace press release, that he had bought a new flat near downtown and would share it with Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby and her young son from a previous relationship.
The state church of Norway officially opposes extra-marital living arrangements, and Haakon said during a brief meeting with reporters in Berlin Tuesday that he will meet Oslo Bishop Gunnar Stålsett to discuss his situation.
The heir to Norway's throne stressed that he and Stålsett will meet to listen to each other.
He admitted that his decision to live with Tjessem Høiby had been difficult for his father, King Harald, to accept. The king, officially the head of the state church, is on record as saying just a few years ago that he would oppose live-in arrangements for his own children.
But Haakon said he also felt "warmth and consideration from him in connection with myself and Mette-Marit," and he wasn't worried.
He added that he wants to get married "when that time comes," but felt right now that merely moving in together was the right thing to do.
The Crown Prince's comments broke several days of silence from the Royal Palace. He met reporters in Berlin where he is on official business promoting Norwegian exports and visiting the World's Fair at Hannover.
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