Granted, they paid a princely sum for the 1960s-era holiday home they bought on Flatholmen, not far from Risør. The property cost NOK 9 million (USD 1.8 million) even though it only includes a roughly 60-square-meter (600-square-foot) holiday home known as a hytte in Norwegian.
It was immediately assumed that the royal couple would either tear down the old hytte and build a more palatial place, or dramatically expand and upgrade it. Local authorities promised they'd cooperate with the couple, and it seemed likely they'd get permission to make changes despite restrictions on coastal development.
But now palace officials have told newspaper Aftenposten that there are "no plans" by the royals for either rebuilding or restoration of the hytte. Instead, the crown couple and their three children apparently intend to live a relatively normal life at the place, without all the luxurious trappings they otherwise enjoy.
It remained unclear what the police in charge of the royals' security think of the lack of planned improvements. There's currently no room for them to bunk with the royals in the current hytte, which only has three bedrooms for the family of five.
It's likely, Aftenposten reported, that the family's security guards will sleep on boats moored near the hytte. The Agder Police District, in which the newly royal property is located, is currently working on a security analysis of the island, in conjunction with the Royal Police Escort service and Norway's police intelligence unit PST.
