"I've surfed with (Crown Prince Haakon) several times, and I know that he loves the waves," surfer Thomas Olsen told newspaper Østlandsposten.

"Norwegians are outdoorsy people, but (here) we're not allowed to use the outdoors," Olsen claimed. "I hope the crown prince will meet me to talk about this."

Another avid windsurfer, Markus Allen, says the surfers at Salten in Mølen, not far from Larvik, always know when Crown Prince Haakon is out surfing in the area, because of the polished Volvos in the nearby parking lot and the presence of royal lifeguards.

"The crown prince has surfed there a lot, also after the area became protected," Allen told Østlandsposten. "I've been in the water with him. He's both eager and good. Lots of celebrities surf there. Saltstein has some of the best waves in the country."

The problem, for the windsurfers, is that surfing has been illegal in the area since 1981, when a bird sanctuary at Mølen was set up.

At the time, surfing was a "non-issue," says Karl Hagelund, a county environmental official. As the sport's popularity increased, officials started cracking down, and Hagelund says the ban was made clear to surfers in 2002.

Hagelund claimed he wasn't aware that Crown Prince Haakon has been among those allegedly violating the ban. "That's new for me," he said. "Then he's done something we maintain is illegal. I don't think the crown prince was aware of the ban."

Neither do Allen or Olsen, even though Haakon reportedly signed another ban prohibiting windsurfing off Jæren on the west coast between October 1 and March 31.

"I don't think Crown Prince Haakon knew what he was signing," said Olsen, who will seek an audience to discuss the issue. A palace spokesman declined comment.