The Earl & Countess of Wessex are in Finland

[snokitty]

Royal Central ‏@RoyalCentral

The Earl & Countess of Wessex are in Finland-this evening they attend a Dinner given by Her Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Finland

[HereditaryPrincess]

The first photos of the Earl and Countess of Wessex meeting the President and his wife from the President's Twitter account:

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TPKanslia @ TPKanslia· 19m 19 minutes ago
  The presidential couple met the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess.

The Earl and Countess of Wessex to visit Finland - News articles - GOV.UK

[TLLK]

Thank you ladies for sharing the information. Hoping to see some great photos of the couple on the trip especially in Lapland.

[HereditaryPrincess]

You're welcome @TLLK. :) Here's an article of Edward and Sophie's first day in Finland from Royalista: Sophie and Edward kick off their Finland trip | Royalista

And some photos of the Earl and Countess of Wessex leaving for Lapland from the Facebook Page of the British Embassy in Helsinki: https://www.facebook.com/BritishEmbassyHelsinki/photos/pcb.10153069281771585/10153069275706585/?type=1&theater

And another photo from the British Embassy Helsinki with the Prime Minister of Finland and his wife at the residence of the British Ambassador: https://www.facebook.com/BritishEmbassyHelsinki/photos/a.264950031584.141339.205411586584/10153068975756585/?type=1&theater

Sophie looks nice.

[TLLK]

Love Sophie's first day outfit though I can see why she's opted for something more practical to visit Lapland.

[HsHCharlene]

Their trip actually looks pretty fun.

[Curryong]

I used to be friends with Finns here in Melbourne. Their main complaint about their homeland was the length and severity of the winters there, but it sounded a fascinating place. I've often thought those 'Santa Claus' tourist breaks in Lapland in December would be great.

[snokitty]

Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex with the Finnish Army in Lapland | Daily Mail Online

Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, found themselves in a winter wonderland during their five-day visit to the snowy capital of Finland, Helsinki, today.

But forget husky rides and snowball fights - the royal couple were visiting the Jaeger Brigade, a unit of the Finnish Army, in Sodankylä, Finland.

The programme for the couple, who were wrapped up warm to protect themselves from the elements, included ski towing and Arctic survival skills.

The royals were familiarising themselves with how the unit, which is located some 130km north of the Arctic Circle, functions.

The brigade, which trains 1,600 conscripts every year, are responsible for developing Arctic warfare tactics and working with equipment alongside the Swedish and Norwegian Arctic forces.

[Jennifer]

Sophie of Wessex takes on Arctic training in Finland

If you think you have it cold this winter then take a look at where Sophie of Wessex and her husband Prince Edward spent their Tuesday, as they set about to explore the harsh and snowy climate of Lapland on day two of their official visit to Finland.

Quite the opposite of the kind of surroundings we normally see the royal couple in, Sophie of Wessex and Prince Edward joined the tough Jaeger Brigade of the Finnish Defence Forces during their Arctic training in Sodankylä, Lapland.

To keep warm during the ordeal Sophie and Edward wore the same thick military uniforms as their hosts while taking in the sights and scenes of Lapland and watching an Arctic survival demonstration which taught them how to dig a mini igloo in the freezing and merciless wilderness.

Read more:
http://royalista.com/81850/sophie-of-wessex-takes-on-arctic-training-in-finland/

[TLLK]

Holy moley! Look at the snow piled on that roof! :o (Okay Canadians consider that I live in SoCal so I do find this remarkable.) :P

[Macrobug]

That is a fair chuck of snow! I am shoveling snow today; I am glad I am not shoveling that!