King in a time of crisis – and enthusiastic grandfather – Norway

King Harald does not need time to think. He is not in the habit of ranking his experiences over the course of a year, but has no doubts when he looks back at the year that is now almost over. – The official day of Princess Ingrid Alexandra. It was a highlight. – What was it like for a grandfather to see an heir to the throne emerge the way she did? – It was no surprise to me that she managed that way. Because she is impressive. Really. King Harald nods emphatically. – What is it about her that impresses the king? – She is very caring, and she takes the serious things seriously. It is nice. Historic moment The ministers stood and waited behind their chairs around the long table in the Council Chamber at the Palace. The large chandelier with the inscription “By law shall the land be built” lit up. Everything was ready for the weekly, important meeting. The Council of Ministers, where new laws are passed and signed, is held at the Palace every Friday at 11 a.m. It normally follows a fixed pattern. But on 21 January this year, an exception was made. When the tall, white doors to the Council Chamber opened that Friday, a new chapter in the history of the Kingdom was written. – She was very nervous, I think. I had the feeling of it. But there was nothing to be nervous about. It’s always a bit exciting the first time. But she will quickly get used to it when the time comes, says King Harald. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre took the opportunity to congratulate the princess on her 18th birthday. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB He – the experienced monarch who has led the cabinet countless times since he became Norway’s king in 1991. She – the granddaughter, who will one day become Norway’s queen. For the first time in the cabinet on his 18th birthday. For now just to learn and observe. – It was a proper cabinet, but for her it was a trial cabinet. Because she doesn’t really have a seat in the cabinet until I’m gone, says King Harald. Princess Ingrid Alexandra put her hand to her heart. Greeted “good day, minister” to members of the government. Fifth generation in the Norwegian royal house in the cabinet. She took a seat at the end of the table, on King Harald’s left. On his right sat Crown Prince Haakon. For the first time, the three were together in the cabinet. Behind them stood the busts of the first and second generations, King Haakon and King Olav. According to the Constitution, only the closest heir to the throne can take a seat in the cabinet together with the king. The princess, second in the line of succession, therefore had an observing role on her official day. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB The picture was historic. – The long lines show that. It is the continuity of the whole thing, of the deed, that emerges, says King Harald. He felt the strength in the fact that family should follow the course of family. – Does it matter to the king that there are now two who can take over? – Yes, it certainly means a lot to me. It does, he replies matter-of-factly. – Also two, if I may say so, which are not entirely objective, quite good specimens too, then. It is very nice to see. “Dandy” While one grandchild was the main character in the big highlight this year, it was another grandchild who was responsible for the big surprise. – I had no idea, exclaims King Harald. Around one million Norwegians saw Maud Angelica Behn perform as “Dandy” in Maskorama. The king had no idea it was her until the mask fell. Photo: Ulrik Kramer / Fremantle/news Because when “Dandy” had to take off his mask in Maskorama, it turned out to the king’s – and grandfather’s – great surprise that it was his granddaughter Maud Angelica Behn who was hiding inside the costume. – We actually looked at that day, says the king. – Although the king who… – No, I didn’t. She sings completely differently now than she did before, because she has had lessons, so she sings much better now, he says. – It was bravely done! Singing live on TV, that was brave. He smiles. The King’s Office King Harald receives news in his office at the Palace just before Advent to talk about the year that is soon over. In the bright room in white and pale yellow, the king’s daily work takes place. Audiences, meetings and preparations. Starting the working day with newspapers, the latest news from home and abroad, is also an important everyday routine in the office. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news – This is where I spend most of my time. This is where I do my daily work. And if there are audiences, which means meetings with people, then it is here around this table or at the desk, he says to news’s ​​”The year with the royal family” and points to the meeting table. Here he has received everything from heads of state to the little boy of six, who sent fan letters to the king. Large paintings that mean something special to the king adorn the walls. Magazines and books fill the shelves. The Bible. A book about Buckingham Palace. The book “King of the Children – King Olav seen through children’s eyes”, which contains drawings that children in various parts of the country drew spontaneously when King Olav passed away in January 1991. From the king’s desk you can see straight to a bust of his mother, Crown Princess Märtha, and the painting ” Laugh hard” by Christian Krohg. Photo: Geirr Larsen / news The painting “Hardt laugh” by Christian Krohg from 1882 has a central place in the king’s office. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news The painting in which Prince Carl, who later became Norway’s King Haakon, goes for an inspection on deck, was a coronation gift to King Haakon from the Danish Naval Officers’ Association. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news The painting of the king’s grandfather King Haakon hangs next to the desk. – Yes, he must be here and supervise the whole thing, says the king. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news Will travel around the whole of Norway Now it is almost 32 years since King Harald “easily frightened” took over as Norway’s head of state from his father. The royal working life is still busy. The 85-year-old monarch has carried out 450 missions, either at the Palace, the Royal Ship or out in the field, this year, according to the Palace, despite several periods of health problems. After the last sick leave, he managed to get well enough in time to come home for Christmas. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news When the year is to be summed up, the king can count 53 visits to various places in the country. Traveling around and meeting people where they live is the most important thing the royal couple does, points out King Harald. – Yes, it is important. It’s our whole job, really, to get to know the whole country. The king has said that he aims to visit all the municipalities in Norway. When the royal couple in late summer finished a three-day tour of the annual county tour, which this year went to Møre and Romsdal, King Harald could cross off three new municipalities on the list. The royal couple were asked how long they will continue with such trips. The king had no doubts: – As long as we manage to touch each other, he replied laughing. Møre and Romsdal are now among the counties where the royal couple has visited absolutely all the municipalities. – What criteria does the king have? What is required for something to count as a valid municipal visit? – It must be an official programme. It does not apply if you are on a fishing trip, for example, says the king. Folk festival, cultural elements and local history. A mayor, corps and flower children. When we now turn to 2023 in the calendar, King Harald and Queen Sonja have together visited 331 of today’s 356 Norwegian municipalities, according to the Royal Household’s unofficial list, and are now only missing 25 municipalities. – When we have come so close, it is a point that we try to take the rest as well, says King Harald. – Are there any concrete plans for new municipalities next year? – Yes, but I don’t think I should say anything more about it right now. Because those who are to be visited don’t know yet, says the king, laughing. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news – I dreaded to think about it. In addition to carrying out his duties and assignments as King of Norway, earlier this year the king was in training for participation in the WC in sailing this summer. Five months after he turned 85, he and his crew on board the boat “Sira” took part in the WC for 8 meters in Geneva, Switzerland. On the great Lake Geneva, surrounded by high mountains, the king competed against 23 other boats. The wind was challenging to read. It ended with a 10th place after a strong sprint. The king is not satisfied with the position, but internationally he was praised and encouraged to aim for another WC. But, as news told before the Christmas weekend, the king has now made up his mind: the WC in Geneva was his last international competition, the “king of sailors” adds. – Now I am 85 years old, now it will last, says King Harald, who has previously won both the WC and EC and has participated in the Olympics three times. – I really dreaded thinking about it, but once I had made up my mind, it actually went well. Everything has its time. – Absolutely absurd Outside the office window, large flakes of snow fall towards the Castle Square and lay a white winter blanket over the capital. The streets almost glow with trees and facades covered in Christmas lights. For many Norwegians, the run-up to Christmas has been dark. Increased cost of living. More expensive food and electricity. Several are struggling to make ends meet. – I know that there are people who are having a hard time now, and it is sad, says King Harald. – We have to consider that there are people who have a very difficult time, and who have to choose between paying the electricity bill or paying for their food. It is an absolutely terrible situation to be in. The king calls for unity and consideration. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news The large floor clock next to the office doors rings. The king stops short. Through these doors, guests have made over 160 visits to the king this year. Among them is the foreign minister, who regularly meets King Harald in his office to give the monarch updates on Norwegian foreign policy. This has been the case for many years. This year, the reports took a dramatic turn in February. – It is absolutely absurd that we have a war in Europe in 2022, says King Harald now. – That was the last thing I thought could happen. I thought we had learned, but apparently we haven’t. It is very sad that it is taking place in Europe, I must say. – Was the king surprised? – I was very surprised. Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / news When Norway’s neighbor Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, the entire royal family was on a private winter holiday. The Crown Prince couple interrupted their family holiday on the same day, so that the Crown Prince could return home and attend to his duties as head of state as Crown Prince Regent. It was not many days before the king also interrupted his holiday due to the outbreak of war. The monarch returned home and was ready to lead the cabinet in the dramatic situation that had arisen. A few weeks after the war broke out, King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon visited an emergency accommodation for Ukrainian refugees who had just arrived in Norway. The king described the situation as absolutely terrible. He knows something about what the Ukrainian children he met went through. He himself was three years old when he had to flee the war in 1940 with his mother and older sisters – without his father. – It is clear that it was bad to be so long away from home, so long away from the fatherland, said King Harald. – Everyone wants to go home. It’s just a matter of when they get home. – Take care of each other As the country’s head of state, King Harald is the personification of Norway in meeting other countries. He has received countless heads of state in his office at the Palace. In 2010, Norwegian and Russian flags flew side by side in Castle Square when the king received the then Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who was on a state visit to Norway. President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have also been welcomed at the Palace in times when good neighborly relations should be built. Now the same leaders are at the head of a Russia that has gone to war. – What can a king do in times like this? – I can’t do anything about the situation. But you can perhaps tell people that now we have to take care of each other. If there are people who are afraid, we have to take care of them, make sure they are okay. I think that is the most important thing.



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