– When the British get to know the king, they will be pleasantly surprised, says King Harald to news. Today, King Charles gets the crown on his head in a traditional and grand ceremony in Westminster Abbey in London, eight months after he became the new king of Great Britain. For King Charles, he automatically assumed the throne the moment his mother Queen Elizabeth died on September 8 last year. She had then been Britain’s queen for 70 years. – An overwhelming majority in Great Britain had not known any other monarch than her. It was the end of an era. And the beginning of a new one, says King Harald. The royal couple talked about their relationship with King Charles when news met them in connection with the program “The year with the royal family”. They believe Britain’s new king will be able to fill the role after his mother. – I am absolutely sure that it will go very well. He has a lot of good values, and I think people will discover and appreciate that, says Queen Sonja. – He will do well, says King Harald. See the pictures of royals and Britons preparing for the coronation: King Charles has prepared for the coronation, among other things, with a garden party at Buckingham Palace this week. Photo: POOL / Reuters While Prince William and Princess Kate surprised at the pub two days before the coronation. Photo: Jamie Lorriman / AP The prince himself tried to tap beer in the pub. Photo: Jamie Lorriman / AP In London, preparations have been underway for a long time, and royal fans have taken their places along the procession route. Photo: PHIL NOBLE / Reuters It is important to be out early to ensure a good view of Saturday’s coronation events in London. Photo: Nathan Denette / AP Kings, friends and relatives As monarchs, the two kings meet in official contexts. As friends and relatives, they also meet privately. Charles was welcomed by the then Crown Prince Harald when he came to Norway to celebrate King Olav’s 75th birthday in 1978. Photo: NTB As when the Norwegian royal couple was on a private pre-Christmas trip to England last year. – I met King Charles when we were in England then, says King Harald. For many years there has been good friendship and close family ties between the British and Norwegian royal families. Queen Elizabeth and King Harald were triplets and shared great-grandparents. King Harald’s grandmother Queen Maud – who was married to Norway’s King Haakon VII – was originally an English princess and was the sister of Queen Elizabeth’s paternal grandfather. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and King Harald were triplets and good friends. When she died in September last year, the Norwegian king expressed great sorrow “over the loss of a dear family member and a close friend”. Photo: Terje Bendiksby / NTB The relatives maintained a close relationship. A relationship that became even stronger when King Haakon and Crown Prince Olav had to flee Norway during the Second World War and stay in exile in London. King Charles named after the Norwegian king Queen Elizabeth’s relationship with her relatives in Norway was so close that when she had her first child, Charles, she named him after Norway’s King Haakon. King Haakon and Queen Maud photographed together with their son, then Crown Prince Olav, in 1905. Photo: NTB / Scanpix King Haakon was originally called Prince Carl before he became king of Norway, and was also called “uncle Charles” after he took the royal name Haakon in the British royal family. Now it is Britain’s Charles who will be crowned king. The Crown Prince couple represent the Norwegian royal house and are present during the coronation in London. Therefore, King Charles is a role model for Crown Prince Haakon. King Charles is Crown Prince Haakon’s name. The Norwegian crown prince couple were invited to tea with the then Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla in London in 2005. Photo: Bjørn Sigurdsøn / NTB The new British monarch is someone that Crown Prince Haakon has pointed to as a role model. – I have great respect for King Charles. He has been early in talking about very important topics, such as ecology and climate, said the crown prince when he was on an official visit to London in March. – He has also made a very big effort when it comes to getting many young people who were at risk of falling outside society, into work and education through The Prince’s Trust. So there are many things I am impressed with, which he has achieved. Queen Elizabeth invited the Norwegian royal family to a banquet at Buckingham Palace in 2005. Photo: Bjørn Sigurdsøn / NTB
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King Harald thinks King Charles will surprise the British – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
