A smiling King Harald and Queen Sonja arrived in Kongsberg this morning to mark the town’s 400th anniversary.
This is the king’s “comeback” out of the country after he fell ill on holiday in Malaysia.
Many have wondered how the king’s health is now.
– It’s not too bad for an 87-year-old, replies the king and laughs, before announcing:
– And it will get better! We are working on it. But it’s not that crazy at all.
The King: There won’t be much of a downgrade
On the day 400 years since the town of Kongsberg was founded by Christian IV of Denmark and Norway, today’s king came to visit.
When the royal couple arrived in Kongsberg in glorious spring sunshine this morning, they were greeted by marching band music and flower children on the red carpet. The king smiled and congratulated him on the day.
The royal couple took their seats inside Kongsberg church.
Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB
The royal couple’s visit to Kongsberg takes place a week and a half after King Harald was declared healthy and was back at work for the kingdom.
He had then been on sick leave for nearly eight weeks after he fell ill on holiday in Malaysia and was admitted to hospital.
But as the king only had work assignments inside the Palace last week, when he had audiences – meetings – and led ministers, today’s trip was his first mission after the report of his recovery.
Although King Harald has now been declared healthy, the royal house has announced that he will now step down and will work less in the future.
But how much less that actually will have to do for the king, the protagonist himself is not so sure.
– There won’t be as much to step down as you think, he says with a laugh.
– I take it a bit more easy now and then, but you won’t notice that much of a difference.
The Royal House has announced that the king will continue to carry out his constitutional duties as head of state.
He will also conduct meetings and audiences at the Palace and continue to go on official visits around the country.
King Harald in his office at the Castle. Last year he carried out a total of 431 work assignments both at the Castle and outside the country. The picture was taken in connection with the NRK program “The year with the royal family” in 2022.
Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / NRK
Travel May
In the king’s calendar there are already several tasks for this year.
– I maintain what I have said all along; that I have taken an oath to the Storting, and it lasts for life.
This is how King Harald answered when he was asked in January if he has considered giving up the throne after his third wife in Denmark, Queen Margrethe, did so.
Traveling around and meeting people where they live is the most important thing the royal couple does, King Harald has said.
The royal couple’s visit to Kongsberg today is also the first of several trips out this month.
Because later in May, new Norwegian municipalities will receive a royal visit.
At the end of May, the royal couple will go on their annual county tour as planned. This year the trip goes to Agder and Rogaland.
In addition, it has already been announced that King Harald will receive the President of Moldova on a state visit to Norway on 6-7 May, and the Danish royal couple on 14 and 15 May.
A troop from Garden was there when the royal couple was on a county tour in Nordland last summer.
Photo: Eskil Wie Furunes / NRK
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