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Norway

Crown Prince Haakon to take on regency as King Harald is on medical leave

His Majesty King Harald of Norway is on medical leave from today due to pain in the foot. During this time, Crown Prince Haakon will act as regent. This was announced by the royal court at Oslo Palace Wednesday afternoon. It is uncertain how long the King will be unable to work.

Those who have seen King Harald can confirm that the King has always walked a bit strange. This is due to a long-standing problem that the King has in one foot, which has now become so bad that the King can not work.

Section 41 of the Norwegian Constitution says: “Is the king outside the realm, or is he so ill that he can not take care of the government, the closest heir to the throne will manage the government and perform all of the royal powers”.

The Queen, the King and the Crown Prince. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.

Tomorrow Their Majesties The King and Queen would have received recipients of the King’s Medal of Honour in an audience. On Friday, the King was set to attend an audience with the Prime Minister and a council of state. On Saturday, the King was supposed to attend the celebrations for the Norwegian Society’s 150th Anniversary at the Norwegian Theatre in Oslo.

Crown Prince Haakon is currently in the Baltics, but it is likely that he will take over the tasks of the King from Friday.

King Harald of Norway. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.

When His Majesty was still heir to the throne, and in the military, it was discovered that he had a congenital defect on one foot. It made it difficult to stretch the foot entirely during regular marching. The military doctors suggested surgery. However, after a family council at the Palace, it was decided that he would not be operated. For a while, however, he went for treatment at Sophie’s Minde Hospital.

“I usually say that I have feet that are not so good to go on. So, therefore, I’m not so fond of walking”, was King Harald`s comment in a biography of the King published in 2005.

About author

Senior Europe Correspondent Oskar Aanmoen has a master in military and political history of the Nordic countries. He has written six books on historical subjects and more than 1.500 articles for Royal Central. He has also interview both Serbian and Norwegian royals. Aanmoen is based in Oslo, Norway.