According to tradition, King Harald ended this week with his annual salmon fishing holiday in northern Norway. For two days, King Harald was by the Altaelva River in Finnmark, Norway’s northernmost county. Together with a few good comrades, they fished for Norwegian salmon. On the two days of the holiday, the King and his friends managed to catch three big salmons. His Majesty struck all records and caught the biggest fish – a salmon of over 13 kilos.
When the journey had ended, and they returned home, the monarch gave a short comment to the local newspaper, where he told that it had been a lovely holiday and that they had caught three fish. Otherwise, the holiday was peaceful and enjoyable.
However, the salmon holidays have not always have gone by peacefully for the King. When King Harald fished for salmon in 2013, a scary event occurred. A drunk and outgoing man ended up fighting with the King’s bodyguards when he saw the monarch fishing in the river. The man was quickly arrested by His Majesty’s bodyguards and sent to jail.
The summer this year has been much more peaceful. King Harald came back to Norway not long ago after receiving third place in the World Cup in sailing. After a fishing holiday with friends, the King is spending some days with his large family. As we can see in the calendar of the Royal Court, King Harald’s first working day is first in early August. Then, he and Crown Prince Haakon will conduct their traditional government meetings.
Fishing is Norwegian royal tradition. King Harald has always been very fond of Norwegian nature. In all the years he has been the monarch, and many years before that, King Harald has been both an active hunter and fisherman. The guests who have eaten dinner with the King on one of his properties often receive meat or fish that the monarch himself has caught or shot.
King Harald fishes for salmon several times a year, often also in western Norway. However, when the King is hunting for moose, he goes to the royal cottage in Sikkilsdalen. In addition, King Olav and King Haakon were active fishermen and hunters – two hobbies that have long traditions both at the Norwegian upper class and among usual Norwegians.
