As King Harald marked his 86th birthday, debate was dominating the media about a gift he received when he turned 85 in 2022.
King Harald received a valuable vase as a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin just before Russia went to war against Ukraine. The king accepted the gift and sent a letter of thanks after the war had already raged for several weeks in 2022.
All royal gifts in Norway are recorded on a list which is published to the public. The king received the gift in connection with his 85th birthday on 21 February last year. It is described as a hand-painted decorative urn in porcelain from the Russian Imperial Porcelain Manufactory. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 2022.
Now, some Norwegian media and commentators have argued that the King should never have sent thanks for the gift and returned it to Russia following the invasion of Ukraine. According to the Norwegian Foreign Policy Code, this is not common and it is difficult to implement. It is also not the King’s responsibility when it comes to gifts like this, but only in accordance with honorary certificates, medals and orders of knighthood.
The Royal Norwegian Department of Foreign Affairs further states that it is generally not customary to refuse gifts. It is common for the Royal Palace to send letters of thanks. The King often sends these letters directly to the recipient through the Norwegian embassy.
There have also been reactions on social media criticizing the press for blowing up what is described as non-news. Last year, for his birthday, the King received several hundred gifts from nations, associations, and private individuals.
