King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway have received their third doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
The information was shared on the evening of November 1st 2021 by the royal court. The following statement was made: “His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen have today received the third dose of the vaccine against the coronavirus. The royal couple received the first dose on 13 January and the second dose three weeks later”.
The King’s 88 year old sister, Princess Astrid, was also vaccinated at the same time.
At the end of November 2020, it was announced that King Harald and Queen Sonja had tested negative for the coronavirus, after an employee at the Palace had been diagnosed with the infection. Queen Sonja had had close contact with the person in question but neither the queen nor the king was infected. At the time, it was also reported that 14 employees at the court had been quarantined.
It was later stated from the Palace in Oslo that the Royal Court has routines that are in line with rules and recommendations from the authorities related to infection control, including the practice of distance regulations, the use of face masks, intensified cleaning and hand hygiene, as well as the use of home offices.
In March 2020, the royal couple was quarantined after a state visit to Jordan. This led, among other things, to the king having to lead the weekly cabinet over the phone, due to his quarantine. During the opening of an art exhibition in 2020, Queen Sonja said that it has been sad not to be able to meet people during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Norwegian government has decided to offer a third dose of vaccine to all citizens over the age of 65. Approximately 70% of the population is now vaccinated with two doses and is recognized as fully vaccinated.