Norway’s Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt has tested positive for the COVID-19 just hours after an audience with King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon on 27 January.
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt was in an audience with King Harald on Thursday and tested positive for the virus shortly after.
Foreign Minister Huitfeldt told Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten: “With all my heart, I wish I did not test positive on the same day as I had an audience with King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon. I tested myself early today, and it was negative, but I tested myself again when I got an acute headache this afternoon. The Royal Court was notified immediately. Like everyone else, I am afraid of infecting others. Moreover, of course, I sincerely hope that I have not infected His Majesty the King, Queen or Crown Prince even though I wore a mask and kept my distance.”
Others who have had contact with the Foreign Minister have also been notified.
Norway’s Foreign Minister meets the King weekly to report on Norwegian foreign policy.
On Thursday evening, the Norwegian Royal Court has issued the following statement to the Norwegian press: “The King, Queen and the Crown Prince received the Foreign Minister in an audience Thursday morning. This afternoon we were informed that the Foreign Minister had tested positive for COVID-19. The King, Queen and the Crown Prince will, therefore, in accordance with the infection control rules, test themselves.”
King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway have received three doses of the coronavirus vaccine. In March 2020, the royal couple had to quarantine after a state visit to Jordan. This led, among other things, to the King having to lead the weekly cabinet meeting over the phone.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra is the only one in the Norwegian Royal Family who has, so far, had the virus.
