Concerns were raised after King Harald of Norway developed cold symptoms and decided to take sick leave for several days. The news, on January 28th 2022, came the day after Norway’s Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt had tested positive for coronavirus just hours after an audience with the King, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon. King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon therefore had to test themselves.
On January 29th, Queen Sonja opened the exhibition “State of the Art” by Bjørn Ransve at Haugar Art Museum in Tønsberg. There she also gave an update on the king’s health situation to the press. There she reveals that the king has tested negative for coronavirus. Her Majesty the Queen then said: “It is going very well, fortunately. It is just a mild cold with a sore throat”.
At the same time as the news that the king was on sick leave came, it also became known that the Crown Prince had no symptoms, and tested negative for coronavirus. He led the council of state in the king’s absence. Queen Sonja is not infected either.
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.”
Both the king and queen have been vaccinated with two vaccine doses, and have received a booster dose. At about the same time last year, the royal family stated that King Harald was on sick leave. At that time, it was due to leg pain. Also in 2018, King Harald was reported sick due to overload and pain in one foot.
