The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics are almost over but with just hours to go until the closing ceremony, two royals have made a late bid for best Games appearance.
King Harald and Queen Sonja, both 87, have shared how they have been following every moment of Norway’s attempts at Olympic gold and it turns out that royals are just like the rest of us.
While other kings and queens not to mention princes and princesses have converged on Paris in huge numbers over the past two weeks, Harald and Sonja are doing it their way. They’ve set up their laptop and tablet to take in all the action. And there are snacks.
In a series of photos shared on their official social media as the Games wound up, King Harald and Queen Sonja revealed they’ve taken breakfast, lunch and dinner while glued to their screens to follow their country’s progress in Paris.
(Det Norske Kongehus/ Instagram)
From a breakfast with apple juice and coffee to a rather romantic looking supper by the sea, complete with wine, the King and Queen of Norway said that they hadn’t missed a moment of the competition.
It’s perhaps not that surprising they’ve been avid fans of the Games. King Harald, while Crown Prince of Norway, competed in three Summer Games.
He took part for his country in sailing in 1964, 1968 and 1972. And both King Harald and Queen Sonja have been long time supporters of sport across Norway.
Their Olympic viewing habits revelation came as Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were in Paris to cheer on the team firsthand. However, their visit has been touched by controversy.
The Crown Princess had to postpone her arrival in Paris after her eldest child, Marius Borg Høiby, was arrested. Marius, 27, is Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship and not in line for the throne. He was detained last weekend on suspicion of assault and the Crown Princess chose to stay with him for several days before heading to Paris.
There’s no doubt that this down to earth Olympics appearance by the King and Queen of Norway has helped add a positive note to the family’s image after a week where the Crown Prince fielded questions from journalists about the situation around his stepson.
And it’s shown that even royals do the Olympics the traditional way, snacks included.
