King Harald vows to rule for the rest of his life.
Published January 26, 2024 at 8:09 PM ET
Norway’s King Harald V frowned when asked about Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II abdicating the throne after 52 years on the throne.
Asked if he had any plans to abdicate the throne, the king said: “I stand by what I have always said, which is that I have sworn an oath to the Storting (Parliament). It is for life.”
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Queen Margrethe II and King Harald V laugh together in June 2023.
Like Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth II, who died as a monarch, Harald V firmly believes in the ancient norms of monarchy: spending every second of your life as head of state and serving your subjects. King Harald V has frequently stated his intention to remain in office indefinitely, an issue that Denmark’s former king spoke of often and contradictoryly over the years.
“It’s always been that way. It’s going to remain as long as I live. That’s what my father and my predecessors did, and I’m the same way,” the Queen said in a 2016 interview.she The abdication of a Danish monarch will be the first in nearly 900 years, leaving no monarchy in the world without a female monarch.
King Harald V ascended the Norwegian throne in January 1991 upon the death of his father, King Olaf V. He is married to Queen Sonya, and his successor is Crown Prince Haakon.
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King Harald V is one of the few remaining monarchs in the world who believes in lifelong service after ascending the throne.
The outspoken king, now 86 years old and Europe’s oldest monarch, suffers from mobility issues as well as a number of health concerns related to his heart and lungs. Mr Haakon has served as the King’s Regent on numerous occasions, an emergency reserve role in the British monarchy. Unlike Harald, Elizabeth II does not have to convene her regent in favor of her successor, and she delegated most of her official duties to her family in 2021 as she became ill. I just did it.
The King of Sweden, the Grand Duke of Monaco, the Grand Duke of Liechtenstein, the King of Thailand, the King of Bhutan, and several other monarchies reportedly maintain lifetime tenure for their heads of state.
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King Harald’s poor health has been frequently in the news, and it is believed that this is why Queen Margrethe abdicated the throne due to poor health.
Although King Harald V is said not to have agreed with the decision, he sent a message of congratulations to Denmark’s new monarch, Frederick X, and his wife, Queen Mary. “My family and I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to you as the new King and Queen of Denmark,” he said, praising the former king by adding: “Her Majesty Queen Margrethe has followed her country and its people through joy and sorrow.” With warmth, wisdom and dedication. ”
“Now it’s your turn to carry on that tradition and lead Denmark into a new era,” he concluded.
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King Frederick X of Denmark and Queen Mary.
GBN Reported on Harald V’s remarks.