After the abdication of Queen Margrethe of Denmark (83), many royal fans are wondering whether other European regents will also retire from their duties due to their old age. As far as Norway’s King Harald V (86) is concerned, he has a clear answer to such speculation: According to his own statements, he is not thinking about leaving office early and would like to remain king until his death.
“I stick to what I have said all along: that I have sworn an oath to Parliament and that it lasts for life,” the Norwegian monarch told the NTB news agency when asked by a reporter on Tuesday (January 23). Press house in Oslo, as “Bergens Tidende” reports. The journalist had asked whether the king had given any new thought to such a decision after Margrethe’s abdication.
Queen Margrethe unexpectedly announced in her New Year’s speech that she would abdicate after 52 years and hand over her regency to her son, King Frederik X (55). The reason for this was a back operation that made her think about her future as head of state.
King Harald of Norway has also repeatedly struggled with health problems in recent years. However, he can always rely on his son, Crown Prince Haakon (50), for representation and support. He will take his place on the throne after his death.
The early handover of royal official duties has become quite popular. The former Queen Beatrix (85) made the start on January 28, 2013 and has since supported her son, King Willem-Alexander (56), as Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands.
On July 3, 2013, King Albert II (89) announced his abdication on July 21, 2013, the Belgian national holiday. His eldest son Philippe (63) became the new king that day.
A year later the time had come in Spain: King Juan Carlos I of Spain (85) gave thanks in favor of his son, King Felipe VI, as a result of several scandals. (55), on June 18, 2014. On January 14th, Queen Margrethe of Denmark abdicated.
Harald of Norway, on the other hand, is considered a king of the old school, who lives according to the motto of his grandfather King Haakon VII (1872-1957), as historian Ole-Jørgen Schulzrud-Hansen once explained according to “Bunte”. “A king is either healthy or he is dead,” was said to have been the late regent’s motto.
The situation is similar with Sweden’s King Carl XVI. Gustaf (77). He most recently commented on this in his speech on the occasion of his 50th anniversary to the throne in the summer of 2023. “It is my hope that I can continue to serve our Sweden now and in the years to come. Both in highs and lows. In good times, but also in times of great challenges,” he said at the time.
