Norway: The King and Queen cancel attendance at Prince Philip's memorial service

The Norwegian Royal Court announced yesterday that King Harald and Queen Sonja are not going to attend the Service of Thanksgiving for Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburg at Westminster Abbey, London on Tueday 29 March 2022 after all. King Harald, who tested positive for Covid-19 last Tuesday, has extended his sick leave until Thursday 31 March.

Unfortunately this means that the Norwegian Royal House will not be represented at the memorial service, even though the Crown Prince couple has no scheduled engagements for 29 March.

Norway: King Harald has tested positive for Covid-19

The Norwegian Royal Court informed today that King Harald has tested positive for Covid-19. According to the court the king is experiencing mild symptoms and will be on sick leave for the next few days. This means that the Crown Prince once again has assumed the role as Regent during the king's illness. The Crown Prince Regent will according to the list of official engagements preside over the Council of State at the Royal Palace on Friday 25 March.

At the time of writing the king is expected to resume his duties on Monday 28 March and will then also attend the Service of Thanksgiving for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey, London together with Queen Sonja on Tuesday 29 March, but of course the plans could be changed if the king doesn't feel well enough early next week.

Updated on Saturday 26 March 2022 at 18.55 (typo corrected).

Norway: Princess Ingrid Alexandra has tested positive for corona

The Norwegian Royal Court announced today that Princess Ingrid Alexandra, daughter of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has tested positive for corona and is isolated at home at the Skaugum estate in Asker. The other members of the family have also been tested, but fortunately with negative results.

Crown Prince Haakon has cancelled his planned visit to UngInvest in Modum on Monday, and the Crown Prince couple have postponed the event on Wednesday at Skaugum where the 20th anniversary of the Crown Prince Couple's Fund was to be marked. The Crown Prince has also called off his presence at the disembarkation of the royal yacht Norge on Monday, which means that the king will act alone with the presence of Queen Sonja.

Norway: King Harald, Queen Sonja and Princess Astrid vaccinated against Covid-19

The Norwegian Royal Court announced in the afternoon today that King Harald and Queen Sonja were vaccinated against covid-19 earlier in the day. Their Majesties will receive the next vaccine in 3 weeks. NRK.no quoted assistant information director Sven Gjeruldsen as saying that the king and queen were in the risk group and that they were vaccinated following advice from the doctors and health authorities. Also King Harald's elder sister Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner received her first shot today.

At a press conference today the Minister of Health and Care Services, Bent Høie, stated that he was pleased that the king and queen had received the vaccine. Obviously an exception was made for Their Majesties, as they are only in the third priority group. Høie said: «– The Government has offered the royal family vaccination due to their role. We are pleased that they accepted the offer, that our royal couple today has got the first vaccination dose. This I think the Norwegian people will show an understanding for, and it was also something the government has offered the royal house.»

On Dagbladet's question on what it would take for individuals to get an exception from the ordinary order of vaccination, Høie answered: «– The fact that they are in the royal house, and it is not many people who are, but I think the Norwegian people will show an understanding for it. We have persons in the royal family who belong to a high risk group among others because of their age, so it is important, Høie explained.»

For the record, King Harald and Queen Sonja, both 83, belong to the royal house, while Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, 88, is a member of the royal family. There will always be people who will complain about the royals receiving privileges, but if the various comments made in the social media today should be regarded as representative, the vast majority seem to accept the reasons why an exception was made.

Other royals who have been vaccinated are Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of the United Kingdom.

King and Queen of Norway return from Covid-19 quarantine

The Norwegian Royal Court informed on Thursday 26 November 2020 that the king and queen had been tested for Covid-19 and the results were negative. This meant that they could return to work on Friday. King Harald presided over the Council of State which was held at the Royal Palace at 11 a.m.

The king and queen and 14 employees at the Royal Palace were quarantined on 19 November after an employee has been diagnosed with Covid-19. Queen Sonja was in quarantine because she has been in close contact with the employee, while King Harald's home quarantine was self-imposed. Neither the king nor the queen had at the time shown any symptoms. 

The 14 employees also tested negative and have returned to work.

King and Queen of Norway quarantined

The Norwegian Royal Court informed today that the king and queen and 14 employees at the Royal Palace are in quarantine after an employee has been diagnosed with Covid-19. Queen Sonja is in quarantine because she has been in close contact with the employee, while King Harald's home quarantine is self-imposed. Neither the king nor the queen has shown any symptoms so far.

The quarantine means that the king will preside over the Council of State by phone from his home at Bygdø Royal Farm on Friday 20 November at 11 a.m.. The telephone solution was also used in the spring of 2000 during the first wave of the pandemic.

Crown Prince Haakon will step in to grant the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, an audience at 10 a.m. on Friday. The quarantine also mean several changes to the king and queen's program in the next few days.