King Harald V of Norway has made it clear that he won’t voluntarily give up his post as monarch, like the Danish queen did earlier this month. No, he said at a meeting with reporters after Queen Margrethe’s abdication, “this is a job that lasts for life.”
He referred to the vow he’d made in Parliament, “and that’s in force for the rest of my life.” He’s reigned for 33 years, since taking over for his father King Olav in January 1991, and stands by the system that calls for his son Crown Prince Haakon, to succeed him.
Meanwhile, his granddaughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who’ll succeed Haakon as monarch when that time comes, has started military training after graduating from the Norwegian equivalent of high school. Asked whether the king had any advice for her, he laughed and said he’d told her that, when given an order, “don’t ask ‘why.’ Just follow orders.”
NewsinEnglish.no staff
