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On Wednesday the book “The King Counts” was launched, where you get a very unusual encounter with King Harald (83). The book deals with both the past and the future, and is based on the king’s own reflections on life. In it, he talks about, among other things, how the family coped with the death of Ari Behn and what he thinks about his future on the throne.
The king also talks openly about his own family life, which has not always been so simple. As a king, you obviously live a hectic life, and there have been many journeys for the monarch at times.
– Clings to the “bitter end”
Often away from children
In one of the chapters, which deals with the numerous state visits that he has made during his time as king, he explains that it has not always been so easy to have to leave the children.
“Suddenly I found out that I was away 200 days abroad. I had small children, or we had small children. I don’t think they have forgiven us completely yet that we are so far gone. It was not good, neither for the family nor for the fact that that I was too small in Norway, “says King Harald, continuing:
“So we had to start doing more here at home.”
The king says he came close to having a card cut to New York for a period, a clear picture of how much was really on the move in those years. It was also not the case that Queen Sonja (83) stayed home all the time, so Crown Prince Haakon (47) and Princess Märtha Louise (49) were often without their parents.
– A little worried
The king says that he himself has regretted having been so absent.
Now he is concerned that his son, who is married to Crown Princess Mette-Marit (47) and with whom he has children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra (16) and Prince Sverre Magnus (14), will make the same mistake as him.
The king: “That she did it”
“I also see the crown prince, I think he works very hard. I am starting to care a little for him. He is a young man, but it is this settling down that makes you have to work more,” he says.
Crown Prince Haakon Magnus was born in 1973, five years after then-Crown Prince Harald had his Sonja Haraldsen in Oslo Cathedral. Two years earlier, his older sister Märtha Louise was born.
The Royal Household website states that Crown Prince Harald had many official assignments during this period and that he worked hard.
Close relationship
Father and son often spend time together and are seen side by side on the castle balcony during the national day celebration and during the Christmas holidays. In the book, the king also talks about his close relationship with his son.
“He has become a friend and a co-worker. He asks me for advice and I receive it. The relationship has become increasingly close, he is a wise guy. He will do well when that time comes,” he says.
I knew about Ari’s problems
The king also says that he thinks he is less worried than his own father. He goes on to say that the Crown Prince will be able to take whatever he wants and change whatever he wants.
This summer the entire royal family was on a trip to Lofoten together, having had a separate summer vacation.
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It has been the Crown Prince who has put himself in his father’s place when the king has been too ill to perform his official duties.
King Harald explains in the book that he then does not interfere with the work that the Crown Prince Regent does.
He believes that if the Crown Prince’s regent is not allowed to decide for himself, it will be difficult for him.
