The Norwegian monarch and his wife are expected to miss a prestigious event next month in Norway with this being King Harald’s first absence since 2003.
King Harald, 87,and Queen Sonja, 87, are both due to miss this year’s lavish Nobel Peace Prize Banquet but they are expected to attend the prize ceremony held earlier in the day.
The Prizes, which honour incredible achievements in the field of Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace, have been awarded every year since 1901.
Taking their places at the banquet will be Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit who will participate in both events on December 10.
As stipulated in the will of the Swedish-born inventor and international industrialist Alfred Nobel, which was opened after his death in 1896, the Nobel Prizes in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine and literature are awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, while the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo, Norway.
At the Nobel Prize award ceremony in Stockholm, speeches present the laureates and their discovery or work, after which His Majesty the King of Sweden hands each laureate a diploma and a medal.
The ceremony is followed by a banquet at the Stockholm City Hall (Stockholms Stadshus) for about 1,300 people, including 250 students. With a few exceptions, the Nobel Prize banquet has taken place at the City Hall since 1930.
Because of an operation on the King’s bladder in 2003, he had to drop out of the event and was absent from royal duties for four months until he recovered. Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit have missed the event on several occasions too.
Back in February, King Harald had a health scare and was hospitalised in Malaysia. In a statement at the time, the royal court said: “His Majesty the King has fallen ill during his holiday in Malaysia and is hospitalised there with an infection. The king receives good care from both Malaysian and Norwegian medical personnel.”
The King was later transferred back to Norway where he underwent surgery and had a permanent pacemaker fitted.
The royal was discharged from hospital two days later, but remained absent from duty until April, 22, 2024.
King Harald is one of Europe’s longest reigning monarchs. He is married to Sonja Haraldsen and they have two children, Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon.
Despite his advancing age and ill-health, King Harald has openly ruled out abdicating. As stated in Hello! Magazine, in January, he told reporters that he had taken an oath that “lasts for life”.
