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Norway's King Harald, 86, rules out abdication

World

Norway's King Harald, 86, rules out abdication

By Agence France-Presse

Oslo, Norway - Norway's frail 86-year-old King Harald has no plans to abdicate, he reiterated Tuesday in his first public remarks since the surprise decision by Denmark's Queen Margrethe to stand down.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark rides in a carriage escorted by the Guard Hussar Regiment's Mounted Squadron from Amalienborg Castle to Christiansborg Castle for her proclamation of abdication in Copenhagen, Denmark, on January 14, 2024. Denmark turns a page in its history on January 14 when Queen Margrethe abdicates and her son becomes King Frederik X, with more than 100,000 Danes expected to turn out for the unprecedented event.
(Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP)

"I stick by what I've always said, that I swore an oath to the Storting (parliament) and it is for life," said Harald, Europe's oldest monarch, quoted by Norwegian media.

He was speaking at a visit to a Norwegian press centre in Oslo, accompanied by his son Crown Prince Haakon.

The king, who has been on the throne for 33 years, will turn 87 on February 21.

His mounting health issues and advanced age have led commentators to speculate about the possibility that Harald may follow in the footsteps of his 83-year-old distant cousin Margrethe.

After repeatedly insisting that she would never step down, Margrethe stunned Danes when she announced in her New Year's Eve address that she would abdicate in favour of her eldest son Frederik.

Harald, who walks with crutches, has in recent years undergone heart surgery and been hospitalised for respiratory issues and infections.

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