COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Norway’s 85 – year – old King Herald V tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday and has mild symptoms, royal officials said.
Harald will take a break from his duties for a few days and that his sone and heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon, would take them over for now, the royal household said in a brief statement.
Herald has received three COVID-19 vaccine shots, although he’s been ill several times in recent years, including in 2020 when he had an operation for a new heart valve.
Herald’s duties as Norway’s head of state are ceremonial, and he hold no political power. He ascended to the throne following the death of his father, King Olav, on Jan 17, 1991.
Harald, the country’s first native – born king since the 14th century, married a commoner as a prince and won hearts in his egalitarian country by leading the mourning in 2011 for the victims of mass killer Anders Behring Breivik.
SAS 24 NEWS 