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President Barack Obama had a royal visit during his trip to Norway.
The former U.S. leader visited with King Harald V, the King’s daughter-in-law Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre at the Bygdø Kongsgård royal summer estate in Bygdøyveien on Tuesday, May 13.
The visit came as Obama was in Norway for a lecture at the Oslo Spektrum on Monday, May 12. Moderated by Sofie Høgestøl, a podcaster and former member of Norwegian parliament, the discussion delved into “some of the most pressing issues of our time, as well as his thoughts on the challenges facing the world’s democracies in the future.”
Obama and King Harald were well acquainted during his time in office. The monarch presented the former president with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his efforts in international diplomacy.
The meeting came just over a year after King Harald reduced his royal duties following a lengthy sick leave and an operation to install a permanent pacemaker.
“The King will make adjustments to his program in the future, out of consideration for his age. This will entail a permanent reduction in the number and scope of activities in which the King participates,” the Norwegian Royal House announced on April 22, 2024.
Princess Mette-Marit’s husband, Crown Prince Haakon, is next in line to the throne and has assumed some royal duties due to his father’s health limitations.
The couple married in 2001 and share two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 19. Princess Ingrid is currently second in line to the throne thanks to Norway adopting absolute primogeniture in 1990, allowing for eldest female children to come before their brothers in the order of succession.
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Though the King of Norway has had several health issues in recent years, including hospitalizations for infections in December 2022 and May 2023, he stated in January 2024 that he had no plans to abdicate.
The issue was top of mind after Queen Margrethe of Denmark voluntarily stepped down from the throne in January 2024.
“No, I don’t really have it. I stand by what I have said all along. I have taken an oath to the Storting, and it lasts for life,” King Harald said at the time, referring to his promise to the Norwegian Parliament when he acceded at age 53 in 1991.
