King Harald was 'completely whole'

Historian and author Trond Norén Isaksen reflects on the reign of King Harald V, suggesting that few monarchs have come as close to the people as he did, which explains the widespread mourning felt by five million Norwegians upon his passing.

Isaksen notes that it took time for King Harald to fully embrace his role after his father, King Olav V, died in 1991. For years, Harald felt his father was the true monarch. Despite this, Harald had ample time to prepare, meticulously documenting his thoughts on how he would rule differently and engaging in deep discussions with confidants.

During King Olav's reign, decision-making was centralized, with the Crown Prince having little influence. However, upon ascending the throne, King Harald, alongside Queen Sonja, focused on modernizing the Royal Court. They aimed for a more streamlined, flatter structure, drawing inspiration from the business sector to foster a new corporate culture.

This modernization included diversifying the court's staff beyond military backgrounds to include individuals of both genders and various professional experiences. The Royal Court also increased transparency by publishing annual reports and establishing a communications department. Furthermore, the King took personal initiative to open the Royal Collections to the public, creating the Queen Sonja Art Stable when government funding was insufficient.

While the court became more open, Isaksen points out that it remains exempt from the public disclosure law, allowing the palace to decide what information to share. Despite this, King Harald and Queen Sonja's reign was marked by a significant effort to make the monarchy more accessible and modern, a stark contrast to the more traditional and top-down approach of King Olav V's era.