King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway will not be attending this year's Nobel Peace Prize Banquet, marking the king's first absence since 2003. The Norwegian monarch and his wife were expected to attend the ceremony, but due to unforeseen circumstances, they will be absent. However, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will still be in attendance. This is only the second time in the 21st century that King Harald has missed a royal event, with the previous time being due to a medical procedure for bladder cancer. This news is especially surprising as the Royal Family usually makes it a point to attend events held in their home country.
King Harald and Queen Sonja Miss Nobel Banquet Amidst Unforeseen Circumstances
Background
King Harald V of Norway is the reigning monarch of Norway. He has reigned since 1991 and is the eldest son of King Olav V and Princess Märtha of Sweden. Queen Sonja is his wife and former commoner. They have two children, Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Märtha Louise.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually to individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the promotion of peace. The award ceremony is usually held in Oslo, Norway, on December 10th, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death.
Absence from Banquet
In 2023, King Harald and Queen Sonja did not attend the Nobel Peace Prize Banquet due to unforeseen circumstances. This was the first time that King Harald had missed the event since 2003, when he was undergoing a medical procedure for bladder cancer.
Crown Prince and Crown Princess in Attendance
In the absence of the King and Queen, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit attended the ceremony. They were accompanied by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and other members of the Norwegian government.
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