On December 31, 2024, King Harald V of Norway delivered his traditional end-of-year speech. At the time of taking stock, the Norwegian sovereign could not avoid a personal chapter which shook his family this year: the arrest and accusations brought against Marius, the son of his daughter-in-law.
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King Harald V of Norway looks back on the year 2024 which put the royal family “to the test”
The year 2024 was an “annus horribilis” for the Norwegian royal family. King Harald V of Norway began his year with a trip to Malaysia where he suffered from serious heart problems. Repatriated to Norway, the 87-year-old king underwent heart surgery and had a pacemaker fitted in February. Her daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 51, has resumed her treatment against chronic pulmonary fibrosis from which she suffers. And since this summer, the Marius saga has been making headlines in the tabloid press.
King Harald’s traditional evening speech on December 31 was therefore eagerly awaited. King Harald always takes advantage of this special moment with the Nation to take stock of the past year and be optimistic about the future. A few hours before the start of the year 2025, King Harald declared: “For many, 2024 will likely be an even year. For some, a year where life took a positive turn. For still others, the year when everything collapsed, in reference to what his own family experienced.
“For us, the royal family, this has been a year where we have been really tested. A year where we became even more aware of what matters in this life. At the heart of being human is the fact that none of us are spared from pain and difficulty. Some are hit harder than others. But unfortunately, no one escapes the bad things in life. Each of us has to find a way to stick with it and try to get through it. »
“We need drawers within us to sort emotions and place responsibility where it belongs. We also need drawers for what gives us strength, meaning and joy. Maybe we need a whole dresser. I am not a psychologist. But here’s what I’ve experienced: It’s important to find ways to deal with what’s difficult in order to live as best as possible with ourselves and each other. » Since this summer, Marius Borg Høiby, Mette-Marit’s eldest son and born from a relationship prior to her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, has been arrested three times. The young man is accused of physical and psychological assaults and several rapes whose victims are ex-girlfriends and relations.
To overcome these trials, the King explains: “None of us can do it alone. We need each other. We need motivation and help to move forward. We have to believe that it will get better. It can be hard work. But it’s vital work. It’s even community development work. Because all these individuals who go through their ordeals are the links in this chain that we form together. Where we work together in ways big and small. Where we face challenges together. Where we try to make good decisions together. »
“There is a flaw in everything. This is where the light comes in,” quotes King Harald here, using the words of a song by Leonard Cohen. “It gives us all hope when we feel like something is broken. I think we would be better off if we got rid of the idea that life should be preferably simple, and preferably pretty perfect. Because it’s not like that. Life can hurt. We humans make mistakes. Things don’t turn out the way we dreamed or imagined. But we try to learn from our mistakes. We rise to our feet – and carry on. This driving force is something very special for us humans. And I think it’s a question of hope. »
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King Harald focuses his speech on hope through solidarity
“So here we are again in hope. For many years, hope has been the theme of this evening. This is not accidental. Because hope is the life force itself. I think we all need to remind ourselves of this over and over again. I am so lucky to find hope in my office as it is. Ukrainian President Zelensky. Young activists Sami Fosen. Children at the Blue Cross children’s station in Kristiansand. These are all people I have met over the last few years who find themselves in the middle of difficult situations, but who don’t give up. They glow with hope and vitality, even though they may be tired.
Even where the darkness seems greatest, there is a force that pushes people into a new day. Even in Gaza. In Sudan. In Afghanistan. In Ukraine. In Syria. This evening, I would like to particularly thank all of you who contribute in conflict zones – humanitarian organizations, the armed forces, the Foreign Service and the press. Thanks for being in it. Thank you for keeping hope alive.
Part of what gives me hope is seeing what can happen when we talk together. When we reach out to someone with whom we disagree and who is different from us. It can be stressful. But a society where we only speak to those who are like us becomes both poorer and more dangerous.
Our young people are a role model for all of us. In this country we have Sami, Jewish and Muslim guides. Young people who go into school classes to talk about who they are and what they represent, their culture and their religion.
Knowledge and conversation are effective remedies against prejudice and strengthen our cooperation. We must meet, we must speak together, not with the aim of reaching an agreement, but to understand and respect each other.
This is what we are building this country on. And it is also the foundation of the international order of which we are part in the UN. Conversation is absolutely central when we come together to discuss complex topics where there are many opinions and interests. Like protecting our planet from dramatic climate change. And to find paths to peace.
I would encourage everyone in the new year to invite someone you disagree with for a coffee chat. This could hold some positive surprises! We must never stop talking. In the world, in society, in the family. If we can talk together, especially in the most difficult times, there is always hope.
In 2025, we will celebrate 80 years since the liberation and the end of the Second World War. I sometimes stand at the window of the palace in the morning and look out over the city: the Karl Johans Gate. The morning sun rises over the hill and colors the sky pink and orange. Little by little, the city comes to life. It’s so beautiful and peaceful. So thank you. Because if we go back almost 85 years, the picture was completely different: early one morning, the soldiers of a foreign power marched down the same street. They took away our freedom. Created fear and division. After five long years, the nightmare was finally over.
War is simply terrible. Peace and freedom mean everything. We must stick to it and remember it in 2025. We must inspire our young people to work for peace, both here at home and around the world. We must strengthen our preparation at all levels to know with ourselves that we are a resilient people. We owe it to those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom, and we owe it to the Norwegians of tomorrow.
There is also a lot of hope in this part of our history. Too much of what we have created together over time is built precisely out of hope, on the ruins of something that was once destroyed. From war and enmity was born a desire for reconciliation and cooperation on which we have continued to build over these 80 years. Our democratic values are our most important protection when we are tested as a people and a nation.
Dear All, Much of what affects the world, society and our lives are things we cannot control ourselves. But that does not make us passive victims of what is happening.
Because we can do a lot of things. We can stand up for what we believe in. We can be friendly and take each other in the best sense of the word. We can raise our hands when we need to.
Every day, across our country, people come together around activities that bring joy and meaning. Every day, people receive new hope through the conversations that take place, the hugs of reconciliation, the helping hands and the words of encouragement.
Every day we are faced with choices in which we can do something positive for others, and therefore also for ourselves and our community. And if we feel that something is breaking, it gives the light the opportunity to escape. I wish you all a happy new year. »
Nicolas Fontaine
Editor-in-chief
Nicolas Fontaine has been a designer-editor and author for numerous Belgian and French brands and media. A specialist in royal family news, Nicolas founded the site Histoires royales of which he is the editor-in-chief. [email protected]
