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Norwegian Palace Marks King Harald’s 89th With Portrait Centering Succession

Commentators see the omissions as a clear message about public representation during a period of scrutiny.

Overview

  • The official photo shows King Harald, Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Ingrid Alexandra and was posted by the royal household on its channels.
  • The palace reused an image originally taken in winter for Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s birthday, noting the repost in its caption.
  • Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus do not appear in the portrait, an absence widely noted by media.
  • Coverage interprets the selection as emphasizing the immediate line of succession and who should represent the monarchy publicly.
  • Mette-Marit faces sustained criticism after U.S. Justice Department documents revealed years of contact with Jeffrey Epstein, and her son Marius Borg Høiby has a published indictment with a trial scheduled for early 2026.