Kongens jaktkompis Eivind Reiten: – En flott person som det er tungt å miste

Kong Harald passed away on Friday morning at the age of 89. Eivind Reiten, the Kongsberg executive, is one of the business leaders who have spent a lot of time with the king both professionally and personally. Reiten told E24 that when he heard others describe the king as warm and genuine, he agreed it was exactly how the monarch was.

Reiten has met the king numerous times each year for many years and described him as someone who shifted quickly between seriousness and playfulness. The king was known for creating an atmosphere that made it easy to form connections. Reiten was a busy man, having held various high-ranking positions in industry and government, and traveled extensively with the king.

He understood how significant it was for a small country like Norway to have a monarch who was a draw in many nations with distant ties to royalty. Reiten never met someone who was so close to being as devoted to duty as the king. He would arrive when called upon, even bringing refreshments if necessary. When complimented on his speaking skills, the king often replied, "that's nice, but that's just how it is."

Reiten and the king spent a lot of time together, often hunting in Sweden and Scotland. The king was an excellent hunter and was very interested in the sport. Reiten remembers a particular hunting story from the king. While hunting, the king emphasized the importance of being quiet and still when nearing a target, saying, "That's what I'm good at, because being silent when you have important things to say is a crucial part of being a king." The king was a wonderful person who was hard to lose, but he had completed his duty.