Også deres konge

The article presents the perspective of a commentator on King Haakon VIII's address to the Norwegian people on Saturday. The commentary highlights both novelty and continuity in King Haakon VIII's speech. Unlike his predecessor, King Harald V, King Haakon VIII dressed and slouched, making his speech more personal and relatable. The speech began with the loss of a father, wife, and grandfather, not just the king of the country.

The moment when the king's voice almost broke when congratulating his mother on her wedding day will be remembered in Norwegian history. The commentator also emphasizes the balance between the person and institution in the monarchy. Monarchies are a delicate balance between the individual and the institution, and the monarch personally embodies the state.

While it may seem old-fashioned for the king to be elevated, it is crucial to understand why the Norwegian kings have always been both regal and down-to-earth. There is nothing unique about the act of wearing a tuxedo and dress shoes, but the image of King Harald visiting fire victims in Vestlandet in 1992 remains iconic. Even wearing a formal suit and sneakers, the king's regalia made a statement about his royal duties.

If the institution becomes too heavy, it will distance itself from the people. Like Queen Elizabeth II of Britain, who realized that the institution did not understand people's grief over Princess Diana's death. However, if the royal family becomes just people, they reduce to mere celebrities. The public may love celebrities, but they do not symbolize anything greater than themselves.

Therefore, it was wise for King Haakon to show some of himself while maintaining continuity through "All for Norway" and a slightly modernized version of "God bless our homeland." In earlier times, poets wrote royal speeches to provide guidance on what was good and right. With a new monarch, many are beginning the modern version.

The political editor of VG asked King Haakon to be bold. In situations where the deep peace for a long time is history, the monarch must be bold, especially in a time when deep peace is history. However, for everyday life, it is essential to be prudent. A king is more than just himself. The king is a binding link to history and a symbol of what we are today.

The monarch can guide us in the right direction, but never dictate. Only in defense of the foundation of a liberal democracy - a representative, legal, and democratic state - should the king be politically and compromise-minded. King Haakon VII reportedly said, "I am also the king of the communists," before appointing Arbeiderpartiets Christopher Hornsrud to form a government in 1928.

Perhaps those in Norway who feel deep distrust in the system, who do not trust politicians and established elites, or those who often find themselves far from the central environments where economic, cultural, and political power is concentrated. In the West, politics is becoming increasingly polarized, and we see similar tendencies in Norway. One of the monarchy's most important tasks in the coming decades may be to also be their king.