Critics Target Royal Family Projects While King Haakon Awaits Time to Define His Reign

In her commentary, Tove Taalesen observes that recent scrutiny of Princess Märtha Louise's television debut and the visibility of Marius Borg Høiby during King Harald's funeral are being used to speculate about King Haakon's future reign, even though they provide no real insight. She reminds readers that the royal family is currently in a state of "hoffsorg," performing only essential constitutional duties while the palace reorganizes for the new king.

Despite the criticism, opinion polls indicate strong nationwide support for the monarchy, with nine out of ten Norwegians wanting to keep it. Taalesen argues that major changes in a monarchy do not happen overnight and that Haakon should be given time to demonstrate his style through his decisions and boundaries. The article calls for patience and warns against premature judgments as the nation processes recent losses, including King Harald and Princess Astrid.