Norway’s ailing king celebrates Constitution Day as flag-waving children cheer

Norway’s King Harald V waves from the balcony at Skaugum, his official residence, on Constitution Day 2023 (Frederik Ringnes/NTB Scanpix/AP)

Norway’s king has appeared on the royal castle’s balcony to salute thousands of children as the Scandinavian country celebrates its Constitution Day.

Cheering and shouting and waving blue, white and red Norwegian flags, nursery youngsters and school pupils marched in front of the palace where Harald V, 86, and his wife, Queen Sonja, sat and waved back to the vast crowd, many of whom wore traditional costumes.