Prime Minister Carney offers condolences after King Harald V's death

What happened

• Prime Minister Carney issued a statement offering condolences after the death of King Harald V of Norway.

Who it affects and why it matters

• This concerns Norwegians, the Norwegian royal family, and Canadians with historical or diplomatic ties to Norway.
• The statement emphasizes the personal and historical links between the two countries.

Key facts from the statement

• Exiled as a child during World War II and returned to Norway in 1945.
• Became Crown Prince in 1957 and acceded to the throne in 1991; served for more than three decades.
• Represented Norway at three consecutive Olympic Games from 1964 to 1972 and later became a world champion yachtsman.
• Visited Canada during wartime exile (Toronto and Little Norway) and returned for a State Visit in 2002.
• The Prime Minister met King Harald in Oslo "last March," and extended condolences to Queen Sonja and the Royal Family on behalf of the Government of Canada.