King Haakon helps with tv campaign

King Haakon of Norway took part in a television campaign in Rogaland on Sunday.

The King was on sunny Kvitsøy to help volunteers raise money for the NRC (Norwegian Refugee Council) during Norway’s annual NRK TV Campaign. The King served as patron of this year’s event, following in his mother, Queen Sonja’s footsteps, who was the patron of the inaugural campaign in 1974.

It is estimated that 120 million people in the world are fleeing wars, conflicts and persecution, with 48 million of them being children.

King Haakon joined Camilla and Lasse Lange collecting money on a walk from the municipal hall down Ydstebøveien. They went door to door to raise funds for those in need. He later greeted the people who gathered ahead of his departure from one of Norway’s smallest municipalities.

Photo: Simen Sund, The Royal Court

The NRC works to give refugees a safe place to live and hope for the future. The King, while serving as Crown Prince of Norway, became the organisation’s patron in 2017. The patronage ended upon his accession to the Norwegian throne. The NRC can reapply for his patronage with the Royal Court. The deadline is February 2027.

Money donated during this campaign will be used for tents, emergency shelters, homes, legal aid and water and sanitation projects. The Royal Court explained that the funds will specifically help those in areas like Afghanistan, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Sudan and Chad.