The King of Norway has visited Svalbard on a symbolic and politically significant journey, using the trip to call for international cooperation on climate change while reinforcing Norway’s presence in the Arctic.
Arriving by sea aboard the royal yacht K/S Norge, King Harald and Queen Sonja made a multi-day visit to Svalbard, the remote Arctic archipelago that makes up more than 15% of Norway’s territory.
The couple made landfall in Longyearbyen on Monday after first stopping at the isolated Bjørnøya island and visiting a traditional hunting family at a remote trapping station.
In a speech delivered in Longyearbyen, King Harald warned of the rapid pace of climate change in the High North.
“For those of you who live here, climate change is not something that will happen in the future. It is happening now,” the King said, adding that Svalbard is “like the canary in the coal mine.”
A Symbolic Visit
The royal couple’s journey to the Arctic, made by sea rather than air, added symbolic weight to the message.
The voyage included a close encounter with Harrietbreen, one of many glaciers around Svalbard now retreating rapidly due to warming temperatures. According to the UN, Svalbard is among the fastest-warming places on Earth.
King Harald also underscored the geopolitical significance of Svalbard, which has seen growing international interest in recent years. “This is a part of Norway. That is why we are here.”
The King’s visit has been interpreted by experts as a strategic signal of sovereignty, reinforcing Svalbard’s status as an integrated part of the Kingdom of Norway amid rising global interest in the Arctic.
His presence, analysts say, sends a message not just to Norwegians living in the region, but also to Russia and the United States.
Encounters with Arctic Life
During the trip, the King and Queen met with Ida and Jan Brunner, a pair of psychologists who now live off the land at a traditional trapping station in Farmhamna.
The Brunner family, including their toddler daughter, has chosen a lifestyle rooted in historic Arctic traditions such as hunting reindeer and gathering firewood.
The royal couple shared coffee and kringle with the family and exchanged stories about hunting, one of the King’s personal passions.
While both King Harald and Queen Sonja expressed admiration for the Brunners’ lifestyle, they admitted it might only be appealing “for a short period.” Still, the Queen called their way of life “impressive” in today’s hyper-connected world.
A Call for Cooperation
Throughout the visit, King Harald stressed the need for global collaboration to confront climate and environmental challenges.
“We need good international agreements and trust that we can rely on each other, to do what is best for the future of our one shared planet,” he said.
The royal visit continues a long-standing tradition of royal engagement with Norway’s remote regions, but the themes of this journey – climate urgency, Arctic sovereignty, and traditional life – gave the trip a strikingly contemporary resonance.
