The king is back on his feet: Less than a week after his sick leave due to a cold, Harald V of Norway took up his duties. "His Majesty the King has been declared healthy and will resume his official activities from today," the palace said in Oslo. No further information was given. Last Monday evening, the royal family announced that the 86-year-old had a cold and was therefore on sick leave again.

The king had canceled a planned visit to the central Norwegian municipality of Skaun at short notice because of his illness. Harald last called in sick in May. At that time he had to be treated for an infection in the Oslo National Hospital. In recent years, he has suffered from a number of illnesses that have required a hospital stay.