Oslo, March 20, 2026 – The Europe Today: Speculation intensified in Norway on Wednesday after King Harald V, Crown Prince Haakon, and at least half of the country’s cabinet ministers convened an extraordinary and highly secretive Council of State at the Royal Palace.
The Council of State, typically held every Friday, is largely ceremonial, where the monarch formally approves government decisions. However, the unscheduled session—called and conducted at short notice—has raised questions due to its unusual timing and the classified nature of its agenda.
Local media first reported the development, noting that Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was absent from the meeting as he was in Stockholm following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who was visiting the region to observe NATO winter exercises in northern Norway. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide and Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik were also absent, accompanying Rutte to Troms.
The absence of key officials required other ministers to be quickly assembled to meet quorum requirements, adding to the unusual nature of the meeting. Analysts described the situation as highly uncommon, particularly given the urgency and secrecy surrounding the matter.
Officials have declined to disclose details of the agenda, citing national security laws. Anne Kristin Hjukse, communications chief at the Prime Minister’s Office, confirmed the meeting but said no information could be shared. “There was a need to handle it before the next planned Council of State,” she stated, adding that no official report would be issued—another rare departure from standard procedure.
Experts suggest that such extraordinary sessions are typically linked to national security or defense-related issues. However, neither the Defense Ministry, the Armed Forces’ operational headquarters in Bodø, nor the Police Security Service (PST) provided any clarification.
Authorities have also dismissed speculation linking the meeting to ongoing controversies within the royal family, including recent legal issues involving Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby.
The unusual gathering, requiring the presence of at least half of the cabinet, underscores the seriousness of the undisclosed matter, leaving observers to speculate about potential national security concerns behind the closed-door session.
