King Harald to cut back foreign duties

OSLO, Norway, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Norwegian King Harald, after several recent major operations, reportedly has decided not take on any demanding duties aboard in 2006.

A planned state visit to India next autumn is said to be already canceled, Aftenposten reported.

"I have been informed that the king has decided that he will no longer take the most exhausting journeys," said Halfdan Ihlen, the king's personal physician, "I think this is very sensible."

Ihlen has previously advised Harald to scale down his official program and relax more.