King Haakon VIII formally pledged his oath of allegiance to Norway's constitution in parliament on Tuesday, a key ceremonial step as he assumes the throne after his father's 35-year reign. The 53-year-old monarch became Norway's head of state on Friday, following the death of King Harald V at the age of 89.
Haakon adopted the royal motto "All for Norway," a phrase used by his great-grandfather. He traveled from the royal palace to the Storting, Norway's parliament, in an open car for the ceremony. Inside, Speaker Masud Gharahkhani read the official announcement of King Harald V's death and Haakon's succession. The new king then took the oath, stating, "I promise and swear that I will govern the kingdom of Norway in accordance with its constitution and laws; so help me God, the almighty and omniscient."
The Norwegian monarchy has a long history, with roots tracing back to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. In 1905, following Norway's independence from Sweden, a national plebiscite saw three-quarters of voters approve the restoration of the monarchy. Today, the royal family's role is primarily symbolic, with governing power residing with the elected government and parliament. The royal family continues to play a role in promoting Norway internationally.
King Harald V's coffin was moved to the royal palace chapel in Oslo on Monday, where it will remain until his funeral on September 9. The chapel will be open daily for the public to pay their respects by viewing the coffin until September 8. Visitors are not permitted to take photos or film inside the chapel, nor leave flowers or other items, according to a statement from the royal palace.
Queen Mette-Marit, King Haakon VIII's wife, joined the coffin procession on Monday, marking her first public appearance since assuming the title of Queen. She had been largely out of public view following a lung transplant in June. Palace officials had previously stated that the Queen would not attend the swearing-in ceremony due to complications following her transplant, requiring her to remain under observation. A pulmonologist from Oslo's University Hospital noted that such complications are not uncommon after a transplant.
