King Haakon VIII formally pledged his oath of allegiance to Norway's constitution in parliament on Tuesday, a significant ceremonial step as he assumes the throne of the Scandinavian nation. His ascension follows the death of his father, King Harald V, who reigned for 35 years.
Haakon, 53, officially became Norway's monarch on Friday. He has adopted the royal motto “All for Norway,” a phrase previously used by his great-grandfather. The new king traveled from the royal palace to the Storting, Norway's parliament, for the ceremony.
During the proceedings, Speaker Masud Gharahkhani announced King Harald V's death and Haakon's succession. Subsequently, King Haakon VIII 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 its origins tracing back to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. In 1905, a national plebiscite saw three-quarters of voters approve the restoration of the monarchy after Norway regained its independence from Sweden.
Today, the monarch's role is largely symbolic, with political power vested in the elected government and parliament. However, the royal family continues to play a part in representing the nation internationally.
King Harald V's coffin was moved to the royal palace chapel in Oslo on Monday, where it will remain until his funeral, scheduled for September 9. The chapel will be open daily from Tuesday afternoon until September 8, allowing the public to pay their respects. The royal palace has stated that photography and filming are prohibited inside the chapel, and visitors are not permitted to leave flowers or other items.
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 has maintained a lower public profile since undergoing a lung transplant in June. According to a statement from Oslo's University Hospital, Queen Mette-Marit has experienced complications following her transplant, necessitating her continued observation and preventing her attendance at the swearing-in ceremony.