King Haakon VIII of Norway pledged an oath of allegiance to the country's constitution in parliament Tuesday, a significant symbolic act as he assumes leadership.
Haakon became Norway's monarch on Friday after the death of his father, King Harald V, who reigned for 35 years. The new king, 53, has chosen "All for Norway" as his motto, a phrase previously used by his great-grandfather.
Following tradition, Haakon traveled from the royal palace to the Storting, Norway's parliament, in an open car. There, the speaker of parliament officially announced King Harald's death and Haakon's succession. The new king then took his 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."
Norway's monarchy has historical roots dating 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 monarch's role is primarily symbolic, with governing power resting with the elected government and parliament. The royal family, however, continues to play a role in representing the nation internationally.
King Harald'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 from Tuesday afternoon until September 8, allowing the public to pay their respects. The royal palace has stated that photography and the placement of flowers or other items are not permitted inside the chapel.
Queen Mette-Marit, wife of the new King Haakon, was absent from the swearing-in ceremony due to complications following her lung transplant in June. A pulmonologist from Oslo's University Hospital stated that such complications are not uncommon after transplants and that the Queen required observation throughout the day.