King Haakon VIII pledged an oath of allegiance to Norway’s constitution in parliament on Tuesday.
The new monarch, 51, made the solemn vow at the Storting in Oslo as his father, King Harald V, lay in state nearby following his death last Friday at age 89. Haakon became king immediately upon Harald’s passing, ending the late monarch’s 35-year reign.
Speaker Masud Gharahkhani read the official announcement of Harald’s death and Haakon’s succession before the new king took his pledge. “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,” he said.
Haakon traveled the short distance from the royal palace to parliament in an open car for the ceremony. He has adopted the motto “All for Norway,” a phrase that dates back to his great-grandfather.
Queen Mette-Marit, 50, was not present for her husband’s swearing-in. The palace announced before the ceremony that she would be unable to attend due to ongoing health complications following her lung transplant in June.
Are Holm, a pulmonologist at Oslo’s University Hospital, explained the situation in a palace statement. “Complications following a transplant aren’t uncommon and that Mette-Marit has experienced them on several occasions, including today,” he said. “As a result, the Queen must remain under observation throughout the day. Unfortunately, the Queen will therefore be unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony at the Storting today.”
The queen had made her first official appearance since assuming her new title on Monday, joining the coffin procession as Harald’s remains were taken to the chapel of the royal palace in downtown Oslo. The chapel opened to the public Tuesday afternoon for a mourning period that runs through Sept. 8, allowing visitors to file past the coffin and pay their final respects.
The royal palace imposed strict rules for visitors: no photography or filming inside the chapel, and no flowers or other items may be left. Harald’s funeral is scheduled for Sept. 9.
Norway’s monarchy traces its origins to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. When the country regained independence from Sweden in 1905, roughly three-quarters of voters in a national plebiscite approved restoring the institution. Though the role is now largely symbolic with power vested in the elected government and parliament, the royal family continues to represent the wealthy Nordic nation abroad.
