Haakon VIII has formally sworn allegiance to Norway’s Constitution in Oslo. Queen Mette-Marit was absent due to post-surgery complications. Security measures intensify ahead of Harald V’s state funeral.
Norway’s new king, Haakon VIII, was sworn in during a ceremony shaped as much by absence as by tradition. Queen Mette-Marit, his wife, missed the historic parliamentary oath after her recovery from a lung transplant took a sudden turn for the worse. Her absence hung over what would otherwise have been a moment of unity for the royal family.
Inside the Storting, Norway’s Parliament, the mood was subdued. Haakon VIII, in full military dress, stood with his mother, Queen Sonja, and his daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra. The seat for Queen Mette-Marit stayed empty. The palace quickly explained: her doctors at Rikshospitalet said complications from her recent surgery had worsened, and she needed to remain under observation. Mette-Marit has lived with chronic pulmonary fibrosis for years, which has limited her public appearances and now kept her from this key event.
King Harald V passed away at 06:35 on August 28, 2026, at Rikshospitalet in Oslo, prompting the Storting to immediately confirm his death and hold a memorial address.
As the king’s motorcade left the Royal Palace, only Princess Ingrid Alexandra accompanied him. Outside, cadets from the Krigsskolen lined up in formation, marking the seriousness of the day. The Parliament’s president, Masud Gharahkhani, opened the special session by formally announcing Harald V’s death and starting the ‘tronskifte’—the transfer of the throne. Gharahkhani stressed that the king’s oath is not just a formality but a constitutional requirement, binding the monarch to Norway’s laws and democracy. The Parliament’s official website confirmed that the transition was carefully planned to ensure continuity and transparency.
The entire chamber stood as Haakon VIII recited the traditional pledge, and the royal anthem filled the hall. Attendees wore black in mourning. Outside, thousands gathered in Eidsvolls Square, watching the ceremony on a large screen.
Afterward, Haakon VIII and Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who also signed her own written oath, returned to the palace. There, the new king paid his respects at Harald V’s coffin, which remains open to the public until the state funeral on September 9. Three wreaths were laid: one from Haakon and Ingrid Alexandra, one from the king’s sister, Marta Luisa, and one from Queen Sonja.
According to The Brussels Times and Marie Claire, following her lung transplant in June, Queen Mette-Marit experienced complications that required her to stay in hospital on the day of the swearing-in ceremony. This absence was confirmed by the palace physician, highlighting the ongoing health challenges faced by the royal family during this period of transition.
Security for the funeral has increased, with Swedish police joining Norwegian forces in Oslo. The operation, led by Tomm Berger, is being kept confidential; the list of attendees will not be released until the last moment for safety reasons.
As reported earlier, Haakon VIII’s accession comes at a time of public support but also private strain for the royal family. Queen Mette-Marit’s absence at such a key event is more than symbolic—it highlights the unpredictable challenges facing the monarchy as it moves through a period of transition and scrutiny. The Norwegian royal house, long seen as a stabilizing force, now faces the reality that even the most carefully planned rituals can be disrupted by personal and public crises. In the coming days, both the new king and the institution will be tested as Norway prepares to say goodbye to Harald V and adjust to a new era.
