Norway’s new king, Haakon VIII, took the oath in a ceremony shaped by absence as much as tradition. Queen Mette-Marit, his wife, missed the historic parliamentary ceremony after complications worsened during her recovery from a lung transplant. 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. Queen Mette-Marit’s seat remained empty. The palace said her doctors at Rikshospitalet had reported worsening complications from her recent surgery and that she needed to remain under observation. Mette-Marit has lived with chronic pulmonary fibrosis for years. The condition has limited her public appearances and kept her from this basic event. The Brussels Times and Marie Claire reported that complications following her lung transplant in June required her to stay in hospital on the day of the swearing-in ceremony. The palace physician confirmed her absence.
King Harald V died at 06:35 on August 28, 2026, at Rikshospitalet in Oslo. The Storting immediately confirmed his death and held 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. Parliament President Masud Gharahkhani opened the special session by formally announcing Harald V’s death and beginning the ‘tronskifte’, the transfer of the throne. Gharahkhani stressed that the king’s oath is a constitutional requirement, not a formality, binding the monarch to Norway’s laws and democracy. The Parliament’s official website said the transition had been carefully planned to ensure continuity and transparency.
The entire chamber stood as Haakon VIII recited the traditional pledge, while the royal anthem filled the hall. Attendees wore black to mourn. Outside, thousands gathered in Eidsvolls Square to watch 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. Haakon and Ingrid Alexandra sent one, another came from the king’s sister, Marta Luisa, and Queen Sonja sent the third.
Security for the funeral has tightened, with Swedish police joining Norwegian forces in Oslo. Tomm Berger is leading the operation, which 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 amid public support and private strain for the royal family. Queen Mette-Marit’s absence from such a basic event highlights the challenges facing the monarchy during a period of transition and scrutiny.
