Norway's King Haakon VIII takes constitutional oath in parliament following death of King Harald V

Parliamentary ceremony and constitutional oath

King Haakon VIII took his oath of allegiance to the Norwegian Constitution before the Storting on Tuesday, 1 September 2026. The 53-year-old monarch travelled from the royal palace to the parliamentary building in Oslo in an open 1966 Lincoln Continental convertible along Karl Johans gate. In the legislative chamber, parliamentary speaker Masud Gharahkhani read the official proclamation confirming the death of King Harald V and the succession of his son. Haakon delivered the oath established in Article 9 of the 1814 Constitution, pledging his adherence to the nation's legal framework.

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 17-minute ceremony took place in the 169-seat chamber and concluded with lawmakers, cabinet members, and royal family members singing the royal anthem, Kongesangen. Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, aged 22, submitted a corresponding written oath to parliament. Queen Sonja, the 89-year-old widow of Harald V, and 20-year-old Prince Sverre Magnus attended dressed in black, alongside the full cabinet. The parliamentary session was the first succession oath in Norway since 21 January 1991, when Harald V took the oath following the death of King Olav V.

Health complications for Queen Mette-Marit

Queen Mette-Marit did not attend the parliamentary swearing-in ceremony following medical complications linked to her lung transplant. The 53-year-old queen underwent a lung transplant on 17 June 2026 to treat an incurable pulmonary condition and had previously appeared at Monday's procession accompanying the late monarch's coffin. The royal palace released a statement on Tuesday morning explaining her sudden absence based on guidance from her medical team.

It is not unusual that complications occur after a lung transplant. The Queen has experienced complications on several occasions since the surgery, including today.

Pulmonologist Are Holm from Oslo University Hospital stated that the Queen required clinical observation throughout the day. Later on Tuesday afternoon, King Haakon drove Mette-Marit to the National Hospital in Oslo. King Haakon departed the facility after approximately 75 minutes, while medical staff kept the Queen under observation.

Memorial schedule for King Harald V

King Harald V died at Oslo's National Hospital at 6:35 on Friday, 28 August 2026, at the age of 89, following hospitalisation for haemolytic anaemia. His coffin was moved on Monday to the chapel of the Royal Palace in central Oslo, where it remains for public viewings.

The royal palace chapel opened to the public on Tuesday afternoon and will remain accessible daily until 8 September. Visitors are permitted to file past the coffin to pay their respects, though photography, filming, and leaving floral tributes inside the chapel are prohibited. Harald V's state funeral will take place on 9 September at Oslo Cathedral, followed by interment in the royal mausoleum at Akershus Fortress.

Institutional transition and public standing

Haakon VIII succeeded to the throne immediately upon his father's death on 28 August, adopting the traditional royal motto "All for Norway", which dates back to his great-grandfather King Haakon VII. Although the Norwegian monarchy traces its heritage back to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century, the current constitutional framework limits the monarch's powers to symbolic and representative duties. Following Harald's death, polling reported by media outlets indicated that 72% of Norwegians express support for maintaining the monarchy. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who is Haakon's godfather, issued a statement offering condolences for Harald V and extending support to the new sovereign.