King Haakon VIII takes constitutional oath in Norway as Queen Mette-Marit misses ceremony

Constitutional oath in the Storting

King Haakon VIII took his constitutional oath before the Norwegian parliament, the Storting, in Oslo on Tuesday at 13:00. Under Norwegian law, the head of state succeeds automatically upon the death of the monarch, without coronation, enthronement, or formal proclamation ceremonies. Haakon swore to govern the country in accordance with the constitution and statutory laws. Following the formal oath, the president of the parliament, Masud Gharahkhani, scheduled an address in the chamber to honor both the late King Harald V and King Haakon VIII.

Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who moved to first in the line of succession upon her grandfather's death, accompanied her father to the Storting. The royal household confirmed that the new heir apparent would later sign her own written constitutional oath at the Royal Palace. Harald's widow Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus attended the parliamentary proceedings to observe the ceremony from the hall.

Medical monitoring of Queen Mette-Marit

Queen Mette-Marit missed the parliamentary oath after experiencing health complications tied to her recent lung surgery. The 53-year-old queen underwent a lung transplant in June to treat advanced pulmonary fibrosis and was discharged from the hospital on 14 July. Medical specialists planned a six-month recovery period free of public duties, during which transplant patients require continuous monitoring and medication to prevent organ rejection.

The royal household announced the queen's absence shortly before the 13:00 ceremony, citing advice from her medical team at the Rikshospitalet in Oslo. Pulmonologist Are Holm confirmed that medical staff placed her under continuous observation for the day.

Complications after a lung transplant are not uncommon. The Queen has experienced several since the operation, including today. Consequently, the Queen must remain under observation all day.

Procession to the Royal Palace chapel

King Harald V died on Friday morning at Oslo University Hospital. His coffin was moved that evening to the Red Salon inside the Royal Palace. On Monday, royal family members carried the late sovereign's coffin from the Red Salon to the palace chapel in a ten-minute procession broadcast live on television by public broadcaster NRK. The ceremony followed the protocol established in 1991 during the funeral transition for King Olav V.

The coffin bearers included King Haakon, Princess Martha Louise, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus, the daughters of Princess Martha Louise, and Marius Borg Hoiby, Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship who was convicted of rape in June. Queen Mette-Marit and Queen Sonja followed the procession hand in hand. The appearance was Mette-Marit's first as queen, following her absence from a memorial service on Sunday. Afterwards, the royal family assembled on the palace square to view flowers, candles, and memorial cards left by the public.

Lying in state and funeral schedule

Public access to the Royal Palace chapel begins on Tuesday afternoon, allowing citizens to pass by the coffin and pay their respects. The lying in state in the chapel will remain open daily until the eve of the funeral. King Harald V will be laid to rest in Oslo on 9 September.