Haakon VII assumes the throne of Norway with a solemn constitutional oath
In a ceremony steeped in tradition and symbolism, the new monarch of Norway, Haakon VIII, took his constitutional oath this Tuesday before the Storting, the Norwegian Parliament. This official act marks the formal beginning of his reign, just four days after the passing of his father, King Harald V, who lost his life at 89 years old after facing health complications.
I promise and swear to govern the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its Constitution and its laws; so help me God Almighty and omniscient.
Haakon VII, King of Norway
During his speech, the monarch expressed his firm intention to maintain the close collaboration that his predecessors —his father Harald V, his grandfather Olav V, and his great-grandfather Haakon VII— cultivated with the parliamentary institution, adapting to the challenges that the future will bring to the Norwegian nation.
Ceremony details and attendance
The event was attended by key figures, such as Queen Dowager Sonja, Prince Sverre Magnus, and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. For health reasons, Crown Princess Mette-Marit was forced to cancel her attendance, as she remains under medical observation following the lung transplant she underwent last June.
- The event lasted approximately twenty minutes.
- The President of the Parliament, Masud Gharahkhani, led a minute of silence in honor of Harald V.
- The ceremony concluded with the performance of the royal anthem, Kongesangen.
The President of the Storting highlighted the figure of Harald V, describing him as a symbol of unity, security, and democracy during his 35 years of service. Likewise, he welcomed the new monarchs, acknowledging the great responsibility they assume in inheriting the country’s monarchical legacy.
National mourning in Oslo
After the protocol ceremony, the monarch traveled to the Royal Palace in an iconic 1966 Lincoln Continental, the same vehicle used in historic events of the Norwegian royal family. The capital, Oslo, is experiencing days of national mourning; thousands of citizens have taken to the streets to accompany the royal procession and line up in front of the Royal Palace, where the lying-in-state has been set up to bid farewell to Harald V before his burial, scheduled for the 9th.
This generational handover follows the constitutional tradition established in the 19th century, with the last time an oath of this nature was taken being in January 1991. Haakon VIII now faces the challenge of guiding Norway, having previously expressed his commitment to the great task that leading the nation represents in this new stage.
