Haakon VIII Swears Oath as Norway Mourns King Harald V

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:24:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Norway’s new monarch Haakon VIII took his oath before parliament amid a national minute of silence for the late King Harald V, whose coffin lays in state at Oslo’s royal palace.

On Tuesday, Haakon VIII formally swore the oath of rule in Oslo, marking the first major step in his reign. The ceremony was joined by a minute’s silence for his late father, King Harald V, who died on Friday. Queen Mette‑Marit was absent while recovering from a lung transplant. After the oath, mourners paid tribute to the late king’s coffin, which remains in state until September 8.

On Tuesday, Norway’s monarch Haakon VIII stood before the Storting, the nation’s parliament, to swear the oath that formally seals his ascension to the throne. He entered the historic chamber in Oslo, the moment that many flagged as the first definitive, public act of his rule.

The days that followed King Harald V’s sudden passing, announced on Friday, were marked by solemnity. Parliament held a minute’s silence during the oath ceremony, underscoring the nation’s respect and grief. Haakon recited the oath with the same tradition that has bound Norwegian royalty for centuries.

Notably, the queen, Mette‑Marit, was unable to attend. She continues to recover after a successful lung transplant, a procedure that has demanded a long period of medical care and rest. Her absence was felt by both the royal household and the public.

Following the oath, front‑row mourners gathered near the late king’s coffin, which lies in state at the Royal Palace. The coffin will remain in this location for patients and officials until the day of the funeral, scheduled for September 8.

The event not only marked a new chapter for King Haakon VIII but also highlighted the continuity and resilience of the Norwegian constitutional monarchy amid unexpected loss and personal health challenges for the royal family.