After the death of King Harald on August 28, a new era began in Norway. His son Haakon immediately became king and has already addressed the nation in his first speech. “My dear father, thank you for being such a good dad to Märtha and me,” King Haakon said, according to Gala. Now comes the next official step in his reign: On September 1, the 53-year-old will take the constitutional oath before the Storting. But the ceremony is overshadowed by deeply personal circumstances, as his wife, Queen Mette-Marit, will be absent for health reasons.
Queen Mette-Marit Is Absent from the Swearing-In Ceremony
Queen Mette-Marit was originally expected to accompany her husband to this important event. On the morning of the swearing-in ceremony, however, the palace confirmed that the 53-year-old would not attend. The reason is her ongoing health problems following a lung transplant in June.
An official statement said that the queen had experienced health complications and needed to be monitored throughout the day. As a result, Haakon will have to take this important constitutional step without his wife by his side, while the country is still mourning King Harald.
Pulmonologist Are Holm Explains the Complications
Pulmonologist Are Holm of Oslo’s Rikshospitalet commented on Mette-Marit’s condition. “The Queen has had complications on some occasions since the operation, including today. As a result, the Queen must be observed throughout the day. The Queen will therefore unfortunately not be able to attend the swearing-in ceremony in the Storting today,” Holm told VG, according to the report.
His comments underscore the seriousness of the situation. Following her major surgery, Mette-Marit continues to require close medical monitoring and is not yet able to reliably attend public engagements.
Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra Accompanies Her Father
Haakon will therefore be accompanied by his daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra. The 22-year-old will join the new king at Parliament, playing a central role in this historic moment. Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus will also attend the ceremony in the Storting chamber.
The king’s oath is clearly defined: He promises to govern the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with the Constitution and the laws. For Haakon, the moment is not only significant from a constitutional perspective but is also deeply personal, coming just days after the death of his father.
Ingrid Alexandra Takes Her Oath at the Royal Palace
For Ingrid Alexandra, the day also marks an important turning point. As the direct heir to the throne and an adult Crown Princess, she must also swear allegiance to the Constitution. Unlike her father, however, she does not take the oath in Parliament. Instead, she signs a written oath at the Royal Palace on the same day.
At the next Council of Ministers meeting, Haakon is expected to announce that Ingrid Alexandra has taken the oath and that it has been submitted to the Storting. This adds another historical dimension to the succession: It is the first time that Norway’s direct heir to the throne is already an adult when a new king takes office.
