Norway’s Queen Mette-Marit canceled her planned appearance at the ceremonial opening of Parliament in Oslo. As a result, she was absent from an important event for her husband, King Haakon VIII, who opened the Storting for the first time as monarch on October 2. The palace announced that the 53-year-old queen was unable to attend because of a respiratory infection. For Haakon, it was the first opening of Parliament since the death of his father, King Harald V, on August 28. Instead of standing alongside the queen, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra accompanied her father and took on a more prominent role at the event.

Mette-Marit Remains in Rehabilitation

The Queen is continuing her recovery following her lung transplant earlier this year. According to Dr. Are Holm, she remains in a planned rehabilitation program that is expected to last about a year following the surgery. He also said that her progress was satisfactory.

The respiratory infection comes during a particularly important stage of Mette-Marit’s recovery. In recent months, she has had to cancel several public engagements for health reasons, including this latest appearance at the opening of Parliament.

Haakon Opens the Storting for the First Time as King

The opening of Parliament is one of the most important ceremonial duties of the Norwegian monarch. During the ceremony, the king takes his seat and delivers the Speech from the Throne, which is prepared by the government and outlines its plans for the coming parliamentary year.

Although Haakon had already performed the ceremony in 2020 as crown prince regent while his father was ill, this was the first time he opened the Storting as king.

Following King Harald V’s death on August 28, Haakon ascended the throne and formally assumed his new role. His appearance before the Storting marked another major milestone early in his reign.

Ingrid Alexandra Takes on a Prominent Role

Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra also attended the opening alongside her father. The 22-year-old heir to the throne took her place in the chair traditionally reserved for the crown princess, accompanying Haakon during the ceremony.

She had already stood alongside her father at his swearing-in ceremony on September 1, when Mette-Marit was also absent. Her appearance at the Storting further highlighted the role she is beginning to assume within Norway’s royal family.

Originally, Mette-Marit was expected to attend the ceremony with Haakon. Her last-minute cancellation instead placed greater attention on the next generation of the Norwegian monarchy.

The Cancellation Came Just Hours Before the Ceremony

The royal family’s official program had originally listed Mette-Marit as attending the opening. However, the Palace announced on Friday morning that she would no longer be able to participate because of a respiratory infection.

The latest cancellation comes after other health-related absences in recent months. Mette-Marit’s ongoing rehabilitation means her official schedule remains limited as she continues her recovery.

With the Queen unable to attend, King Haakon VIII opened the Storting alongside his daughter, marking his first such ceremony as Norway’s monarch.