King Haakon VIII Becomes Norway's New Monarch After Harald V's Death
King Haakon VIII has taken the throne in Norway following the passing of his father, King Harald V. The late king was beloved by the public, evident in the widespread mourning after his death.
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King Haakon VIII of Norway swore an oath of allegiance before the parliament, promising to uphold the 1814 constitution, with his 22-year-old daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, by his side during the 17-minute ceremony. His wife, Queen Mette-Marit, was absent due to complications following a lung transplant in June, which her doctors noted were not uncommon. Following the death of his father, King Harald V, public support for the monarchy surged to 72%, up from 54% in May, marking a notable increase in popularity.
Norway's new king, Haakon VIII, has officially taken the oath of allegiance before parliament in Oslo as he begins his reign. During the ceremony, a minute's silence was observed for his father, the late King Harald V, who passed away on Friday, and mourners are now paying their respects at the King's coffin, which will remain at the Royal Palace until September 8. Queen Mette-Marit, Haakon's wife, was absent from the ceremony as she recovers from a lung transplant.
New King Haakon VIII was sworn in after succeeding his father, Harald V, who passed away at age 89, with the funeral set for September 9. The parliamentary ceremony included House speaker Masud Gharahkhani announcing Harald's death before Haakon took his oath to govern according to Norway's constitution. Queen Mette-Marit, who has been recovering from a lung transplant, was unable to attend the event due to complications following the procedure.
King Harald V of Norway died at the age of 89 after over three decades on the throne, during which he became a beloved and reformist figure. In his first address as king, Haakon VIII honored his late father, emphasizing the national mourning with flags at half-mast and over 20,000 mourners leaving tributes at the palace. Haakon plans to uphold the values of Norway's constitutional monarchy and is set to swear an oath in parliament on Tuesday, while facing challenges related to family controversies and health issues.
King Haakon VIII of Norway, in his first speech after the death of his father, King Harald, aged 89, paid tribute to his father's service and promised to dedicate his reign to the country. Tens of thousands gathered outside the Oslo royal palace to mourn, as the nation entered a period of mourning with memorial services planned by the Church of Norway on Sunday. Haakon is set to take an oath to uphold Norway's constitution on Tuesday amidst recent controversies involving his family.
King Haakon VIII of Norway delivered his first speech since ascending the throne, paying tribute to his late father, King Harald V, who passed away at the age of 89 after a 35-year reign. In his emotional address, he reflected on the royal family's values of law, justice, and unity, while acknowledging the "powerful and moving experience" of thousands of Norwegians mourning together outside the royal palace. Haakon will officially swear an oath of allegiance in parliament on Tuesday, amid a backdrop of family challenges, including his wife's health issues and personal controversies involving relatives.
King Haakon VIII succeeded the Norwegian throne following the death of his father, Harald V, who was widely regarded and consistently polled favorably by the public. As crown prince, Haakon has been prepared for his role, working closely with his father and increasingly taking on responsibilities due to Harald's health issues; he is now the youngest monarch in Norway, born in 1973, and his daughter Ingrid Alexandra, 22, becomes the heir, possibly making her the first female head of state since the 15th Century. The monarchy, while popular, faces challenges due to recent scandals, including controversies surrounding Haakon's wife, Mette-Marit, and the conviction of her son, Marius Borg Høyby, for rape.