Europe01 September, 20262 min read
Haakon VIII Swears Fidelity To Norway’s Constitution As Mette-Marit Stays Away In Oslo
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Haakon VIII swears the constitution before the Storting as king. Queen Mette-Marit unable to attend due to transplant complications.
Haakon’s oath, Mette-Marit absent
King Haakon VIII swore fidelity to the Constitution before Norway’s Storting, the Parliament, in Oslo while Queen Mette-Marit was absent because of “complicaciones tras su trasplante de pulmón”. The Royal Court said the queen’s health issues were “frecuente” and within normality, and the absence followed her earlier participation in mourning events for Harald V.
“That means — in the ultimate sense — being willing to risk everything, even one’s life, for Norway’s freedom and independence.”
AP reported that Harald V died at 89 on Friday and that his son immediately became the new king Haakon VIII, with the country in an official state of mourning. AP added that Haakon’s first speech as new king was broadcast live on public television, where he said, “That means — in the ultimate sense — being willing to risk everything, even one’s life, for Norway’s freedom and independence.”
Voices and the mourning timeline
Dean Pål Kristian Balstad opened a funeral service in Oslo Cathedral, saying, “This Sunday is different. His Majesty King Harald is dead.”
AP said Norway’s royal palace announced the funeral would take place on Wednesday, Sept. 9, while mourners laid flowers, wrote cards, and lit candles in front of the royal palace in Oslo.
El Periódico reported that Are Holm, neumólogo del Rikshospitalet, explained that “las complicaciones después de un trasplante de pulmón no son infrecuentes”.
Cadena SER quoted Haakon’s oath remarks about maintaining good relations between the Parliament and his predecessors, and it also recorded his adoption of the motto “All for Norway,” after the ceremony where hundreds of Norwegians marched past Harald V’s coffin to bid farewell.
What comes next for the monarchy
AP said Haakon’s near-future tasks include shoring up support for the monarchy following controversies over his wife’s past contacts with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his stepson’s rape conviction. El Mundo described Haakon’s oath as a legally binding declaration tied to the Constitution, and it quoted Haakon speaking for himself and his absent wife: “The Queen and I wish to confirm that we stand ready to perform our service for the country and the people.”
ABC set out that the funeral of Harald V would be on September 9 at Oslo Cathedral, with the ceremony beginning at 13:00 and the monarch later buried at Akershus Fortress. El Debate said the capilla ardiente with Harald V’s coffin would be open from 14.00 hours until the next 8 de septiembre, víspera del entierro, as thousands of people continued to line Oslo streets for the new king’s route.