Norway’s new king swears oath of allegiance with daughter at his side

Haakon VIII promises to uphold 1814 constitution but his queen misses ceremony because of post-surgery ‘complications’

King Haakon VIII swore an oath of allegiance before Norway’s parliament on Tuesday in the first major stage in the passing of the crown since the death of his father after 35 years on the throne.

Wearing a ceremonial uniform, Haakon, who became king when Harald V died on Friday, promised to uphold Norway’s 1814 constitution with his 22-year-old daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, by his side.

“I promise and swear that I will govern the kingdom of Norway in accordance with its constitution and laws, so help me God, the almighty and omniscient,” the 53-year-old king pledged to cabinet ministers and MPs in the main chamber of the 169-seat parliament.

Haakon’s wife, Mette-Marit, 53, was unable to attend the 17-minute ceremony because of complications after a lung transplant in June. Her doctors said such complications were not uncommon.

Are ​Holm, a pulmonologist at Oslo university hospital, said the queen had had “complications on some occasions with the operation, including today. As a ​result, she must be put under observation ​throughout the day today.”

Harald, whose funeral will be held in Oslo on 9 September, with heads of state from around the world invited to attend, was widely appreciated in Norway for his warmth, unassuming lifestyle and dedication to preserving national unity.

Tens ⁠of thousands of Norwegians have flocked to the royal palace to lay flowers, drawings, candles and flags.

A poll for the public broadcaster NRK found the monarchy’s popularity had risen over the past few months. The first survey since Harald’s death at the age of 89 found that about 72% of Norwegians supported the monarchy, compared with 54% in May. In February, while the royal family was mired in a succession of scandals, support for the institution fell to 60%.

Mette-Marit has faced strong criticism for her association with Jeffrey Epstein , while her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, is appealing against a four-year sentence for two rape convictions.

Responding to Haakon’s oath, Masud Gharahkhani, the parliament’s president, who arrived in Norway as a child refugee from Iran, said Harald had personified “the values that underpin our liberal democracy”, including compassion.

There will be no formal coronation of the new king and queen because Norway abolished the ceremony more than a century ago but Haakon may, like his father and grandfather, choose to have his accession consecrated at Trondheim’s Nidaros Cathedral.

Harald, who will be buried in the royal mausoleum at the Akershus Fortress in Oslo, died while being treated in hospital for haemolytic anaemia, a condition caused by an abnormally rapid destruction of red blood cells.