King Haakon VIII officially took his oath of allegiance to Norway's constitution before the Norwegian parliament in Oslo on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. Haakon, 53, became king after the death of his father King Harald V on August 28 at age 89 [2, 3, 4]. He wore a ceremonial uniform during the oath ceremony [2, 3].

In his oath, King Haakon vowed to govern according to the 1814 constitution and laws, invoking God by saying, "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" [2]. The ceremony included a moment of silence to honor the late King Harald V [1, 2, 3].

Queen Mette-Marit, Haakon’s wife, was absent due to complications recovering from a lung transplant she underwent on June 17, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. Medical experts said such complications are not uncommon and she required observation during the day of the ceremony. Pulmonologist Are Holm said, "The queen has had complications on some occasions with the operation, including today. As a result, she must be put under observation throughout the day today" [2].

Thousands of mourners have visited the Royal Palace in Oslo to pay respects to King Harald V, whose coffin lies in state until his funeral on September 9, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 5]. Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, attended the oath ceremony and is the next in line for the throne [2, 3].

Norway has not held formal coronations for over a century, but King Haakon may have an accession consecration at Nidaros Cathedral, following past tradition [2]. King Harald V ruled for 35 years and remained popular despite recent royal family controversies, including Queen Mette-Marit's association with Jeffrey Epstein and her son Marius Borg Høiby’s legal issues. Marius, who is appealing a 4-year prison sentence for rape, remains under house arrest [6, 7].

Public support for the monarchy rose sharply after Harald’s death, with a recent NRK poll showing 72% approval in August, compared with 54% in May 2026 [2, 3, 6]. Parliamentary President Masud Gharahkhani said Harald "had personified the values that underpin our liberal democracy, including compassion" [2].

King Harald’s funeral is scheduled for September 9 at Oslo Cathedral, with heads of state invited to attend [2, 3, 5].