Norway has entered a new chapter in its royal history following the death of King Harald V and the subsequent accession of his son,
King Haakon VIII formally took his Oath of Allegiance to the Norwegian Constitution before the Storting, the national parliament, on Tuesday, September 1. This constitutional milestone occurred just days after the passing of his father, King Harald V, who died on August 28 at the age of 89. With the passing of the late monarch, Haakon’s wife, Mette-Marit, has assumed the title of Queen.
A Historic Succession and Modern Monarchy
The rise of Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra represents a significant shift for the Norwegian throne. Born on January 21, 2004, she is the first heir whose position is defined entirely by the 1990 succession reform, which established absolute primogeniture. This constitutional change ensures that the throne passes to the monarch’s eldest child, regardless of gender. Consequently, Ingrid Alexandra maintains her position as first in line ahead of her younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus. This stands in contrast to the experience of her father, King Haakon, who inherited his position ahead of his elder sister, Princess Märtha Louise, under the previous succession rules.
Should she eventually ascend to the throne, Ingrid Alexandra would become Norway’s first reigning queen in over 600 years, with the last female head of state being Queen Margaret, who reigned from 1388 to 1412. Currently, the Crown Princess is pursuing her education at the University of Oslo, having recently returned to Norway after studying at the University of Sydney. Her return was prompted by the health challenges faced by Queen Mette-Marit, who underwent a lung transplant in June.
Royal Mourning and Transition
While the nation navigates this political transition, the royal family remains in a period of official mourning for King Harald V. On Monday, Queen Mette-Marit made her first public appearance since becoming queen, joining a solemn procession as the late King’s coffin was moved to the royal chapel. She was accompanied by Queen Sonja, the widow of the late monarch. Queen Mette-Marit, who has been managing pulmonary fibrosis since 2018, was unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony for King Haakon due to complications following her recent transplant, according to a statement from a pulmonologist at the National Hospital.
The late King’s coffin has been placed in the royal chapel, where members of the public are permitted to pay their respects. Outside the Royal Palace in Oslo, citizens have continued to gather to leave flowers and candles in memory of the late monarch. The state funeral for King Harald V is scheduled to take place on September 9.
