Norway Welcomes King Haakon VIII As New Monarch After Death Of King Harald V
+256 702 23 93 37: King Harald V died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet on August 28 at the age of 89. His death ended a 35-year reign that began in 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V. Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described the moment as the end of an era and the beginning of a new one, while expressing confidence in the country's new King and Queen.
UgandaToday: Norway Welcomes King Haakon VIII As New Monarch After Death Of King Harald V
OSLO, NORWAY — Norway has entered a new royal era following the death of King Harald V, with his son, King Haakon VIII, taking over the Norwegian throne.
Haakon became King immediately following the death of his father on August 28, 2026, in accordance with Norway’s constitutional succession rules.
His formal assumption of constitutional duties will be marked by an Oath of Allegiance before Norway’s parliament, the Storting, on September 1.
A New King Takes The Throne
King Harald V died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet on August 28 at the age of 89.
His death ended a 35-year reign that began in 1991 following the death of his father, King Olav V.
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described the moment as the end of an era and the beginning of a new one, while expressing confidence in the country’s new King and Queen.
King Haakon VIII has succeeded his late father, King Harald V, as Norway’s monarch.
No Traditional Coronation
Unlike the United Kingdom, Norway does not conduct a traditional coronation ceremony.
Norwegian coronations were abandoned after 1905. Instead, modern monarchs undertake constitutional procedures and may later participate in a consecration ceremony.
For Haakon, the immediate constitutional requirement is an oath before the Storting.
The Norwegian Parliament has confirmed that the new King will take the Oath of Allegiance at 1 p.m. on September 1, pledging to govern Norway according to its Constitution and laws.
The Storting, Norway’s parliament, will host King Haakon VIII’s Oath of Allegiance on September 1.
The Constitutional Meaning Of The Oath
The oath is more than a royal tradition.
It underlines the constitutional nature of Norway’s monarchy and confirms that the King’s authority is exercised within the framework of the country’s Constitution and laws.
Norwegian authorities explain that when a monarch dies, the next person in the line of succession automatically becomes King or Queen. The country therefore does not experience a period without a monarch.
From Crown Prince To King
King Haakon VIII was born on July 20, 1973, at Rikshospitalet University Hospital in Oslo.
He is the son of King Harald V and Queen Sonja.
Before becoming King, Haakon spent more than three decades preparing for the responsibilities of the throne.
He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and later earned a master’s degree in development studies from the London School of Economics, specialising in international trade and Africa.
He also received military training and served in the Royal Norwegian Navy.
King Haakon VIII spent decades as Crown Prince preparing for the responsibilities of Norway’s highest constitutional office.
Queen Mette-Marit Begins A New Role
Haakon’s accession also marks a new chapter for his wife, Queen Mette-Marit.
The couple married in Oslo Cathedral in August 2001 and have two children together — Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra now becomes the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne.
The Norwegian government’s explanation of the succession confirms that, since constitutional reforms in 1990, male and female children born under the new rules have equal rights of succession.
King Harald’s Legacy
The transition comes as Norway mourns King Harald, who was widely regarded as a warm and approachable monarch.
Prime Minister Støre highlighted Harald’s devotion to the Norwegian people, his sense of humour and his ability to combine the dignity of the monarchy with an unusually down-to-earth personality.
Harald’s reign also carried the Norwegian monarchy through periods of significant social and political change.
His funeral and interment will take place as Norway continues its period of national mourning. He is expected to be laid to rest in the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Fortress alongside members of the Norwegian royal family.
A New Chapter For Norway
King Haakon VIII inherits the throne at a moment of both mourning and transition.
His first major constitutional appearance before the Storting will formally introduce him to the parliamentary institution that represents the Norwegian people.
For Norway, the change is deliberately understated — reflecting a monarchy that has traditionally avoided the grandeur associated with some other European royal houses.
Yet behind the restrained ceremony lies a historic moment: a new generation has taken responsibility for one of Europe’s oldest constitutional monarchies.
As King Haakon begins his reign, Norway now looks toward a future shaped by a monarch who spent much of his adult life preparing for precisely this moment.
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