Queen Mette-Marit of Norway has had to miss one of the most important moments in the reign of her husband, King Haakon VIII, for health reasons.
Just hours before the new King of Norway took an oath in front of the country’s parliament, it was announced that Mette-Marit wouldn’t be able to attend as she had suffered complications from her lung transplant she underwent earlier this year.
One of her doctors, Are Holm, said ”Complications following a lung transplant are not unusual. The Queen has experienced complications on a few occasions since surgery, including today”.
Queen Mette-Marit stayed at home while her husband travelled to the parliamentary session with their daughter and the new heir to the throne, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
She watched her father swear his oath in front of the Storting, the parliament of Norway.
It follows his accession to the throne on August 28 – he became king on the death of his father, Harald V, who died as dawn broke over Oslo that morning.
King Harald’s widow and Haakon VIII’s mother, Queen Sonja, watched the swearing in from the front row in the parliament with her grandson, Prince Sverre Magnus, at her side.
On Sunday, King Haakon and Queen Sonja attended a church service for King Harald at Asker with Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Queen Mette-Marit did not take part.
She did, however, join the family to see the flowers laid in front of the Royal Palace and to thank crowds for their support following Harald’s death.
Holding hands with Queen Sonja, Queen Mette-Marit walked through the Royal Palace as the coffin of King Harald was transferred from the Red Saloon to the Chapel on Monday. It was carried by Harald’s two children, King Haakon and Princess Martha Louise, and his five grandchildren. The eighth pallbearer was his step grandson, Marius Borg Hoiby, who is currently serving a four year prison term under house arrest after being convicted of a number of offences, including two counts of rape.
King Harald’s funeral will take place at Oslo Cathedral on September 9 with royalty from around the world in attendance.
