The new King of Norway, Haakon VIII, has begun his reign with a sombre duty.
King Haakon travelled to the Royal Palace in Oslo just hours after his father, King Harald V, died for the formal declaration of the end of one reigh and the start of another.
Haakon VIII, who kept vigil with his father overnight as Harald V slipped away, had the difficult duty of declaring the King of Norway’s death to the Extraordinar Council of State that was called to the palace once Harald V had died. It took place just five hours after the death.
The new King of Norway told the Prime Minister, the President of the Storting and other politicians that ”It is my duty to inform the Council of State that my beloved father, His Majesty King Harald V, died today, August 28, 2026, at 6:35 a.m.”
It was also up to the new king to declare his own reign had started, as he added ”in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, I have acceded to the government as King of Norway.”
There was little doubt about what he said next, as his parents had called him Haakon to honour the first King of Norway. But he confirmed that ”I will take the name of Haakon VIII”.
And in a nod to tradition and continuity, he said that he will ”continue with the motto chosen by my father, grandfather and great grandfather: All For Norway”.
That motto, Alt for Norge, was published with a new portrait of King Haakon by the Royal House of Norway immediately afterwards.
In the portrait, the new monarch looks sombre and exhausted – it’s understood he had little or no sleep during the night as he stayed with his father. King Harald died as dawn broke on August 28.
Queen Sonja is at home after losing her husband of 58 years. They were due to celebrate their wedding anniversary tomorrow, August 29.
King Haakon was accompanied to the Council of State by his eldest child who is now heir to the throne.
Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra is the first woman to be first in line to Norway’s throne. The 22 year old is currently studying at university in Oslo.
There was also no sign of Haakon VIII’s wife, Queen Mette-Marit. She is recuperating following a lung transplant which was carried out after her pulmonary fibrosis became so bad her medical team believed she only had a year left to live.
The new queen is a controversial figure. Her friendship with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, was revealed earlier this year. She spent time with the late financier after his conviction. Furthermore, her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, is currently serving a four year prison sentence for a number of offences including rape under house arrest at the royal home of his mother and stepfather, now King and Queen of Norway.
