King Haakon VIII Takes Constitutional Oath as Norway's New Monarch

King Haakon VIII of Norway formally began his reign on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, by taking a constitutional oath before parliament, following the death of his father, King Harald V. In a historic ceremony at the Storting in Oslo, the new monarch pledged to govern in accordance with the nation's constitution and laws, while his daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, simultaneously took a key step securing her future role. The oath-taking ceremony, a constitutional requirement for succession, took place at 12:06 p.m. local time. King Haakon, 53, read the oath from a book while seated on a golden throne in the parliamentary chamber. "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," he declared. Standing beside him was his 22-year-old daughter, Ingrid Alexandra, marking the first time an heir over the age of 18 had accompanied a reigning monarch for this ceremony. Following the oath, the President of the Storting delivered a memorial speech for the late King Harald, who died on August 29, at the age of 89. A minute of silence was observed before the royal anthem was played.