Norway’s new King Haakon VIII was sworn in this afternoon, though his wife, Queen Mette-Marit, was absent from the ceremony due to complications following her lung transplant in June.
The oath was administered in the Storting’s main chamber at around 1pm local time, following extensive security preparations that included bomb detection dogs sweeping the lavishly arranged parliamentary hall.
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Mette-Marit, 53, remained under medical supervision while her husband pledged his constitutional oath, just days after ascending to the throne following King Harald V’s death on Friday at the age of 89.
The Queen had likewise been unable to attend a church memorial held over the weekend for her late father-in-law.
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In her mother’s stead, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, accompanied the new monarch during the ceremony – the first time the future monarch has taken the oath alongside the new sovereign.
The princess stepped into the role at short notice after the Royal House confirmed Mette-Marit’s name had been removed from the official programme.
Pulmonologist Dr Are Holm of Norway’s National Hospital issued a statement on behalf of the Royal Family earlier in the day.
“It is not uncommon for complications to occur after a lung transplant. The Queen has had complications on some occasions since the operation, including today,” he said.
“As a result, the Queen must be observed throughout the day. The Queen will therefore unfortunately not be able to attend the swearing-in ceremony in the Storting today,” Dr Holm added.
He confirmed that Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra would stand alongside the King, while Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus would watch proceedings from the Storting Hall.
Mette-Marit has battled chronic pulmonary fibrosis for several years, a condition that worsened markedly over the six months preceding her transplant.
She was placed on the transplant list, with Professor Holm revealing the list is reserved for patients with just “one year left to live”.
Following the operation, the Royal House declared the transplant a success, stating that “everything has progressed well so far.”
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By July, the then-Crown Princess had stepped back from all official engagements.
The royal court indicated she faced a prolonged period of recovery and physical rehabilitation, during which no public updates would be provided.
Her husband announced at the time that he intended to scale back his own public schedule to be at her side – though his sudden elevation to the throne may now change his plans.
King Harald V, a cousin of King Charles III, died last week after being hospitalised in Oslo for treatment of haemolytic anaemia – a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed at an abnormally rapid rate. He had reigned for 35 years.
Thousands of well-wishers gathered in the Norwegian capital in the days following his death, laying flowers, flags and messages of condolence at the gates of the royal palace.
He will be laid to rest at Oslo Cathedral on September 9 the Norwegian Palace confirmed.
The new King spoke overwhelmingly of his father on Saturday evening, his first address to the nation since Harald’s death earlier in the week.
“A brother and uncle who was so loved by so many,” he said of his late father. “You were the head of the family, and brought us all together with a natural authority, which you may not have been aware of yourself.”
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