Norway's new king remembers 'my dear father' in first speech
Haakon VIII pays emotional tribute to his late father, Harald V, before outlining how he wishes to reign.
In his inaugural address to the nation, Norway's new monarch, King Haakon, delivered a heartfelt homage to his departed father, Harald V, on what would have been his parents' wedding anniversary.
"Thank you for being such a good dad," King Haakon, 53, expressed during his televised speech, delivered from a desk in Norway's royal palace. He was flanked by a photograph of the late king, two illuminated candles, and a vase of white roses.
Harald V, who passed away at 89 on Friday morning in a hospital after battling a rare blood condition, was widely regarded as a modernizing and "people's king" throughout his 35-year reign.
"Now it is my turn," Haakon declared, acknowledging the "major task" ahead and his aspiration to be "present and attentive" in his new role.
Emphasizing national unity, King Haakon stated that the royal family champions a "society built on law and justice, where everyone is of equal value." He fondly remembered Harald as a devoted father to himself and his sister, Princess Märtha Louise, a "warm and funny grandfather" to his six grandchildren, and a "loving and caring husband" to his widow, Queen Sonja.
The new king appeared to fight back tears as he noted that Saturday would have marked his parents' 58th wedding anniversary. He recalled Harald's ability to unite the family with a "natural authority" that his father might not have even recognized in himself. Haakon underscored that his father had "always stayed true" to his "values and commitments."
"He constantly reminded us in the family that each of us must do things in our own way. Find our own style. Be ourselves," Haakon shared.
He also spoke of the "powerful and moving experience" of witnessing thousands of Norwegians gather outside the royal palace in Oslo, bearing "flowers, tributes and candles." "We are in mourning, yet at the same time it brings comfort and strength that so many are grieving together with us," he said.
Since the news of Harald's passing on Friday, Norwegians have been placing flowers outside the royal palace in Oslo. A national period of mourning has been declared, with the funeral date yet to be announced.
Among those paying respects was Norway's Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, who laid flowers and signed a book of condolences after meeting the new king, stating that the country was "united in grief and gratitude."
King Haakon is scheduled to take an oath of allegiance in parliament on Tuesday, followed by a consecration service with his wife, Queen Mette-Marit. This service is a simplified version of a coronation, a ceremony no longer held in Norway.
The new king assumes his duties during a challenging period for the royal family, marked by recent health issues and controversies. Queen Mette-Marit faced scrutiny for her three-year friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, for which she publicly apologized. She later underwent a lung transplant in 2018 for pulmonary fibrosis, with doctors not expecting her condition to stabilize until next year, requiring Haakon to balance his new responsibilities with her care.
Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, who was raised with the royal family since Haakon married his mother when he was four, was convicted of rape and other offenses in June and sentenced to four years in prison. He is currently appealing the verdict.
Haakon's sister, Märtha Louise, also generated controversy by remarrying an American self-styled shaman in 2024, with their business ventures ultimately leading her to step back from royal duties.
Without directly addressing these specific controversies, King Haakon remarked in his speech: "Our family has experienced the importance of standing together in order to remain steadfast both within ourselves and for one another even during difficult times." He affirmed that he, along with Mette-Marit and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, would "always strive to understand the life situations of different people."
He concluded, "No one who lives in this country knows what we will face together, but what we do know is that we will stand by one another through both good days and difficult ones."
While Harald remained popular until his death, a poll conducted earlier this year for the newspaper Aftenposten indicated a decline in support for the monarchy, from 72% in 2024 to 54%. However, Norwegian royal experts informed the BBC that despite the family's recent turbulence, the new king is respected, diligent, and capable of navigating the challenges ahead.