King Haakon VIII of Norway took an oath before parliament on Tuesday following the death of his father, pledging to uphold the Nordic country’s constitution and laws in the latest in a series of ceremonies marking the passing of the crown.
Haakon’s father, King Harald, died Friday at the age of 89. Since his death, tens of thousands of Norwegians have visited the royal palace to leave flowers, drawings, candles and flags.
Many people have praised Harald for his warmth and inclusive nature. In his first address to the nation as king, Haakon described his father as a wonderful father.
The monarchy remains widely supported in Norway. A Norstat poll for broadcaster NRK published Tuesday showed that 72% of Norwegians support the monarchy, while 20% favor a republic or another form of government. It was the first poll on the issue since Harald’s death.
A previous Norstat poll conducted in May showed that support for the monarchy was 64%.
Haakon’s wife, Queen Mette-Marit, 53, who is recovering from a lung transplant in June, was expected to stand beside him, as Queen Sonja did in 1991 when Harald took the oath.
However, Mette-Marit canceled her appearance Tuesday because of complications following her transplant, her doctor said in a statement from the royal palace.
“It is not unusual with complications after a lung transplant. The queen has had complications on some occasions with the operation, including today,” said Are Holm, a pulmonologist at Oslo University Hospital.
“As a result, she must be put under observation throughout the day today.”
In addition to Ingrid Alexandra, 22, Prince Sverre Magnus, 20, and their grandmother, Sonja, 89, also attended the ceremony.
Haakon automatically became king the moment his father died. There will be no coronation because Norway abolished the practice in 1908.
