OSLO — King Haakon VIII formally took the oath of allegiance to Norway’s constitution on Tuesday, marking a significant step in his succession following the death of his father, King Harald V, last Friday.

Haakon, 53, assumed the throne after Harald’s passing at the age of 89, ending a 35-year reign. The new king reaffirmed his commitment to govern in accordance with the country’s constitutional framework, declaring, “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 adopted the motto “All for Norway,” a phrase connected to his great-grandfather.

The transition took place in the Storting, Norway’s parliament, where Speaker Masud Gharahkhani formally announced Harald’s death and Haakon’s succession. The ceremony was preceded by a procession in which the king traveled from the Royal Palace to the parliament building in an open car.

Norway’s monarchy, dating back to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century, has played a largely ceremonial role since the country regained independence from Sweden in 1905. At that time, a plebiscite showed strong public support for restoring the monarchy. While political authority rests with elected officials, the royal family remains a prominent symbol and is active in promoting Norway internationally.

In related events, the coffin of King Harald was moved to the chapel of the Royal Palace in Oslo on Monday, where it will remain until the funeral scheduled for September 9. The palace has opened the chapel to the public for daily visitations from Tuesday afternoon through September 8, allowing Norwegians to pay their respects. Visitors are prohibited from taking photographs or leaving flowers or other items inside the chapel.

Queen Mette-Marit, Haakon’s wife, appeared publicly Monday during the coffin procession, marking her first official engagement since undergoing a lung transplant in June. However, she did not attend the oath-taking ceremony, with the palace citing health concerns. Are Holm, a pulmonologist at Oslo’s University Hospital, commented that complications following a transplant are relatively common and Mette-Marit has experienced such issues on several occasions, including on Tuesday.

The official transfer of royal duties to King Haakon VIII underscores continuity in Norway’s constitutional monarchy amid a period of national mourning.