Norway’s King Haakon VIII swears allegiance to constitution

Norway’s King Haakon VIII took an oath before parliament on Tuesday, the first major institutional step of his reign, though his wife, still convalescing after a lung transplant, was unable to attend.

Dressed in a ceremonial uniform, the 53-year-old Haakon, who became king when his father King Harald V died on Friday morning aged 89, swore to abide by the Scandinavian country’s constitution, under which the royals have a primarily symbolic function.

“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 recited in the parliament’s main chamber.

Haakon’s wife, Queen Mette-Marit, 53, was not beside her husband as she is still recovering from her June 17 transplant.

Dr. Are Holm, head of the Pulmonary Department at Oslo University Hospital, said in a statement from the palace that complications after a transplant are not “uncommon”.

“The queen has had complications on several occasions since the operation, including today,” Holm said.