King Haakon VIII of Norway has used his inaugural televised address to the nation to deliver an emotional tribute to his late father, Harald V, pledging to lead with attentiveness and humility as the Scandinavian country begins a formal period of mourning.
Speaking from a desk inside Norway’s royal palace, flanked by a framed photograph of his father, two burning candles and a bowl of white roses, the 53-year-old monarch said simply: “Thank you for being such a good dad.” His voice faltering at moments, Haakon described Harald as a “warm and funny grandfather” to his six grandchildren, and a “loving and caring husband” to his widow, Queen Sonja.
Harald V died in hospital on Friday morning at the age of 89, after treatment for a rare blood condition. His 35-year reign earned him a reputation as a modernising, accessible “people’s king.”
“He brought us together with a natural authority — of which he might not have been aware himself,” Haakon recalled.
The new king appeared visibly moved when he noted that Saturday would have marked his parents’ 58th wedding anniversary.
A message of national togetherness
Beyond the personal tribute, Haakon used the address to emphasise themes of unity and shared values, framing the monarchy as a unifying institution in a country that, like much of Europe, is navigating social and political turbulence.
He stressed that the royal family believed in a “society built on law and justice, where everyone is of equal value,” echoing language that has long featured in Norwegian public life. He also paid tribute to the thousands of citizens who had gathered outside the palace in Oslo since the news of Harald’s death, laying flowers, lighting candles and signing books of condolences.
“We are in mourning, yet at the same time it brings comfort and strength that so many are grieving together with us,” he said.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre was among those who paid respects at the palace on Saturday, describing Norway as “united in grief and gratitude.” A national mourning period has been declared, although no date has yet been set for the late king’s funeral.
Stepping into the role
Haakon will formally swear an oath of allegiance in parliament on Tuesday. He and his wife, Queen Mette-Marit, will subsequently take part in a consecration service — a pared-down ceremonial alternative to the coronation that Norway formally abandoned in 1908, when the country gained full independence from Sweden.
The address, broadcast on Saturday evening, was notable for the deliberate absence of any direct reference to the controversies that have shadowed the royal household in recent months. Yet Haakon alluded to them obliquely: “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 added: “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.”
A reign beginning under strain
Haakon’s accession comes at a moment of acute pressure on the Norwegian royal family. Queen Mette-Marit, who has lived with pulmonary fibrosis since 2018, received a lung transplant earlier this year, and doctors are not expected to declare her condition stable until next year. That reality, observers note, will require the new king to balance official duties with the responsibilities of family caregiving.
The household has also been buffeted by legal and personal scandals. Earlier this year, Mette-Marit faced scrutiny after it emerged she had maintained a friendship of several years with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, for which she issued a public apology. Separately, the queen’s son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted in June of rape and other offences and sentenced to four years in prison. He is appealing the ruling. Although Høiby is not a member of the royal house, he was raised alongside Haakon from the age of four, after the then-prince married his mother.
Haakon’s sister, Princess Märtha Louise, has also attracted controversy after remarrying an American self-styled shaman in 2024. Her subsequent business ventures prompted her to step back from official royal duties.
Despite these strains, royal commentators in Oslo have told international media that Haakon is regarded as hard-working and respected, and capable of guiding the institution through its current difficulties. Nonetheless, an Aftenposten poll earlier this year suggested that public support for the monarchy had slipped from 72 per cent in 2024 to 54 per cent, reflecting in part the reputational damage of recent scandals.
Looking ahead
In his closing remarks, Haakon emphasised continuity rather than change, telling Norwegians that he, Mette-Marit and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra would “always strive to understand the life situations of different people.” He asked for the public’s continued support, saying: “Now it is my turn.”
A major task lies ahead.
Why it matters
Haakon’s first address marks both a personal milestone and an inflection point for one of Europe’s oldest monarchies. With public confidence in the royal house under measurable strain and the queen’s health uncertain, the new king’s ability to project steadiness, accessibility and moral clarity will be closely scrutinised at home and abroad. Norway’s experience will also be watched by other constitutional monarchies navigating the tension between tradition and modern scrutiny — a reminder that the survival of hereditary institutions in the 21st century depends less on pageantry than on credibility.