Norway: New King Haakon Makes First Speech to the Nation

King Haakon VIII of Norway delivered his maiden address to the nation, honoring his departed father, King Harald V, by describing him as "such a wonderful papa" and a steadfast individual committed to his values and duties. Haakon, who assumed the throne upon his father's death at the age of 89, expressed profound grief while acknowledging the shared mourning of the Norwegian people. The 58th wedding anniversary of his widowed mother, Queen Sonja, was to have been celebrated on the same day as his father's passing.

Upon taking the throne, Haakon affirmed his intention to pursue his own course, just as his father had done before him, while upholding the principles of Norway's constitutional monarchy. He pledged to swear an oath in parliament to safeguard the country's constitution and laws. Despite the monarchy's lack of coronation ceremonies, Haakon could choose to undergo a consecration at Trondheim Cathedral, where Norwegian monarchs were crowned from 1814 to 1906.

The Norwegian prime minister affirmed Haakon's resemblance to his father, particularly his ability to foster unity and harmony. A national period of mourning has been declared, and memorial services are scheduled to take place in churches across the country, including one in Asker. Harald's legacy as a symbol of an open and tolerant Norway, coupled with his commitment to a modern and unassuming monarchy, has been widely recognized.