{
  "id": 3933664,
  "title": "Norway’s crown prince becomes King Haakon VIII after his father’s death",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/norways-crown-prince-becomes-king-haakon-viii-after-his-fathers-death",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T09:31:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Khaosod English",
    "slug": "khaosod-english",
    "url": "https://www.khaosodenglish.com/news/international/2026/08/28/norways-crown-prince-becomes-king-haakon-viii-after-his-fathers-death/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Norway has a new king, Haakon VIII, following the death of his father, King Harald V. The new king, 53 years old, will need to stabilize the monarchy and improve its popularity after his wife, Queen Mette-Marit, was linked to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, and had her stepson convicted of rape.\n\nCrown Prince Haakon became king upon his father's demise on Friday. His oldest child, Ingrid Alexandra, is now the Crown Princess and heir to the throne. Haakon has previous experience in regency as his father aged and experienced health issues.\n\nThe Norwegian monarchy has ancient origins, dating back to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. The country gained independence from Sweden in 1905, and a national plebiscite approved the restoration of the monarchy. While the royal family's role is largely ceremonial today, it retains a significant presence in promoting Norway internationally.\n\nHaakon, the youngest of Harald's two children, became the heir to the throne after his older brother, Prince Märtha Louise, and then his grandfather, King Olav, passed away. He holds degrees in political science and development studies from prestigious universities and completed the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy.\n\nBefore his marriage to Queen Mette-Marit, Haakon faced public scrutiny due to her past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. The couple's marriage has been celebrated for its blend of common touch and regal grace, and they have two children together. The new king will need to work on boosting the royal family's popularity, which has declined in recent years amid the Mette-Marit's trial.",
  "summary": "COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Norway has a new king, whose tasks will include stabilizing the Scandinavian country’s monarchy and boosting the royal family’s popularity after his wife’s past contacts with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his stepson’s rape conviction. Crown Prince Haakon, 53, became King Haakon VIII when his father, Harald V, died Friday. Haakon’s oldest child now becomes…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Kyiv Post",
        "title": "Norway’s King Harald Dead at 89",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/norways-king-harald-dead-at-89-3923977",
        "published": "2026-08-28T08:05:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Norway's King Harald dead at 89",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/norways-king-harald-dead-at-89-3923321",
        "published": "2026-08-28T08:13:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "UK’s King Charles mourns loss of ‘dear cousin’ Harald",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/uks-king-charles-mourns-loss-of-dear-cousin-harald",
        "published": "2026-08-28T09:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "NATO, EU send condolences as King Charles mourns cousin Harald",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/nato-eu-send-condolences-as-king-charles-mourns-cousin-harald",
        "published": "2026-08-28T09:54:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Toronto Sun",
        "title": "Norway’s King Harald dead at 89",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/norways-king-harald-dead-at-89-3951646",
        "published": "2026-08-28T11:12:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Peninsula Qatar",
        "title": "Amir sends condolences to King of Norway",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/amir-sends-condolences-to-king-of-norway",
        "published": "2026-08-28T11:58:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}