Norway: Oath of Allegiance ceremony

In a short ceremony at the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament) today, King Haakon VIII took the Oath of Allegiance. The King was driven in an open car – the same he used at his wedding in 2001 – from the Palace to the Storting. Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus and Queen Sonja came before him in a separate car. Queen Mette-Marit had to cancel her presence because of complications following her lung transplant this spring and which had to be monitored.

The President of the Storting, Masud Gharahkhani, read the official announcement of the death of King Harald V, before the king took the Oath of Allegiance in accordance with the Constitution article 9 before the Storting and gave a short address. The President of the Storting then held a speech in remembrance of King Harald V and gave an address to King Haakon VIII. The ceremony was closed with the Royal Anthem. 

President of the Storting,

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.

President of the Storting,

At the first meeting between the elected representatives of the people and me as King of Norway, I would like to express the hope that the good relationship which have been between the Storting and my father, King Harald, my grandfather, King Olav, and my great-grandfather, King Haakon, can be maintained and then developed in line with the tasks the country will face in the future.

The Queen and I wish to affirm that we place ourselves at the service of our country and people. In keeping with this tradition, I, too, as King of Norway, have adopted the motto ‘All for Norway’.

The President of the Storting's speech can be read (in Norwegian) here. See also NRK's article and broadcast.

After the ceremony in the Storting, just before 2 p.m., Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra took the Oath of Allegiance in writing at the Royal Palace. The signed document was then delivered to the President of the Storting by the Lord Chamberlain. The Crown Princess took the oath in accordance with the Constitution article 44 in order to be able to serve as Regent when her father the king is abroad or on sick leave.

In the next Council of State the king will inform his government that the oath has been signed by the Crown Princess. Her oath will then be notified to the first Storting in session (30 September) and be entered in the record of its proceedings. See articles at the official websites of the Royal House and of the Storting.

Updated on Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 07:43 (timing of the Crown Princess' oath taking corrected from prior to after the oath ceremony in the Storting.)

Norway: Statement by King Harald on the occasion of the shooting tragedy in central Oslo

Following the shootings outside Per på Hjørnet and London Pub in central Oslo last night, where two people were killed and 21 people were injured, King Harald of Norway issued the following statement:

Skytetragedien i Oslo sentrum

Uttalelse fra Hans Majestet Kong Harald i anledning skytetragedien i Oslo sentrum.

25.06.2022

Familien min og jeg er forferdet over nattens skytetragedie i Oslo sentrum, der to mennesker ble drept og mange skadet. Vi føler med alle pårørende og berørte og sender varme tanker til alle som nå er redde, urolige og i sorg.

Vi må stå sammen om å forsvare verdiene våre: Frihet, mangfold og respekt for hverandre. Vi må fortsette å stå opp for at alle mennesker skal føle seg trygge.

Nå må vi ta godt vare på hverandre.

Harald R

In English:

The shooting tragedy in central Oslo

Statement from His Majesty King Harald on the occasion of the shooting tragedy in central Oslo.

25.06.2022

My family and I are horrified by the night's shooting tragedy in central Oslo, where two people were killed and many injured. We sympathize with all the relatives and affected and send warm thoughts to all who are now scared, restless and in grief.

We must stand together to defend our values: Freedom, diversity and respect for each other. We must continue to stand up for all people to feel safe.

Now we have to take good care of each other.

Harald R

On Saturday early afternoon the Crown Prince couple and Prince Sverre Magnus together with among other Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and the governing mayor (city government leader) of Oslo Raymond Johansen visited the scene of the shootings and laid down flowers outside London Pub.

The Crown Prince couple will attend the mourning service in Oslo Cathedral on Sunday 26 June.

The London Pub in central Oslo is a popular place in the gay community. The perpetrator has been charged with murder, attempted murder and carrying out a terrorist act. While the motive is yet to be known, the prosecutor has stated that "There is reason to believe this [terrorist act] involves hate crime [directed against gay people]" in addition to psychiatric issues. On advice by the police today's Pride parade and other Pride events were cancelled.

Postscript Monday 27 June 2022 at 22.55: The Royal Court revealed on Sunday morning that the Crown Prince had tested positive for Covid, which meantg that the Crown Princess attended the mourning service alone.

Updated last time on Monday 27 June 2022 at 22.55 (postscript added).

Norway: Prince Sverre Magnus' confirmation

The confirmation of Prince Sverre Magnus took place in Asker Church at 4 p.m. today. Vicar Karoline Astrup, curate Marita Elvemo Sivertsen, who delivered the sermon, and congregation educator Liv-Iren Westnes, performed the ceremony. The preses of the Church of Norway, Bishop Olav Fykse Tveit, was also present. 

This was the fourth and last confirmation ceremony this Saturday. Due to the pandemic the number of confirmants and guests was reduced, so Prince Sverre Magnus – called Magnus only among family and friends – was one of 10 youths being confirmed. King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Marius Borg Høiby, his partner Juliane Snekkestad, Princess Märtha Louise, Leah Isadora Behn (cousin), Marit Tjessem (grandmother), Per Høiby (uncle), Kristin Høiby (aunt), Julia Høiby (cousin), Espen Høiby (uncle), Bjørn Stensland and Marianne Gjellestad  (the latter two are friends of the Crown Prince couple) were present. 

Sponsors at the christening in 2006 were Queen Sonja, Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, Rosario Nadal (formerly Princess of Bulgaria, Princess of Preslav), Espen Høiby, Bjørn Andersen-Steinsland and Marianne Gjellestad. As mentioned earlier, due to the pandemic and the current travel restrictions, the foreign sponsors were not able to attend, as they would have to go into quarantine for ten days upon arrival in Norway. 

The ceremony was broadcast on Norwegian TV. It was a nice and traditional ceremony, despite the limitations, an the soloist, Beate Løvås Solem, made a great impression with her beautiful voice. Prince Sverre Magnus was marked by the gravity of the occasion, he had a very serious and consentrated look, but gave a great smile when he came out of the church.

After the ceremony Prince Sverre Magnus and his guests drove to the Skaugum estate nearby for a private dinner. The official website has published photos from the ceremony. Photos taken at Skaugum can be found here. According to the official website (see the latter link), Prince Sverre Magnus received several gifts from the official Norway. From the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament) the Prince received a canoe, oars and a flotation device. The government and Asker municipality gave works of art by Morten Andenæs and Magne Furuholmen (of Aha fame) respectively. The Supreme Court gave the prince a surfboard and a book about the Supreme Court, the Church of Norway gave a bible in the new translation from 2011, while the county governors gave a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad.

Norway: Confirmation day set to 5 September 2020 for Prince Sverre Magnus

The Norwegian Royal Court announced today, 13 August 2020, that Prince Sverre Magnus, youngest child of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, will be confirmed in Asker Church on Saturday 5 September 2020.

A private dinner will take place at the Skaugum estate after the church ceremony. Obviously this will be a small-scale event compared to Princess Ingrid Alexandra's confirmation last year, which took place in the Palace Chapel, followed by an official lunch at the Royal Palace.

Like his sister, Prince Sverre Magnus has received his confirmation instruction in the Asker congregation. 

The christening of Prince Sverre Magnus took place in the Palace Chapel on 4 March 2006. He was carried to the christening font by his grandmother Queen Sonja. The other sponsors were Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, Rosario Nadal (formerly Princess of Bulgaria, Princess of Preslav), Espen Høiby, Bjørn Andersen-Steinsland and Marianne Gjellestad. Due to the pandemic and the current travel restrictions it is less likely that the foreign sponsors will be able to attend, as they would have to go into quarantine for ten days upon arrival in Norway. 

Norway: New royal stamps to be issued on 10 June

NK 1852

NK 1853

NK 1854

NK 1855

4 new royal stamps will be issued by the Norwegian Postal Service on Monday 10 June 2013 to mark the 40th birthdays of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit on 20 July and 19 August respectively.

The two first stamps show the Crown Prince and Crown Princess with their monograms. The third stamp shows the Crown Princely family at Skaugum - Marius Borg Høiby, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Crown Prince Haakon and in front Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. The fourth and last stamp pictures King Harald V and the two first persons in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne.

The stamps are designed by the well-known stamp artist Enzo Finger. All the stamps are valued at NOK 9,50 (A-mail, domestic). The various products made in connection with the new release can be viewed here.

Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway starts school

Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway, the youngest child of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, will have his first school day tomorrow, Thursday 18 August 2011. The prince is to attend Jansløkka primary school in Asker, the same school which his elder sister Princess Ingrid Alexandra goes to. His half-brother Marius Borg Høiby was also a pupil at Jansløkka until 2010.

Views and News of Norway has today written a little piece, Youngest prince starts school, about Sverre Magnus' big day.

According to the Norwegian Royal Court, Prince Sverre Magnus will be followed to school on Tuesday by his parents as well as his grandmother, Queen Sonja. It could very well be that the other grandmother, Marit Tjessem, will also come along, but she would naturally enough not be included in such a press release.

Postscript 18 August 2011 (20:05): For the record Marit Tjessem was not present when Prince Sverre Magnus had his first school day at Jansløkka in Asker today. See photos and videos at Budstikka.no and VG Nett.