Oslo: King Haakon VIII of Norway took an oath before parliament on Tuesday following the death of his father, pledging to uphold the Nordic country's constitution and laws in the latest in a series of ceremonies marking the passing of the crown.
Haakon's father, King Harald, died on Friday, August 28 at the age of 89.
Haakon was driven in an open-top black 1966 Lincoln Continental through Karl Johan avenue in central Oslo, where soldiers and well-wishers lined the route.
The 17-minute ceremony in the 169-seat chamber highlighted Norway's status as a constitutional monarchy.
The king was invited in by the president of parliament, Masud Gharahkhani, along with the full cabinet and lawmakers, all dressed in black, to swear the oath of allegiance to Norway's 1814 constitution, with Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra by his side.
Haakon declared: "Norwegian parliament, I promise and swear to rule the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its constitution and laws, so help me God the Almighty and All-knowing."
Haakon's wife, Queen Mette-Marit, 53, who is recovering from a lung transplant in June, was due to be at Haakon's side, like Queen Sonja was in 1991 when Harald took the oath.
But on Tuesday she was unable to attend due to complications following her transplant, her doctor said in a statement from the royal palace.
In addition to Ingrid Alexandra, 22, Prince Sverre Magnus, 20, and their grandmother, Sonja, 89, also attended.
Haakon automatically became king the moment his father died. There will be no coronation, as Norway abolished the practice in 1908.
