Norway's new monarch, King Haakon VIII, addressed his nation on Saturday in an emotionally charged first speech broadcast live on television, honouring his late father King Harald V and outlining his vision for his own reign. Harald died on Friday at the age of 89 after 35 years on the throne, following complications from haemolytic anaemia, a condition that causes fatigue and shortness of breath. Haakon assumed the throne automatically upon his father's death, having already served as regent during Harald's declining health.

In the speech delivered from the royal palace in Oslo, Haakon described his father as a king who "represented Norway and the Norwegian people with pride and joy" through visits across the country, events at the palace, and work on Norway's behalf around the world. He recalled Harald's "large, warm royal hand" that reached out to everyone without discrimination, and remembered him as a "warm and funny grandfather" to his six grandchildren and a devoted husband. Haakon's voice broke visibly as he noted that Saturday would have been his parents' 58th wedding anniversary, offering his congratulations to his mother, Queen Sonja. He said he would miss his father's laughter. Tens of thousands of Norwegians gathered outside the palace in Oslo, filling the square with flowers, candles and messages of condolence — a sight Haakon called "a powerful and moving experience."

Looking ahead to his own kingship, Haakon signalled both continuity and independence. He said he would adopt the same royal motto — "Alt for Norge" (Everything for Norway) — used by his father, his grandfather Olav V, and his great-grandfather Haakon VII, the Danish prince who became Norway's first king of the modern era after the country declared independence from Sweden in 1905. Yet he also stressed that his father had always reminded the family to "find our own style" and "be ourselves." He pledged that he, Queen Mette-Marit, and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra would "always strive to understand the life situations of different people," affirming his belief in democracy, the rule of law, and a society where "everyone is of equal value." Haakon is set to swear an oath to defend Norway's constitution before parliament on Tuesday.

Haakon ascends to the throne at a turbulent moment for the royal family. Queen Mette-Marit faced public scrutiny after it emerged she had maintained a friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, for which she publicly apologised. She later underwent a lung transplant after years of suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, and doctors do not expect to declare her stable until next year. Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby — who grew up within the royal household — was convicted in June of rape and domestic violence and sentenced to four years in prison; both he and the prosecution have filed appeals. Without addressing these controversies directly, Haakon acknowledged: "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."

The new king comes to the role after a long personal journey toward accepting his position. In his 2023 autobiography, he described anxiety about his royal identity as a child and a deliberate effort to distance himself from expectations — including studying at the University of California, Berkeley, rather than following family tradition to Oxford. It was his marriage to Mette-Marit in 2001, he has said, that helped him emerge from his shell. Norwegian royal experts say Haakon is widely regarded as hard-working and grounded, and believe he is capable of navigating the challenges ahead. A national mourning period has been declared, with memorial services to be held across Norway; a date for Harald's funeral has not yet been announced.