King Haakon and Princess Martha Louise at the Palace Square where they each laid a rose in the sea of flowers after the death of King Harald V. NTB/Cornelius Poppe/via REUTERS
OSLO, Sept 1 (Reuters) – King Haakon VIII of Norway will on Tuesday take an oath before parliament 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 at the age of 89. Since then, tens of thousands of Norwegians have streamed to the royal palace to lay flowers, drawings, candles and flags.
Many have praised Harald’s warmth and sense of inclusiveness, while Haakon described him as a wonderful father in his first address to the nation as sovereign.
The monarchy remains broadly popular: 72% of Norwegians support it, while 20% favour a republic or another form of government, according to a Norstat poll for broadcaster NRK published Tuesday, the first poll on the issue taken since Harald’s death.
The previous Norstat poll, conducted in May, showed support for the monarchy at 64%.
QUEEN METTE-MARIT TO ATTEND
The ceremony in the 169-seat chamber, which will start at 1100 GMT, will underline the foundations of Norway as a constitutional monarchy.
His funeral will take place in Oslo on September 9, with heads of state from around the world invited to attend.
Reporting by Gwladys Fouche in Oslo Editing by Ros Russell
