King Haakon VIII Takes Oath as Norway's Monarch After Father's Death

King Haakon VIII pledged an oath of allegiance to Norway's constitution in parliament on Tuesday, formally taking the helm of the country after the death of his father, King Harald V, who died Friday at age 89 after a 35-year reign.

Haakon, 53, was driven from the royal palace to the Storting, or parliament, in an open car. There, Speaker Masud Gharahkhani read the official announcement of Harald's death and Haakon's succession. According to ABC News, Haakon then took the oath.

"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," he said.

Haakon has adopted the motto "All for Norway," which dates back to his great-grandfather. Norway's monarchy traces its origins to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. When Norway regained its independence from Sweden in 1905, three-quarters of voters in a national plebiscite approved restoring the monarchy. Today the monarchy's role is largely symbolic, with power resting with the elected government and parliament, though the royal family retains a role in promoting the country internationally.

Queen Mette-Marit did not attend the ceremony. The palace said in a statement that it quoted Are Holm, a pulmonologist at Oslo's University Hospital, as saying that complications following a transplant are not uncommon and that Mette-Marit had experienced them on several occasions, "including today."

"As a result, the Queen must remain under observation throughout the day. Unfortunately, the Queen will therefore be unable to attend the swearing-in ceremony at the Storting today," he said.

Mette-Marit had made her first official public appearance in Monday's coffin procession, her first since assuming the title of Queen. She had been largely absent from the public eye since her lung transplant in June.

Harald's coffin was taken Monday to the chapel of the royal palace in downtown Oslo. Starting Tuesday afternoon, the chapel will be open each day through September 8 for the public to pay their respects. The royal palace stated that visitors are not allowed to take photos or film inside the chapel and cannot leave flowers or other items. Harald's funeral is scheduled for September 9.