Norway: New King Haakon makes first speech to the nation - DW.com

King Haakon VIII of Norway delivered his first televised address to the nation on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from the Royal Palace, paying an emotional tribute to his late father, King Harald V, whom he called "such a wonderful papa."
Harald V died at 89 after more than three decades on the throne, remembered as a reformer and popular monarch; Haakon praised him as a "warm and devoted family man" committed to his values and duties.
Haakon became visibly emotional discussing his widowed mother, Queen Sonja, noting that his parents would have marked their 58th wedding anniversary on the same day.
Vowing to follow his own path while upholding Norway's constitutional monarchy, Haakon affirmed his belief in democracy, self-governance, the rule of law and the equal worth of every individual.
Earlier Saturday, Haakon met with leaders of the Church of Norway, parliament and the Supreme Court, and received Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, who viewed the late king's casket; flags flew at half-mast as mourners laid flowers, following tributes from more than 20,000 people the previous day.
Haakon became king automatically upon his father's death, as Norway abolished coronations in 1908, though he may opt for a consecration ceremony at Trondheim Cathedral; he is due to swear an oath in parliament on Tuesday to uphold the country's constitution and laws.