Norway has entered a new chapter with the accession of Haakon VIII, who succeeds Harald V and takes charge of a monarchy that still enjoys strong public support. But the transfer of the crown does not come in complete calm: the new king takes office as the royal family faces controversies that could test its relationship with public opinion.
The throne after Harald V and the first steps as king
Haakon VIII becomes Norway’s fourth king since the restoration of the modern monarchy in 1905, after the country separated from Sweden. He succeeds his father, Harald V, a figure who enjoyed broad sympathy in Norway and whose death prompted strong emotional reactions from the public.
In one of his first engagements after taking the throne, Haakon chaired an extraordinary cabinet meeting and announced his royal title. He decided to keep the same motto used by his father: “Everything for Norway.”
From crown prince to the new king
Haakon had been preparing in practice for this role for years. As crown prince, he worked alongside Harald V for a long time and took on increasing responsibilities, especially during periods when the king could not carry out his functions because of his health condition.
Born in 1973, he became crown prince at the age of 17, after the death of his grandfather, Olav V, in 1991. Unlike many other figures from European royal houses, he first attended public school in Norway, then served four years in the Royal Norwegian Navy and graduated from the Norwegian Naval Academy in 1995. He later studied political science at the University of California, Berkeley.
According to Norwegian historian Trond Noren Isaksen, Haakon is more reserved than his father. If Harald was known for charisma and humor, Haakon has been seen more as a calm and analytical figure, although in recent years he has appeared more open in public.
The love story that challenged the monarchy’s old rules
His private life became an important part of the new image of the Norwegian monarchy when, in 1999, he met Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby at a music festival in Kristiansand. Their relationship was met with debate in Norway, as she was a single mother and had a profile that at the time was considered unusual for the future wife of a king.
The couple was also criticized for living together before marriage. At the time, there were voices warning that the relationship could damage the monarchy, but over time Mette-Marit won public sympathy. Their marriage in 2001 was seen as a sign of the institution adapting to the reality of a modern society.
They have two children from this marriage, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. With Haakon VIII taking the throne, Ingrid Alexandra becomes crown princess and heir to the throne.
Scandals darkening the start of the reign
The beginning of Haakon VIII’s reign coincides with a difficult period for the royal family. Mette-Marit has faced criticism over her past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Shortly before the start of the court proceedings against her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, documents were published showing her frequent contacts with Epstein. She apologized and admitted that she had shown poor judgment.
Meanwhile, Hoiby has been convicted of rape in a case that has been followed publicly, and he has appealed the ruling. The case drew even more attention after one of the women in that trial, according to data made public, was raped on Haakon’s property at Skaugum, near Oslo.
The royal family has repeatedly stressed that Hoiby is not a member of the royal family and has no royal status. But that formal distancing has not spared the institution from public pressure, especially at such a sensitive moment of transition.
Pressure for public trust and transparency
The situation has also been worsened by Mette-Marit’s health condition. She was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018 and, two days after the end of her son’s trial, underwent a lung transplant. According to doctors, the full stability of her condition cannot be assessed until one year has passed since the transplant.
For Haakon VIII, the challenge is not only ceremonial. He must carry the weight of the throne, face the political and public consequences of family controversies, and preserve the reservoir of trust that Harald V left to the monarchy.
According to assessments by royal experts in Norway, the way the family handles these issues could be decisive. Transparency and direct communication with the public are seen as key elements in curbing speculation and keeping reputational damage under control.
Despite the shocks of recent years, support for the Norwegian monarchy remains generally strong. However, for Haakon VIII, taking the throne does not simply mark the continuation of a tradition: it is a direct test of whether the crown can preserve its legitimacy even when the family that wears it is under public pressure.