King of Norway
His Majesty King Haakon VIII acceded to the throne on 28 August 2026 upon the death of his father, King Harald V. Like his father, grandfather and great grandfather before him, King Haakon adopted the motto "All for Norway”.
The King’s duties are mainly representative and ceremonial, and is the foremost symbol of the Norwegian community.
In addition to his constitutional duties, King Haakon will carry out a wide range of other responsibilities. He will continue the tradition of travelling throughout the country meeting people in all circumstances.
The King represents Norway abroad on state visits. When other heads of state visit Norway, The King and Queen are their hosts. These duties will now be carried out by King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit. During their time as Crown Prince and Crown Princess, they also undertook a number of visits abroad to promote Norwegian interests.
Oath of Allegiance
Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution
On 1 September 2026, His Majesty King Haakon VIII took his oath of allegiance to the Norwegian Constitution during a solemn ceremony in the Norwegian parliament, Stortinget.
"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!"
The act of taking the oath underlines the fact that the power and authority of the monarch is limited and regulated by the provisions in the Constitution
King Haakon also read a statement to the Storting in which he expressed the hope that the good relationship that has existed between the Storting and the kings who have gone before him will be sustained and further developed.
- The Queen and I wish to affirm that we stand ready to perform our duties in the service of the nation and the people. Following tradition, I too, as King of Norway, have adopted the motto ‘We give our all for Norway’.
Official duties as King
The King’s duties are stated in the Constitution of Norway. These duties include appointing new governments, presiding over meetings of the Council of State, and formally opening the Norwegian parliament, the Storting. It is also the King's duty to receive new ambassadors to the country.
As Crown Prince Regent, King Haakon chaired meetings of the Council of State, received ambassadors and opened the Storting when King Harald has been ill or abroad. This happended for the first time in September 1991.
The King’s day-to-day duties also include granting audiences, meetings with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister and representatives of the Defence Establishment. The King also travels to different parts of Norway, where he visits public and private institutions.
Change of government
The King plays an important role in the formal transition from one government to the next. The formal procedure is that the prime minister in power informs the King that the government will step down and tenders the King his or her resignation. The King then consults the Prime Minister about who should form the new government. They will normally recommend a person from the party or coalition with the greatest support in the Storting. The constitutional practice is that the King follows this advice.
It is formally the King who asks the selected candidate to form a government.
King Harald appointed eight governments during his regency, the last was in 2021. Following the next parliamentary election, the task of forming the new government will be entrusted by King Haakon VIII.
The Council of State
The King presides over the Council of State at the Palace on Fridays. Decisions made by the Government as a single body are made in the Council of State. All acts of legislation and other decisions in the Council of State must be sanctioned by the King and countersigned by the Prime Minister before they can take effect. When the Constitution states that executive power rests with the King, this today means “the King in the Council of State” – neither the King nor the government alone.
King Haakon first attended the Council of State when he became Crown Prince in 1991. He has presided over it on several occasions as Crown Prince Regent. The first time this happened was in 1992 when King Harald was abroad.
Opening of the Storting
His Majesty The King presides over the formal opening of the Storting each autumn. It is among the most formal and solemn ceremonies in Norway, and normally the King’s only visit to the Storting each year.
King Haakon opened the Storting for the first time as Regent in 2020.
Formal audiences
All newly-appointed ambassadors to Norway from another country are received by the King in a formal audience. Once the ambassador has presented his or her credentials (in the form of Letters of Credence), they may begin to carry out their duties as ambassador to Norway.
Ambassadors in formal audience
From all corners of the world
King Harald granted ambassadors from around the world audience at his office. King Haakon has now taken on this role, which he also carried out several times as Crown Prince Regent.
In 2025, 24 new ambassadors came to present their Letters of Credence. They represented Paraguay, Colombia, Iran, Australia, Cuba, India, Cambodia, Slovakia, Serbia, Laos, Latvia, Mali, Germany, Hungary, Malaysia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Uzbekistan, Poland, Ukraine, Chile, Algeria, Palestine, the Dominican Republic and Sri Lanka.
The King and the Armed Forces
The King is the highest ranking officer in Norway. Military authority is exercised by the King in Council of State, which means it is the Norwegian Government that has the ultimate military responsibility in times of war and peace.
King Haakon holds the rank of General in the Army and Air Force, and of Admiral in the Navy. He grants the military chiefs of staff audiences to keep himself informed of the situation, and he is present at important ceremonies and commemorations organised by the Armed Forces.
King Haakon was educated at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy in Bergen. This is part of a tradition that stretches back to King Harald, King Olav V and King Haakon VII – and forward to Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
Congratulations and condolences
As Head of state, it is His Majesty the King's task to be the sender of congratulations and condolences to other countries on behalf of Norway.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Norwegian embassies, congratulations are sent to newly elected Heads of state on their inauguration and condolences on the death of former heads of state. Similarly, the King offers condolences on behalf of Norway when major accidents and disasters strike. Congratulations and condolences are primarily sent to countries with which Norway has diplomatic relations.
Norwegian orders and medals
The King’s duties are defined by the Constitution. The Constitution also mentions the King’s right to bestow orders.
Each year many individuals are recognised by His Majesty The King for their service to Norway and Norwegian society. All recipients of the Order of St. Olav are granted an audience with the King, while all recipients of the King’s Medal of Merit are invited to a reception at the Palace hosted by the King and Queen.
