"I promise and swear to govern the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its constitution and laws. May God, the almighty and omniscient, bless me," the new King of Norway, Haakon VIII, 53, recited the oath of office in the main chamber of parliament on 1/9.

The 17-minute oath ceremony was attended by the entire cabinet and members of parliament, all dressed in black.

King Haakon VIII of Norway at his oath of office ceremony in the parliament building in Oslo on 1/9. Photo: Reuters

Speaker of the Norwegian parliament, Masud Gharahkhani, stated that the late King Harald, who passed away on 28/8, had provided "foundational values for the nation's liberal democracy." Gharahkhani added, "Compassion was at the core of his message, both in times of ease and adversity."

Queen Mette-Marit was not present with her husband at the oath ceremony, as she is recovering from an organ transplant on 17/6. Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra was alongside the new King of Norway.

The new King of Norway earlier traveled to parliament in an open-top Lincoln Continental along Karl Johan Avenue in central Oslo, where soldiers and citizens lined the streets to welcome him.

King Haakon and the Queen will not hold a coronation ceremony, as Norway abolished this ritual in 1908. However, similar to his father and grandfather, King Haakon may choose to hold a consecration ceremony at Trondheim Cathedral, where Norwegian monarchs were crowned during the 1814-1906 period.