He assumes his new function at a troublesome time, as the royal household has confronted health challenges and scandals this yr.
Mette-Marit came under scrutiny when it was revealed that she had had a three-year friendship with the late convicted intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein, for which she publicly apologised.
She later acquired a lung transplant, after struggling from pulmonary fibrosis since 2018. Doctors will not declare her steady until next yr, that means her husband must steadiness his new official duties with her care.
Her son from a earlier relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted in June of rape and other offences and sentenced to 4 years in prison. He is interesting.
Høiby is not a member of the royal household, but was raised with them since he was 4 years outdated, when Haakon married his mom.
Haakon’s sister, Märtha Louise, has also courted controversy for remarrying an American self-styled shaman in 2024, their business actions finally main her to step back from royal duties.
Without instantly referencing these controversies, Haakon said during his speech: “Our family has experienced the importance of standing together in order to remain steadfast both within ourselves and for one another even during difficult times.”
He said he, along with Mette-Marit and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, would “always strive to understand the life situations of different people”.
He added: “No one who lives in this country knows what we will face together, but what we do know is that we will stand by one another through both good days and difficult ones.”
Although Harald remained common until his death, a ballot for newspaper Aftenposten earlier this yr instructed that support for the monarchy had dropped from 72% in 2024 to 54%.
However, Norwegian royal specialists instructed the BBC that the new king, while dealing with questions about the turbulence surrounding his household, was revered, hard-working and, they believed, in a position to transfer ahead despite the challenges.
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