Norway has a new king, Crown Prince Haakon, who ascended to the throne as King Haakon VIII following the death of his father, Harald V, on Friday. At 53 years old, Haakon's responsibilities will include stabilizing the monarchy and enhancing the royal family's public image amid controversies involving his wife, Mette-Marit, and his stepson, Marius Borg Høiby. Haakon's eldest child, Ingrid Alexandra, now becomes Crown Princess and the heir to the throne.
Haakon has been involved in royal duties for several years as his father's health declined. The Norwegian monarchy has historical roots dating back to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. The monarchy was restored in 1905 after Norway regained independence, with 75% of voters supporting its reinstatement.
While the monarchy's role is largely ceremonial, the royal family continues to hold significant public interest and serves as representatives of Norway internationally. Haakon, the younger child of Harald, was born two years after his sister, Princess Märtha Louise, and became the heir apparent after the death of his grandfather, King Olav, in 1991. The Norwegian Constitution was amended in 1990 to allow firstborns, regardless of gender, to inherit the throne, but this change was not applied retroactively.
Haakon has a background in political science from the University of California at Berkeley and a master's degree from the London School of Economics. He graduated from the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy in 1995 and completed a diplomatic training program.
He met Mette-Marit in 1999 at a music festival, and their relationship faced public scrutiny due to her past associations. They married in August 2001, and their family includes two children, Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, along with Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship.
Marius Borg Høiby was sentenced to four years in prison in June after being convicted of rape and assault. His lawyers plan to appeal the convictions. The royal family has faced renewed scrutiny due to Mette-Marit’s past connections with Jeffrey Epstein, which she has publicly acknowledged and apologized for.
In 2018, Mette-Marit was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis, which has impacted her ability to fulfill royal duties. She underwent a lung transplant in June. As King, Haakon will need to bolster support for the monarchy, which has seen a decline in public approval, particularly following Høiby’s trial. A recent poll indicated that 68% of respondents support maintaining the monarchy, down from 81% in 2017.