Norway’s royal household is preparing to return to official duties on a phased basis as the mourning period for the late King Harald V concludes on Friday.
The transition will leave his successor, King Haakon VIII, handling much of the monarchy’s public schedule largely on his own for the coming months.
The palace said Wednesday that Queen Mette-Marit will remain away from official duties while she continues rehabilitation following her lung transplant in June.
The 53-year-old queen attended King Harald’s funeral on September 9 and later appeared on the palace balcony in Oslo, but she is not expected to resume a formal program until next summer.
Queen Mette-Marit Remains on Leave
The queen’s absence means King Haakon will take on a larger share of the monarchy’s constitutional and ceremonial responsibilities.
Among his regular duties are weekly Councils of State with the government, as well as scheduled meetings with the prime minister and foreign minister.
He is also due to begin a series of thematic visits involving figures from Norway’s democratic institutions, business community, environmental sector, armed forces and inclusion initiatives.
The palace also plans meetings between the king and representatives from different parts of Norwegian society throughout the autumn and winter.
Crown Princess Prioritises Studies
The royal couple’s eldest child, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, will also have limited involvement in official engagements.
She is continuing her studies and is expected to attend only a small number of official events before returning to Australia in February.
She had recently started at the University of Sydney when her mother became seriously ill and her grandfather died.
Prince Sverre Magnus, the couple’s other son, is likewise beginning higher education, this time in Portugal.
King Haakon Begins Solo Schedule
King Haakon’s increased workload follows his recent accession to the throne.
He attended his swearing-in ceremony at Parliament alone and is now beginning to establish his own official program as monarch.
His first major domestic visit will take him to Narvik next week.
The northern city has long been strategically important because of its Arctic location and harbour.
Narvik was the scene of intense fighting during Germany’s invasion of Norway in 1940.
Today, the area remains relevant to Norwegian and allied defence preparedness, while its harbour also plays an important role in the export of iron ore and minerals from the Swedish mining region around Kiruna.
Major Overseas Visits Put on Hold
The palace said there will be no major official trips or state visits until at least next spring or summer.
Officials explained that the arrival of a new monarch involves changes to internal procedures and processes, which will take several months to complete.
For now, the king’s program will therefore focus primarily on domestic responsibilities, institutional meetings and smaller engagements rather than major foreign visits.
Queen Sonja Retains Official Role
King Haakon’s mother, Queen Sonja, is also expected to continue undertaking selected official duties on behalf of the Royal Palace.
Her position has attracted attention following the palace’s use of the Norwegian term kongemor, meaning “king mother,” as an additional description for the 89-year-old former queen.
The terminology has been questioned by royal commentators and historians.
Author and historian Trond Norén Isaksen argued that the Norwegian expression is biologically contradictory because it literally describes a king’s mother.
TV2 royal commentator Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen has also questioned the additional title.
The palace has declined to explain the choice of terminology.
Notably, the term was absent from the palace’s new press releases issued Wednesday as royal communications resumed following the mourning period.
Questions Surround Queen Sonja’s Residence
Queen Sonja’s living arrangements are also being discussed as the royal household adjusts to the change in monarch.
Norway has not previously had a widowed queen, and the country now has two women holding royal titles, with Queen Mette-Marit also carrying the title Her Majesty.
The Royal Palace in Oslo contains several residential units, including the approximately 950-square-metre apartment where Queen Sonja lived with King Harald.
Skaugum and Palace Residences
There is speculation that King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit will continue living at Skaugum, the suburban estate traditionally associated with the crown prince and crown princess, rather than immediately moving into the residential section of the Royal Palace.
Schulsrud-Hansen has suggested that the couple could remain at Skaugum until Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra marries and eventually takes over the estate with her spouse.
Queen Sonja also owns a condominium on Professor Dahls Gate near the palace and has regularly spent time at the royal summer residence on Bygdøy in Oslo.
