Sara Svanemyr, Det kongelige
hoff.
Queen Mette-Marit of Norway has had to miss one of the most
important moments in the reign of her husband, King Haakon VIII,
for health reasons.
Just hours before the new King of Norway took an oath in front
of the country’s parliament, it was announced that Mette-Marit
wouldn’t be able to attend as she had suffered complications from
her lung transplant she underwent earlier this year.
One of her doctors, Are Holm, said ”Complications following a
lung transplant are not unusual. The Queen has experienced
complications on a few occasions since surgery, including
today”.
Queen Mette-Marit stayed at home while her husband travelled to
the parliamentary session with their daughter and the new heir to
the throne, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
She watched her father swear his oath in front of the Storting,
the parliament of Norway.
It follows his accession to the throne on August 28 – he became
king on the death of his father, Harald V, who died as dawn broke
over Oslo that morning.
King Harald’s widow and Haakon VIII’s mother, Queen Sonja,
watched the swearing in from the front row in the parliament with
her grandson, Prince Sverre Magnus, at her side.
On Sunday, King Haakon and Queen Sonja attended a church service
for King Harald at Asker with Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and
Prince Sverre Magnus. Queen Mette-Marit did not take part.
She did, however, join the family to see the flowers laid in
front of the Royal Palace and to thank crowds for their support
following Harald’s death.
Holding hands with Queen Sonja, Queen Mette-Marit walked through
the Royal Palace as the coffin of King Harald was transferred from
the Red Saloon to the Chapel on Monday. It was carried by Harald’s
two children, King Haakon and Princess Martha Louise, and his five
grandchildren. The eighth pallbearer was his step grandson, Marius
Borg Hoiby, who is currently serving a four year prison term under
house arrest after being convicted of a number of offences,
including two counts of rape.
King Harald’s funeral will take place at Oslo Cathedral on
September 9 with royalty from around the world in attendance.
