Norwegian king rushes to hospital as queen misses oath ceremony
King Haakon took the constitutional oath in parliament while Queen Mette-Marit, recovering from a lung transplant, was absent and later taken to Oslo University Hospital.
King Haakon formally opened his reign on Tuesday by swearing the constitutional oath before the Storting, Norway’s parliament. His daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, was present in the chamber.
The royal court announced that Queen Mette-Marit would not attend the ceremony because of complications related to a lung transplant she underwent in June. The statement said she needed to remain under medical observation throughout the day.
Norwegian outlet VG reported that the king accompanied his wife to Oslo University Hospital, the same facility where his father, King Harald V, died four days earlier. The palace did not provide further details but did not dispute the report.
The queen’s health issues have also kept her from recent royal events, including those surrounding King Harald V’s death and the new king’s accession. Plans for King Harald V’s funeral are set for September 9.