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Mette-Marit of Norway had to cancel a major engagement at the last minute. While the Queen continues her recovery, another member of the royal family took her place alongside King Haakon for this historic ceremony.
Queen Mette-Marit of Norway was expected to be by her husband’s side for a particularly important event this Friday, October 2nd. However, at the last minute, the wife of King Haakon VIII had to cancel her attendance at the formal opening of the 171st Storting, the Norwegian Parliament. The reason? The Queen is currently suffering from a respiratory infection as she continues her recovery from a lung transplant last June. Her absence did not go unnoticed, as this was to be the first time her husband had presided over the opening of Parliament since his accession to the throne.
For this official ceremony, it was their daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who accompanied the monarch . The 22-year-old had already appeared alongside her father at several constitutional events since
the death of King Harald V on August 28th. Her presence now takes on a new dimension: destined to one day succeed her father, Ingrid Alexandra has gradually assumed more official responsibilities, particularly since her mother’s health problems . This Friday, she was at King Haakon’s side for this especially symbolic ceremony.
A historic ceremony for King Haakon
King Haakon VIII officially opened the 171st Storting, for the first time since becoming monarch. Accompanied by Ingrid Alexandra, he traveled in a procession from the Royal Palace to Parliament before reading the Speech from the Throne. Traditionally written by the government, this speech outlines the major policies and projects planned for the coming period. The ceremony also brought together representatives of Parliament, the government, and the Supreme Court, making this opening a significant institutional event. Another traditional detail of the day: cadets from the Royal Military Academy lined up at the Royal Palace before the procession departed. A long-standing tradition dictates that the academy, considered one of the two departments of the King’s Military Household, be present at the opening of Parliament. This first opening of the Storting by Haakon VIII also comes exactly 35 years after the first one performed by his father, Harald V, on October 2, 1991.
