King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit are set to follow in the footsteps of the late King Haakon V and Queen Sonja with a special move.
As Norway has ditched the traditional coronation for the new King and Queen due to a more-than-a-century-old rule, Haakon and his wife will follow a unique royal ritual upon ascending the Norwegian throne.
Why King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit will not have traditional coronation?
The real reason behind why King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit will not be crowned in a traditional coronation ceremony is due to a 1908 constitutional rule, which banned the event calling it “undemocratic and archaic.”
In 1908, the Article 12 on coronation was struck from the Norwegian Constitution after The Storting (supreme legislature of Norway) voted by a large majority against it.
Passed in 1814, Article 12 made it mandatory for the King to be crowned and anointed in Nidaros Catheral.
The last coronation in the country took place in 1906 when King Haakon VII and Queen Maud were crowned in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.
Which unique royal ritual will King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit will follow?
Upon ascending the throne on June 23, 1991, Haakon’s father King Harald V and mother Queen Sonja followed a special royal ritual, the consecration tradition – a religious ceremony where a new king or queen is blessed and officially recognized as monarch.
Following in their footsteps, King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit will also mark the consecration tradition, during which he will also take an oath before the Storting, declaring, “I promise and swear that I will govern the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its Constitution and Laws; so help me God, the Almighty and Omniscient,” as per Hello!.
Notably, the ceremony will not be joined by any member of the other royal families such as the British Royal Family and the Danish Royal Family.
