Norway’s Queen Mette-Marit missed her husband’s swearing-in ceremony today after suffering ‘complications’ from her lung transplant.

The new King Haakon VIII, who became king when his father King Harald V died on Friday morning aged 89, swore an oath of allegiance to the country’s constitution this afternoon.

However, his wife Mette-Marit, who is under scrutiny for her ties to late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, missed the historic day as she is under medical observation due to the ‘complications’ from her surgery in June.

The queen, whose son from a previous relationship was found guilty of rape and domestic abuse earlier this year, was also unable to attend her late father-in-law’s church memorial service over the weekend. 

King Haakon VIII swore an oath of allegiance without his wife, as their daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, took Mette-Marit’s place and stood by his side. 

The Norwegian royal family shared a statement this morning from pulmonologist Dr Are Holm from Norway’s National Hospital confirming the 53-year-old’s absence.

He said: ‘It is not uncommon for complications to occur after a lung transplant. The queen has had complications on some occasions since the operation, including today. 

‘As a result, the queen must be observed throughout the day. The queen will therefore unfortunately not be able to attend the swearing-in ceremony in the Storting today.

Norway’s King Haakon stands beside Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra as he takes the Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution at the Norwegian parliament

King Haakon took the Oath of Allegiance after his wife was forced to miss the ceremony due to health complications 

Norway’s Queen Metter-Marit has suffered ‘complications’ from her lung transplant

‘Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra will accompany His Majesty the King. Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus will attend the swearing-in from the Storting Hall.’

The 53-year-old was removed from the event programme available on the Royal House’s website, and the new king was joined by his children, Princess Ingrid and Prince Sverre, alongside his mother, Queen Sonja.

The new queen has suffered for several years from chronic pulmonary fibrosis. 

Her condition has deteriorated significantly over the past six months, and she was placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant earlier this summer. 

Doctors said the procedure was a last resort when a patient is believed to have less than two years to live without new lungs. 

After the surgery, the Royal House of Norway confirmed the transplant had been successful and that ‘everything has progressed well so far’. 

In July, the future queen suspended her official duties, and Norway’s royal court said ‘there will be a longer period of rehabilitation and training’ during which ‘there will initially be no updates’. 

Haakon confirmed at the time he would cut back his public engagements to spend time with his wife; however, this may change now that he is Norway’s new king. 

King Haakon arrives at the Norwegian parliament today

King Haakon VIII was followed into parliament by his daughter Ingrid and mother Queen Sonja

Norway’s Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra arriving at the Norwegian parliament

Prince Sverre, the new king’s son, was also in attendance

The 53-year-old swore the oath in the parliament’s main chamber, Storting, today at 1pm (11am GMT), which was decoratively prepped and searched by sniffer dogs for bombs.

The swearing-in comes days after thousands of mourners descended on Oslo to pay their respects to the late king, placing flowers, flags and condolence cards outside the royal Palace.

Harald, who is a cousin of King Charles III, died following a hospital admission in Oslo where he was being treated for haemolytic anaemia, a disorder causing red blood cells to be destroyed at an abnormally fast rate.

On Saturday evening the new king paid tribute to his late father in his first official speech as monarch, in which he thanked Harald ‘for everything he was and everything he did’.

The late king enjoyed massive support despite the slew of scandals that dogged his family in the final stretch of his 35-year reign.

On Tuesday, a poll published by public broadcaster Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation showed that support for the monarchy has clearly increased following Harald’s death.

Nearly three out of four Norwegians (72 per cent) said they supported the monarchy, a rise of eight points compared with a previous survey in May, according to the poll carried out over the weekend.

The past year has been a turbulent one for the Norwegian royals.

King Haakon VIII addressed the Norwegian people for the first time in his new role

In June, Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted on two counts of rape and jailed for four years 

Presiding Bishop of the Church of Norway Olav Fykse Tveit laying flowers in Oslo’s Palace Square following the death of King Harald

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Mette-Marit faced intense scrutiny following the release of the Epstein Files, which revealed she stayed at paedophile Epstein’s Palm Beach residence in 2013 – after he was convicted of soliciting sex from girls as young as 14.

The new queen claimed this year she had been misled by Epstein as she sought to contain the fallout. 

Alongside her associations with the paedophile, Mette-Marit’s son Marius Borg Hoiby is currently under house arrest pending his appeal against a four-year sentence for two rape convictions.

In June, an Oslo court found him guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend, Nora Haukland, issuing threats and committing traffic offences, although he was acquitted of two other rape charges. 

The 29-year-old had been charged with sexually assaulting four women who were asleep or otherwise unable to resist between 2018 and 2024. 

Although he does not hold a royal title or carry out official duties, he has long been closely associated with the Norwegian royal family.

On Monday, he was among those who moved the late king’s casket to the chapel of Oslo’s royal palace, and he was also granted permission to attend Harald’s funeral on September 9.