King Haakon took the oath before the Storting: "Everything for Norway"

King Haakon VIII took the oath before the Storting at 1pm on Tuesday, as the Constitution requires of a new monarch. Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra accompanied the King, while Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus followed the ceremony from the chamber.

The cortege with the King in the open 1966 Lincoln Continental making its way down Karl Johans gate. Photo: Cornelius Poppe / NTB

• Travelled in the wedding car

At 12.50 the King left the Palace in his open 1966 Lincoln Continental, registration A-5. The car was bought in April 1966 and is known as the wedding car, because it was used at the wedding of the then Crown Prince Harald and Sonja Haraldsen in 1968.

The King arrives at the Storting. Photo: Cornelius Poppe / NTB

• Around 1,000 lining the route

At 11.30 the Guard marched from Akershus Fortress, up Karl Johans gate and on to the Palace Square. Around 1,000 personnel from the Guard, the Army, the Air Force and the Navy lined the route.

"It is very similar to what we see in connection with the opening of the Storting every autumn," Guard commander Emil Ottosen told VG.

Crowds filled the route from the Palace down the parade street, and the whole ceremony was shown on a big screen at Eidsvolls plass.

Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus arrived at the Storting with the King. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB

• The wording of the oath

The gallery, the diplomatic box and the press box were full, and everyone was formally dressed in black. The King was received by the vice presidents of the Storting, and the sitting was opened by President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani.

The oath is taken from Article 9 of the Constitution and reads: "I promise and swear to govern the Kingdom of Norway in accordance with its Constitution and laws, so help me God, the almighty and all-knowing."

Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra will submit her oath to the Storting in writing.

• The King's address

In his short address, the King expressed the hope that the good relationship between the Storting and his father King Harald, his grandfather King Olav and his great-grandfather King Haakon can be maintained, and further developed in line with the tasks the country will face in the future.

"The Queen and I confirm that we place ourselves at the disposal of the country to carry out our work for the land and its people. In this tradition I have, as the country's king, also taken the motto Everything for Norway," he concluded.

Queen Mette-Marit was not present, due to complications following the lung transplant she underwent in June.

• "Monarchy and democracy are not in conflict"

President of the Storting Masud Gharahkhani explained why the ceremony is held in the Storting.

"Monarchy and democracy are not in conflict, they belong together. When a new king comes to the Storting, he is saying that he follows the Constitution and the laws and rules of Norway," he told VG, adding: "The will of the people is also the will of the king, and so it is natural to come to the heart of democracy."

Asked what is different from King Harald's oath ceremony in 1991, he said that more members of the royal family are present this time.

"I know that Queen Sonja very much wanted to be here, and I am very glad that she is part of it. Everyone knows that King Harald and Queen Sonja were a team," Gharahkhani said.

• The rest of the ceremony

After the King's address, a memorial address for King Harald by the President of the Storting is on the programme, followed by a minute's silence. The President then gives an address to the new royal couple, before the Royal Anthem is sung.

King Harald's funeral will be held in Oslo Cathedral at 1pm on Wednesday 9 September.

RoyMob will continue to follow the mourning ceremonies in the days ahead.