"So it is me standing here": Haakon's first Storting dinner

King Haakon hosted his first Storting dinner as king on Thursday evening. The members of parliament were invited to the Royal Palace, and the table in the Great Dining Hall was set for 202 guests. Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra also attended, the Crown Princess for the first time.

It was the 108th Storting dinner since King Haakon VII made it a fixed tradition in 1906. It has been held every year since, except during the Second World War, a few years of major maintenance work and in 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic.

"So it is me standing here"

The King opened his speech by remembering his father, King Harald, who died in August. "So it is me standing here, and not my father. I miss him tonight, and I am sure I am not alone in that," he said. He also recalled his father's humour, "and not all that rarely, dad jokes".

He also missed his aunt, Princess Astrid, who attended the dinner countless times, "with or without her dog Wilma on her lap. Mostly with".

With a twinkle in his eye, the King said it is not easy "to become king overnight". That is when 35 years of experience as a middle manager in a medium-sized public organisation comes in handy.

The Queen stayed at home

Queen Mette-Marit did not attend. The King said she would have liked to be there, but still needs to recover after her lung transplant in the summer. "The first year after such an extensive operation is quite fragile, something she has felt in recent weeks, but we are all very grateful that she is making progress," he said. The Queen had asked him to pass on her greetings and thanks for all the kindness.

The King described the rest of the team in three classes: the "super veteran" Queen Sonja, the "junior and debutant" Crown Princess, and himself, "in my prime". He thanked Queen Sonja for continuing to take part, and said that he and the Queen look forward to following in her and King Harald's footsteps around the country.

Thanks for the kindness

The King thanked the whole of Norway for the kindness shown to the family after King Harald's death. He highlighted the oath in the Storting as one of the strongest moments, and said that the Storting and the royal house belong together. He also spoke about a democracy that can handle disagreement, and about total defence and preparedness.

Finally he shared three pieces of advice from his father: All people are of equal worth. We must take good care of each other. Try to be yourself. And as a small bonus: "Never let an opportunity to deliver a dry joke pass you by."

Elk from Sikkilsdalen

The main course was elk, once again shot by King Harald's hunting team in Sikkilsdalen. This was the menu:

Starter: Crab salad, brioche and pickled radish.
Intermediate course: Cheese tart with truffle, vendace roe and cucumber, lasagne and herb salad.
Main course: Elk from Sikkilsdalen with beetroot, broccolini, potato purée and port wine jus.
Dessert: Cloudberries, warm sour cream bun and sour cream ice cream.

The King's speech in full

Delivered at the dinner for the members of the Storting at the Royal Palace on 22 October 2026. Unofficial translation by RoyMob from the Norwegian original published on kongehuset.no.

So it is me standing here, and not my father.

I miss him tonight, and I am sure I am not alone in that.

This was his arena, after all.

He was, as we know, funny, with spot-on comments and good timing. And not all that rarely; dad jokes.

Here at the Palace he could let all of this out together with you. He always looked forward to this evening, and greatly valued the tradition of inviting the Storting here to the Palace.

We also miss Princess Astrid, my dear aunt, who attended this dinner countless times. She was present, supportive and curious right to the end, with or without her dog Wilma on her lap. Mostly with.

And as those of you who sat next to her at this dinner know, she was wonderfully straightforward and said what she thought.

As you can surely understand, it is not that easy to become king overnight. That is when it helps to have 35 years of experience as a middle manager in a medium-sized public organisation.

And it is important to have good people around you, and there I am lucky, because I have the Queen with me on the team. That gives me security and support.

She would very much have liked to be here with us tonight, but needs to recover after the successful lung operation this summer. The first year after such an extensive procedure is quite fragile, something she has felt in recent weeks, but we are all very grateful that she is making progress. Because she is, fortunately. She has asked me to send her greetings, and to thank you for all the warm kindness.

But I also have other good team-mates with me. My father might have said that we compete in three classes.

We have tonight's super veteran, Queen Sonja.

Then we have the junior and debutant, the Crown Princess.

And then you have me. In my prime.

I have at least had a fantastic coach. Now it is just a matter of pacing myself well. This is a long-distance race, after all, and I am aiming for an even pace and good endurance.

It is a great pleasure for us to welcome you warmly here to the Palace. Ever since 1906, when my great-grandfather, King Haakon VII, started the tradition, the Storting and the Royal House have met on this evening every year, with a few exceptions.

120 years and three kings before me have helped build the good relationship between the Storting and the Royal House in our constitutional monarchy.

I hope you have settled in well, and that you enjoy the elk, once again shot by King Harald's good hunting team in Sikkilsdalen.

Together we have been through a special time, both as a family and as a country. We are deeply grateful for the kindness and compassion that has come from all over Norway, also from you, members of the Storting, and the government.

It has made a great impression on us to see how people from north to south have expressed grief and gratitude after King Harald's passing. The experience of collective care strengthens us, and gives us a strong sense of community in grief.

It helps.

Through these weeks we have also experienced the value of rituals and ceremonies, acts that remind us of who we are. Of what binds us together, and strengthens our national community.

One of the most symbolic moments was the taking of the oath in the Storting.

This tradition is about how we have agreed to govern our country, from the founding fathers at Eidsvoll in 1814, the rise of parliamentarism in the 1880s, the dissolution of the union in 1905 and up to today.

Over this long period the Storting has changed.

The Royal House has changed.

But this stands firm: the Storting and the Royal House belong together.

We belong together in that the King is given his responsibility by the Storting, by the people.

The solemnity of the oath underlines this in a powerful way.

Norwegian democracy is a solid defence against illiberal forces. Our form of government has proven to create robust frameworks for disagreement. Disagreement is not always easy to live with. It can create anger, bitterness and distance between us.

That is why it is important to have institutions and processes that make room for different views, so that we preserve respect for each other, and for the system.

So that we can be confident that we belong together.

The Storting carries this duality, this democratic culture. You can disagree fiercely in politics, but at the same time you are our foremost bearers and guardians of democracy.

All of this becomes more important in turbulent times. And we have talked a lot about total defence this year.

Even the Storting has held an exercise. For preparedness to work, we must practise, so it is very good that the Storting practises too. Quite simply an example to follow. But such exercises, even if they are necessary, can be a little heavy. These are serious matters we are talking about.

So what can we do to make it a little pleasant as well? To make it a good end to the day? Where can we go to achieve that effect?

And the answer is, of course, President of the Storting, Drammen.

Because if there is one thing the President and I agree on, it is that Drammen is a nice place. It is a good place to be.

As you will surely understand, it is a little strange to stand here without important family members present. That makes it extra good to have Queen Sonja with us.

Queen Mette-Marit and I are lucky to be able to build on the solid foundation that you and my father have created over 35 years. Now we look forward to following in your footsteps throughout the country and meeting people where they live.

We feel great gratitude for everything you have given, and respect for the responsibility that is now ours. And we are very glad that you will continue to contribute in your official work as well. That is an important support for us.

And I must also thank the Crown Princess and the Prince, who step up when it is needed most. For example at a football match in the USA this summer. Not just once, but twice.

Finally, I would once again like to thank and remember my father, King Harald. There are three things in particular from him that I hope we can all take with us:

All people are of equal worth.

We must take good care of each other.

Try to be yourself.

And then there is one more thing, as a small bonus:

Never let an opportunity to deliver a dry joke pass you by.

I am not sure it is good advice, but it is at least pleasant advice.

President of the Storting!

I wish every member success with all the important tasks to be carried out for the good of country and people.

I propose a toast to the Storting and the fatherland!