When reporters asked King Haakon VIII what he missed most about his father, he answered slowly and in pieces. "Maybe talking to him when something makes me sad or happy. Being able to call him," he said. Haakon had to stop and take a breath before continuing.
© Patrick van KatwijkThe exchange, reported by Dagbladet, was the most unguarded moment of King Haakon VIII, who's been king for six weeks. King Harald V died on August 28 at 89, after spending 35 years on the Norwegian throne. Haakon formally took his oath before parliament on September 1. With the official mourning period now over and the royal calendar back in motion, Haakon chose the northern city of Narvik for his first official visit as monarch, and the city gave him a welcome fit for a rock star: a red carpet, crowds spilling into the streets, and a long line of hands to shake.
Once he’d collected himself, Haakon spoke about how comforting it has been to share his grief over his father with so many people. “It’s something very special.”
A Square Where Flowers Once Lay
© Rune HellestadThat same mix of sorrow and gratitude ran through his address to a packed Town Hall Square. “It’s a little strange, and at the same time nice, to be here today and know that just a few weeks ago people laid flowers in this square to remember my father, King Harald," he said. He thanked the people of Narvik for letting him grieve alongside them on his first trip as their king.
The choice of city was no accident. Narvik is facing its share of challenges today, but its place in Norwegian history is fixed. In 1940, some of the fiercest fighting on Norwegian soil took place there, and the Allied recapture of the town that spring is remembered as Hitler’s first defeat of World War II. Today, the port city is once again a key hub for Norwegian and allied defense readiness.
When asked about the reign ahead, Haakon answered with humility and a lingering note of sadness. “It’s something you prepare for, but are never completely prepared for. The first thing I think is that I’m very proud to be able to represent Norway," he said.
© Getty ImagesHis more institutional side only took over when the questions turned to defense, unavoidable in a strategically vital corner of the country, given ongoing tensions with Russia. The king struck a calm note about a period of “big challenges in the world” and “a lot of changes."
“There are many talented people who handle these matters and do very thorough and effective work, both to protect our interests and those of the people who live here," he said.
A King Who’s Still a Son
In Narvik, Haakon showed the same composure and steadiness that have long defined him, the qualities that helped him navigate, with a fair degree of assurance, the serious crises that have rocked his family and his wife, Queen Mette-Marit, over the past year.
But he also made clear what kind of monarch he intends to be, one who, like his father before him, lets his roles as son, father and husband live alongside his duties as the crown.
© Ola Vatn/The Royal Court
