King Haakon VIII formally acceded to the Norwegian throne today, taking the oath of office before the Storting (Norwegian parliament) following the death of his father, King Harald V, last Friday at the age of 89. The ceremony holds significant importance as Norway hasn't held a coronation in over a century. The new king travelled to parliament in a 1966 Lincoln Continental, a car with historical ties to the royal family, greeted by cheering crowds. During the ceremony, King Haakon pledged allegiance to the Norwegian constitution and expressed hope for continued strong relations with the legislature. Queen Mette-Marit was absent due to post-operative complications following a recent lung transplant, but Queen Sonja and their children, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, were present, with Ingrid Alexandra also taking an oath as first in line to the throne. A period of national mourning is underway, with a state funeral planned for the following week.