Norway’s new king chooses a motto used by three generations of his family

Haakon VIII is Norway’s new king, succeeding his father, Harald V, who died on Aug. 28. He is the fourth generation of the Glücksburg royal house to rule Norway and is married to Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, with whom he has two children.

The new king chose “All for Norway” as his motto. His great-grandfather, grandfather and father also used it. Haakon, a naval officer, has taken the oath required to serve as commander-in-chief of Norway’s armed forces.

His successor will be his daughter Ingrid Alexandra, not his son Sverre Magnus. Norway introduced absolute primogeniture through constitutional changes in 1990, giving succession priority to the eldest child regardless of sex. The changes did not apply retroactively, so Haakon remained heir despite having an older sister, Märtha Louise. They will apply to his children, meaning Norway is expected to have a queen after Haakon’s death or abdication.

Haakon holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in development studies from the London School of Economics, where he specialized in international trade and Africa. He has held the rank of admiral in the Royal Norwegian Navy and general in Norway’s army and air force since November 2013.

Norwegian media have reported that he served several times as regent when his father’s health was poor. He has also worked with international organizations, served as a United Nations Development Programme goodwill ambassador, belonged to the Young Global Leaders network and supported the Norwegian Refugee Council. He and Mette-Marit founded a foundation.

The article also portrays Haakon as a football and music enthusiast. He joined supporters outside Oslo’s Royal Palace after Norway defeated Brazil in a knockout-stage match and later led the “Viking Row” celebration for more than 150,000 people. He met Mette-Marit at the Quart Festival in Kristiansand, and they later reunited when she was a single mother.

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All for Norway