Haakon VIII ascended to the throne of Norway amid a political and family crisis. The new king took his oath at a ceremony that featured his family, but was marked by controversies involving his closest relatives.
The new king's wife was friends with financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died in an American prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. This connection generated international repercussions and stained the image of the Norwegian royal family.
The son of Haakon VIII's wife was convicted of rape, adding more controversy to the throne transition period. The stepson's conviction raised questions about the royal family's ability to maintain its credibility in public opinion.
The inauguration ceremony took place amid these tensions, with analysts questioning how the royal family would handle the scandals surrounding its closest members. The new monarch assumes the Norwegian throne at one of the most difficult moments in the recent history of the country's monarchy.
