Opening of the Norwegian Parliament: Arrival of King Haakon VIII and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra

King Haakon VIII formally opened the 171st Storting in Oslo on Friday, October 2nd, performing one of the monarchy's most important constitutional ceremonies for the first time as Norway's head of state, five weeks after succeeding his late father, King Harald V. He was joined in the parliamentary chamber by his daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, who is now first in line to the Norwegian throne. As part of the ceremony, Haakon delivered the Speech from the Throne, which is written by the government rather than the monarch and sets out its priorities for the coming parliamentary year. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store formally handed the text to the King in the chamber.