Norway's New King Haakon VIII Faces Task of Stabilizing Monarchy Amid Family Controversies

Norway has a new king, whose tasks will include stabilising its monarchy and boosting the royal family's popularity after his wife's past contacts with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his stepson's rape conviction.

Crown Prince Haakon, 53, became King Haakon VIII when his father Harald V died on Friday at the age of 89.

Haakon adopted the motto, "All for Norway," that dates back to his great-grandfather.

His wife became Queen Mette-Marit, while his oldest child became Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and the heir to the throne.

In recent years Haakon has stepped in as his aging father's health began to fail.

Norway's monarchy has old roots, tracing its origins to King Harald Fairhair in the 9th century.

When Norway regained its independence from Sweden in 1905 three-quarters of voters in a national plebiscite approved restoring the monarchy.

Today, the role is largely symbolic as the power lies with an elected parliament, but the country's royal family retains celebrity and a role in promoting the wealthy nation around the world.

Royal family looks to rebuild reputation

One task for the new king will be to shore up popular support for the royal family, which has suffered blows to its reputation in recent years.

Haakon is the younger child of Harald, born two years after his sister, Princess Märtha Louise.

As the oldest male, however, he became heir to the throne when his grandfather, King Olav, died in 1991.

The Norwegian Constitution was altered in 1990 to allow future firstborns, regardless of gender, to take precedence in the line of succession. However, it was not applied retroactively.

Haakon holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley and a master's degree in development studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science, with a specialisation in international trade and Africa.

In 1995 he graduated from the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, and he also completed the foreign ministry's trainee program for diplomats.

An avid surfer, skier and sportsman, he told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that if he had not been a royal he would have been a surfer.

A music lover, he likes rock and rap, he attended festivals across Europe as a youth.

New king married a single mother

Haakon sought the king's permission to marry, under unique circumstances, before he wed in August 2001 at Oslo Cathedral.

Haakon knew his relationship would face an uphill battle for acceptance when he met Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby at a popular music festival in Norway in 1999.

She was a single mother whose son's father had been sentenced to prison for cocaine possession, and she had been seen at parties where illegal drugs were used.

They have two children, Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.

Haakon also became the stepfather of Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, who has no royal title.

The royal family's reputation took a hit from his stepson's trial

In June, Marius Borg Høiby was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of rape. He was found guilty of two of the four rape charges he was facing and acquitted of the other two.

He was also convicted of assault and abuse in a close relationship. Høiby's lawyers said he will appeal the convictions.

The trial unfolded amid renewed scrutiny of the royal family following disclosures about Mette-Marit's past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased sex offender.

She has publicly apologised for the association and said she exercised poor judgement in maintaining contact with him. She is not accused of any wrongdoing.

In a television interview in March she said she was manipulated and deceived by Epstein and felt unsafe during a 2013 encounter with him at his Palm Beach, Florida, mansion.

Harald 'much-loved' king

Britain's King Charles has joined the tributes to King Harald, who ruled for 35 years "with warmth and humility".

"[His] kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades.

"The queen and I extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and all her family as Britain shares in Norway's grief at this time of such heartbreaking loss.

Pope Leo spoke of King Harald's "devoted service" which he hoped would "continue to bear fruit".

"I offer the assurance of my prayers for the eternal rest of the late king," Pope Leo said.

"Upon the Norwegian people and all who mourn his loss I cordially invoke almighty God's blessings of consolation and peace."

Manchester City's Norwegian World Cup star Erling Haaland said he hoped Harald would "rest in peace".