Norway's new king remembers 'my dear father' in first speech

He assumes his new role at a difficult time, as the royal family has faced health challenges and scandals this year.Mette-Marit came under scrutiny when it was revealed that she had had a three-year friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, for which she publicly apologised.She later received a lung transplant, after suffering from pulmonary fibrosis since 2018. Doctors will not declare her stable until next year, meaning her husband must balance his new official duties with her care.Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted in June of rape and other offences and sentenced to four years in prison. He is appealing.Høiby is not a member of the royal family, but was raised with them since he was four years old, when Haakon married his mother.Haakon's sister, Märtha Louise, has also courted controversy for remarrying an American self-styled shaman in 2024, their business activities ultimately leading her to step back from royal duties.Without directly referencing these controversies, Haakon said during his speech: "Our family has experienced the importance of standing together in order to remain steadfast both within ourselves and for...