Norwegian parliament votes to change regency law

The Storting (Norwegian parliament) has voted to amend the Constitution to change the law regarding who can serve as regent in the monarch’s absence.

The Storting overwhelmingly (167-0) voted to allow the firstborn child of the heir to serve as regent once they reach the age of majority.

Article 42 of the Constitution will be changed to allow the child of an heir to serve as regent once they have turned 18. This allows any future child of Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra to serve as regent if the King and Crown Princess are unable to do so, as long as the child has reached the age of majority.

The law only extends to the firstborn of the heir and not any other children, as the firstborn would be expected to one day sit on the Norwegian throne.

Discussions regarding the change in the law began in 2024 with representatives from the Labour Party, the Progress Party, the Centre Party, the Conservative Party, the Liberal Party, and the Christian Democratic Party introducing a proposal for the change in law.

Currently, the government steps in if the monarch and heir are unavailable, but that will soon change with the Storting’s vote on 3 November 2026.