Norway mourns King Harald V as Haakon VIII ascends the throne

Norwegians are mourning the death of King Harald V, as a period of national mourning begins and his son, Haakon VIII, assumes the throne. Harald's death was announced early on Friday, leading to crowds gathering at the royal palace in Oslo to lay flowers and flags, with some mourners visibly in tears. The new king, 53, held a council of state meeting with government ministers, stating he would uphold the royal family's motto "All for Norway." King Harald, who reigned for 35 years, died in hospital at 06:35 local time (04:35 GMT) at the age of 89 due to a rare blood condition. His coffin was later transported to the palace in a public procession. Memorials outside the palace included a candle with the word "thanks" inscribed on it. An estimated 10,000 people lined the streets in the capital to pay their respects, according to Norway's public broadcaster. The late monarch was described as an inclusive and empathetic leader who modernized the Norwegian monarchy. European royals, including King Charles III, along with political leaders and citizens, paid tribute to his service and the stability he provided to the country. Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre laid flowers outside the palace and signed a book of condolences, stating that the country was "united in grief and gratitude." In a televised memorial address, he noted the late king's "legacy lives on" and extended condolences to the royal family, particularly to Queen Sonja, who would have celebrated her 58th wedding anniversary with Harald on Saturday. Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland expressed gratitude for the late king's contributions to Norway in an Instagram post, recalling their meeting earlier in the summer. Citizens shared their grief, with one Oslo resident, Biteya Terfassa, stating that Harald made immigrants feel at home. The Norwegian Armed Forces honored Harald with a 21-gun salute from Akershus Fortress in Oslo. A procession later took his coffin from Rikshospitalet, where he died, to the royal palace. The date for Harald's funeral has not yet been announced, but he will lie in state at the palace chapel for public viewing. During the mourning period, flags will be flown at half-mast, and various memorial activities will take place, including moments of silence and the cancellation of non-work-related social events. King Haakon, Harald's younger child, is now the monarch, with his wife Mette-Marit as queen. He is scheduled to take an oath before the Norwegian parliament on Tuesday and will participate in a consecration service. His daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, is next in line for the throne. Haakon assumes his role during a challenging time for the royal family, which has faced health issues and scandals this year. Mette-Marit has publicly apologized for a past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and recently underwent a lung transplant. Additionally, her son Marius Borg Høiby was convicted of rape and other offenses. Despite these challenges, royal experts believe Haakon is respected and capable of moving forward. A recent poll indicated a decline in support for the monarchy, from 72% in 2024 to 54% in 2026, but experts maintain confidence in the new king's ability to navigate the situation.