Norway Mourns King Harald; Haakon VIII Takes Throne
Norway Mourns King Harald; Haakon VIII Takes Throne
The News
Tens of thousands of Norwegians mourned King Harald V outside the royal palace in Oslo on Saturday, a day after the monarch died at 89.
Mourners covered Slottsplassen, the palace square, with flowers and condolence cards. Churches and city halls across the country opened specially so people could light candles and sign condolence books.
Harald's 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, is now King Haakon VIII.
Timeline
Ninth century: Norway's monarchy traces its origins to King Harald Fairhair.
Norway regains independence from Sweden, and three-quarters of voters in a national plebiscite approve restoring the monarchy.
Harald V dies at the National Hospital in Oslo at 89. Crown Prince Haakon becomes King Haakon VIII.
The king's coffin arrives at the royal palace from the National Hospital.
Tens of thousands file past the palace. A choir was expected to sing in the Royal Palace Square, and the new king was scheduled to hold audiences with the speaker of Norway's parliament, the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the presiding bishop of the Lutheran Church of Norway, with Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra also expected to attend, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported.
Reactions
"It's special, intimate, and lovely. I'm placing my right hand on my chest in gratitude to him and the royal family," Roni Ervik, 46, told NRK as he paid his respects. He said he was also paying tribute on behalf of his family, who are from western Norway.
Palace staff worked to keep pace with the crowds. A gardener removed some bouquets on the south side of the palace to keep pathways clear, NRK reported, and workers collected cards soaked in an overnight downpour and dried them to preserve the messages for posterity.
Some Norwegians postponed weddings and baptisms until after the official mourning period, NRK reported.
What's Next
Haakon is expected to address the country in his first speech as king either later Saturday or in the coming days.
No date has been set for Harald's funeral. Norway remains officially in a state of mourning.
The new king's near-term job includes shoring up support for the monarchy after two family controversies: his wife's past contacts with the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and his stepson's rape conviction.
More
Haakon adopted the motto "All for Norway," which dates back to his great-grandfather. His wife is now Queen Mette-Marit, and his oldest child, Ingrid Alexandra, becomes crown princess and heir to the throne.
He is not new to the work. As his father aged and his health declined in recent years, Haakon stepped in as the country's regent on several occasions.
The Norwegian throne is largely symbolic — power rests with an elected parliament — but the royal family retains celebrity status and a role promoting the wealthy nation abroad.
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