OSLO — Tens of thousands of Norwegians gathered in the capital on Saturday to mourn King Harald V, who died Friday at the age of 89, according to The Associated Press. The square in front of the Royal Palace, Slottsplassen, became a sea of flowers as mourners filed past to pay their respects, with some leaving condolence cards and personal messages.
The outpouring of grief began shortly after the king’s death at the National Hospital in Oslo, with his coffin arriving at the palace Friday evening. By Saturday, a steady stream of people braved the weather to honor a monarch who, even in his final years, was seen as a unifying figure for the nation.
A Nation in Mourning
Across Norway, churches and city halls opened their doors on Saturday so citizens could light candles and sign condolence books. At the palace, workers carefully collected cards that had been soaked by an overnight downpour, drying them to preserve the messages for posterity, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK. A palace gardener also removed some bouquets to keep pathways clear amid the throngs of visitors.
One mourner, Roni Ervik, 46, told NRK that the atmosphere was “special, intimate, and lovely.” He placed his hand on his chest in gratitude to the king and the royal family, saying he was also paying tribute on behalf of his relatives in western Norway.
The country is officially in a state of mourning, and some citizens have postponed weddings and baptisms until after the mourning period has ended, NRK reported. A date for the funeral has not yet been set.
A New King Takes the Throne
Harald V died Friday morning, and his 53-year-old son, Crown Prince Haakon, immediately became King Haakon VIII. Haakon adopted the motto “All for Norway,” a phrase that dates back to his great-grandfather, and his wife, Mette-Marit, is now Queen. Their eldest child, Ingrid Alexandra, has become the crown princess and heir to the throne.
Haakon is no stranger to royal duties. In recent years, as his father’s health declined, he served as regent on multiple occasions, stepping in for the aging monarch. Later Saturday, a choir was expected to sing in the Royal Palace Square, and the new king was scheduled to hold audiences with the speaker of parliament, the chief justice, and the presiding bishop of the Lutheran Church of Norway, with Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra expected to attend, according to NRK.
Haakon is expected to deliver his first speech as king either later Saturday or in the coming days, likely addressing the nation directly.
Challenges Ahead for the Monarchy
The new king’s immediate tasks will include shoring up support for the monarchy, which has faced recent controversies involving his wife’s past contacts with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and a rape conviction involving his stepson. These scandals tarnished the final years of Harald’s reign, yet the king remained a popular and stabilizing presence.
Norway’s monarchy has deep roots, tracing its origins to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. When Norway gained independence from Sweden in 1905, a national vote approved restoring the monarchy by a three-to-one margin. Today, the monarch’s role is largely symbolic, as political power resides with the elected parliament, but the royal family retains significant celebrity and serves as a global ambassador for the wealthy nation.
As the country adjusts to a new king, the grief over Harald V’s passing is tempered by a sense of continuity. The new king’s familiarity with royal duties and his adoption of a historic motto signal an intention to preserve the traditions that have anchored the monarchy for centuries.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/08/29/tens-of-thousands-gather-in-olso-to-mourn-norways-king-harald-v/