Norwegian King Harald V Remembered by Many
OSLO, Norway (AP) – On Saturday, a large crowd gathered to honor Norway’s King Harald V, who passed away at the age of 89 the day before. Mourners placed flowers and condolence cards outside the royal palace in Oslo.
The area in front of the palace, known as Slottsplassen, was filled with vibrant flowers as people continued to arrive. According to reports from NRK, a palace gardener cleared some bouquets to maintain open pathways. Additionally, staff collected cards that had become waterlogged from the previous night’s rain and dried them, preserving the heartfelt messages left by visitors.
In a show of solidarity, churches and city halls across the nation opened their doors for people to light candles and share their thoughts in condolence books.
The coffin arrived at the royal palace after being transferred from the National Hospital in Oslo, where King Harald passed away on Friday morning.
“It’s special, intimate, and lovely,” shared Roni Ervik, 46, as he paid his respects. He mentioned placing his hand over his heart in gratitude to the king and the royal family, also representing his own family’s appreciation from western Norway.
Following the king’s death, his son, Crown Prince Haakon, aged 53, became King Haakon VIII.
Haakon adopted the motto “All for Norway,” reflecting a tradition from his great-grandfather. His wife, Mette-Marit, is now Queen, while their eldest child, Ingrid Alexandra, has become the crown princess and heir to the throne.
With experience in royal duties, Haakon has already stepped in as regent during his father’s declining health in recent years.
On Saturday, a choir was expected to perform in the Royal Palace Square, and the new king was set to meet with various dignitaries, including the speaker of Norway’s parliament and the chief justice of the Supreme Court. Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra was anticipated to join him as well.
In his inaugural address to the Norwegian people, King Haakon is expected to speak either later that day or in the following days.
His upcoming challenges include strengthening the monarchy’s reputation, particularly after recent controversies involving his wife’s previous associations and his stepson’s legal troubles.
While no funeral date has been announced, the country is officially mourning, prompting some individuals to delay personal celebrations like weddings and baptisms until the mourning period concludes.
Norway’s monarchy has a rich history, tracing back to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. Following independence from Sweden in 1905, a significant majority of voters supported the restoration of the monarchy. Today, while the royal family’s role is mostly symbolic amid an elected parliament, they continue to play a key part in representing the nation on the global stage.
