Norwegians, politicians and royals are grieving the death of beloved King Harald V, as a period of national mourning begins and his son King Haakon VIII assumes the throne. After Harald's death was announced early on Friday, crowds amassed at the royal palace in Oslo, laying flowers and flags, some mourners visibly in tears. Hours later, the new king met government ministers for an extraordinary council of state meeting, after which the 53-year-old announced he was taking on the royal family's motto "All for Norway".
Harald died peacefully in hospital at 06:35 local time ( ) aged 89, after receiving treatment there for a rare blood condition since last week. The late monarch has been described as an inclusive, transparent and empathetic "people's king" who modernised the Norwegian monarchy. European royals, including King Charles III - whose mother Queen Elizabeth II was Harald's second cousin - as well as political leaders and ordinary citizens, paid tribute to his service and the stability he brought to the country.
Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who laid flowers outside the palace and signed a book of condolences after greeting the new king, said the country was "united in grief and gratitude". In a televised memorial address - one of multiple eulogies by ministers - he said the late king's "legacy lives on" and offered condolences to the royal family and Queen Sonja, who would have celebrated her 58th wedding anniversary with Harald on Saturday. Norwegian national footballer Erling Haaland thanked Harald for "everything you meant to Norway" in a post on Instagram, adding that it had been an honour to meet him earlier in the summer at the palace following the Fifa World Cup.
In the country's capital, Norwegians shared their grief and affection for the late king. "I personally will say he was everything for us, especially being an immigrant," Biteya Terfassa, an Oslo resident who was born in Ethiopia, told news agency outside the palace. "He made us feel at home and he made us feel loved.
So he was like a grandfather that I never had." At noon, the Norwegian Armed Forces honoured Harald with a funeral salute of 21 shots from Akershus Fortress in central Oslo. Later on Friday, a procession left the chapel at Rikshospitalet, where Harald died, and headed to the palace. Norway has declared a period of national mourning until the day of his funeral, which has not yet been announced.
Flags will be flown at half-mast, while his portrait will be displayed, candles lit and moments of silence held at professional events. All non work-related social events will be cancelled or postponed. Oslo Mayor Anne Lindboe, who was due to get married on Friday, even postponed her wedding.
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