King Haakon VIII of Norway has paid warm tribute to his late father, Harald V, in his first speech to the nation since taking the throne. "Thank you for being such a good dad," he said in an at-times emotional televised address, seated at a desk in Norway's royal palace, beside a picture of the late king, two lit candles and a bowl of white roses. Harald, 89, who was seen as a moderniser and "people's king" during his 35-year reign, died in hospital on Friday morning after being treated for a rare blood condition.
"Now it is my turn," his 53-year-old son said, adding that a "major task" awaited him and that he wished to be "present and attentive" going forward. Norway mourns King Harald as Haakon VIII ascends throne Norway's King Harald dies aged 89: A beloved monarch buffeted by family crises Oslo mayor calls off wedding ceremony after death of Norway's king Haakon stressed national unity in the speech, saying the royal family believed in a "society built on law and justice, where everyone is of equal value". He said Harald had been a good father to himself and his sister, Princess Märtha Louise, as well as a "warm and funny grandfather" to his six grandchildren and a "loving and caring husband" to his widow, Queen Sonja.
The new king appeared to choke back tears as he noted that Saturday would have been their 58th wedding anniversary. Harald brought the family together "with a natural authority", of which he might not have been aware himself, his son recalled. He had "always stayed true" to his "values and commitments", the new king stressed.
"He constantly reminded us in the family that each of us must do things in our own way. Be ourselves," Haakon said. He also remarked on the "powerful and moving experience" of seeing thousands of Norwegians gather outside the royal palace in the capital Oslo with "flowers, tributes and candles".
"We are in mourning, yet at the same time it brings comfort and strength that so many are grieving together with us," he said. Norwegians have been laying flowers outside the royal palace in Oslo since news broke that Harald had died on Friday. A national period of mourning has been declared, with no date yet given for his funeral.
Among them was 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". Haakon will swear an oath of allegiance in parliament on Tuesday and will later participate in a consecration service with his wife, Queen Mette-Marit - a stripped-down version of a coronation, which Norway no longer holds. He assumes his new role at a difficult time, as the royal family has faced health challenges and scandals this year.
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