'A towering figure': Monarchs and world leaders mourn Norway's King Harald

Thousands of people gathered in Oslo on Friday to mourn the death of King Harald, who passed away at the age of 89 after serving as Norway's monarch for 35 years. His 53-year-old son, King Haakon VIII, immediately ascended to the throne following Harald's demise. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store expressed his condolences, stating that the nation would remember Harald for his love of his people, his humor, and his unwavering faith in them.

King Haakon arrived at the royal palace earlier on Friday, accompanied by his 22-year-old daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, to officially inform the government of his father's death. The government announced a period of national mourning, which will continue until Harald's funeral, the date of which has yet to be set.

Europe's oldest reigning monarch, King Harald, had been hospitalized since August 17 due to haemolytic anaemia, a condition that causes the rapid destruction of red blood cells, leading to fatigue and shortness of breath. The king, who ascended to the throne in 1991, witnessed and guided Norway through decades of significant change, experiencing both prosperity and diversity.

Thousands of Norwegians lined the streets, paying their respects to the late king by laying flowers, cards, and national flags at the palace. Many hugged and held each other, expressing their grief and admiration for the unifying monarch who was often seen as the embodiment of an open and tolerant Norway. Tributes poured in from world leaders and royal houses across Europe, highlighting Harald's role as a source of comfort and unity during challenging times, including the tragic massacre of 77 people in 2011 by neo-Nazi Anders Behring Breivik.