Norwegians mourn King Harald as son succeeds to throne

Thousands of people gathered in Oslo to pay their respects to Norway's King Harald, who died on Friday aged 89 after a reign of three and a half decades. According to Punch Nigeria and The Citizen, Harald's 53-year-old son immediately succeeded him on the throne, announcing he would reign under the name King Haakon VIII.

Mourners, including royals and politicians, gathered outside the palace to remember the king. The Citizen reported that Haakon takes over a monarchy known for its modernity and modesty, but has faced recent scandals. France 24 noted that the royal family faces renewed scrutiny over Crown Princess Mette-Marit's reported past ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the conviction of her son for rape.

The new king, Haakon, arrived at the palace with his 22-year-old daughter Ingrid Alexandra, the new crown princess, to formally inform the government of his father's death. According to The Citizen, Haakon thanked the government and Norwegian people for their support and sympathy for the Royal Family. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine expressed condolences over the king's death, recalling Harald's support for Ukraine.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, BBC World, The Citizen, France 24, New Voice of Ukraine — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.