Norwegians mourn King Harald as son succeeds to throne
OSLO: Hugging and laying flowers, thousands of people gathered in Oslo on Friday to pay their respects to Norway’s King Harald, who died Friday aged 89 after a reign of three and a half decades.
Thousands of Norwegians gathered in Oslo on Friday to mourn the passing of their monarch, King Harald, who died at the age of 89 after a 34-year reign. His 53-year-old son, Haakon VIII, immediately ascended to the throne. In a somber speech, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store praised King Harald, describing him as a king who accompanied Norway through decades of change and growth.
The new monarch, Haakon, received a motor procession to the royal palace, where he formally informed the government of his father's death. A period of national mourning has been declared until Harald's funeral, scheduled for a later date. Tributes poured in from world leaders and across Europe, with many recalling Harald's unifying presence and kindness.
The Norwegian royal family faced several health issues in recent years, with Queen Sonja briefly hospitalized for heart problems, Mette-Marit under scrutiny for her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and Haakon's son from a previous relationship sentenced to prison.
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