Norway mourns King Harald as crowds gather at royal palace
OSLO: Thousands of Norwegians gathered on Saturday to say goodbye to King Harald in front of the royal palace, where he lies in state, with many well-wishers remembering his sense of inclusiveness and tolerance. Europe’s oldest monarch, who emerged from the shadow of his well-loved, extrovert father to become a reformer during more than three decades on the throne, died on Friday at the age of…
Oslo, Norway witnessed a poignant scene on Saturday as thousands of citizens converged at the royal palace to bid farewell to their beloved King Harald. The monarch, Europe's longest-reigning monarch, had passed away at the age of 89, leaving behind a legacy of inclusiveness and tolerance.
As the nation grappled with their grief, throngs of people lined the streets of Oslo, rain-soaked but resolute, to witness the funeral procession moving from Oslo University Hospital to the palace. Flags flew at half-mast across the country, and portraits of the late king adorned public spaces.
King Harald's son, Crown Prince Haakon, ascended to the throne upon his father's death, inheriting the role as Norway's head of state. On Saturday, Haakon VIII will address the nation via television at 1900 local time (1700 GMT), marking the official transition of power.
The main avenue in central Oslo, Karl Johan, was a sea of Norwegians, young and old, paying their respects. Carrying flowers, handwritten notes, drawings, and miniature national flags, they marched towards the palace, united in their mourning. The day was supposed to be their 58th wedding anniversary of Harald and Queen Sonja, but they celebrated the late king's spirit of inclusiveness instead.
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