Tens of thousands mourn King Harald V in Oslo as Norway enters a new royal era

More than ten thousand people paid their respects to Norway's King Harald V on Saturday by placing flowers and condolence cards at the royal palace in Oslo. This happened a day after the 89-year-old monarch passed away. The square in front of the palace was covered in a sea of colorful flowers as Norwegians filed by. Palace workers collected and dried condolence cards after a night of rain to preserve them as a record of the outpouring of grief.

King Harald V's son, Crown Prince Haakon, 53, became King Haakon VIII upon his father's death. Haakon adopted the motto "All for Norway," which reflects his great-grandfather's motto. His wife became Queen Mette-Marit, and their oldest child became Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who is now the heir to the throne. Crown Prince Haakon is expected to address the Norwegian people in his first speech as king, either later on Saturday or in the coming days.

The country is currently in a state of mourning, and some individuals have postponed celebrations such as weddings and baptisms until after the mourning period. The monarchy in Norway has deep roots, dating back to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. The monarchy became officially restored in 1905 after a national plebiscite approved its return.

Today, the Norwegian monarchy serves a largely symbolic role, with power held by an elected parliament. However, the royal family remains a prominent figure in promoting Norway internationally.