{"id":158458,"date":"2026-09-03T09:40:58","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T09:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/158458\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T09:40:58","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T09:40:58","slug":"norways-new-king-pays-tribute-to-his-late-father-as-tens-of-thousands-mourn-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/dk\/158458\/","title":{"rendered":"Norway’s new king pays tribute to his late father as tens of thousands mourn"},"content":{"rendered":"

OSLO, Norway (AP) \u2014 King Haakon VIII of Norway used his first speech in his new role to eulogize his father, King Harald V, as a loving parent and dedicated monarch a day after he died at 89.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are in mourning. At the same time, it brings us comfort and strength to know that so many are mourning with us,\u201d the king said wearing a black suit as his speech was shown live on public television.<\/p>\n

Click to Gallery<\/p>\n

\"Trondheim<\/p>\n

Trondheim 20260829. Flowers, candles and greetings are placed at Nidaros Cathedral following the death of King Harald V on Friday in Trondheim, Norway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Jan Langhaug\/NTB Scanpix via AP)<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People place flowers and flags at a memorial for Norway\u2019s King Harald V at Slottsplassen in Oslo, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Hanna Johre \/NTB Scanpix via AP)<\/p>\n

\"Flowers<\/p>\n

Flowers and cards laid at the Blue Stone in Bergen for Norway\u2019s King Harald V on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Silje Katrine Robinson \/NTB Scanpix via AP)<\/p>\n

\"Presiding<\/p>\n

Presiding Bishop of the Church of Norway Olav Fykse Tveit lays flowers at the Palace Square to pay respects to Norway’s King Harald V, a day after he died at 89, in Oslo, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Amanda Pedersen Giske\/NTB Scanpix via AP)<\/p>\n

\"Norway's<\/p>\n

Norway’s King Haakon at the palace in Oslo, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Heiko Junge, Pool Photo via AP)<\/p>\n

\"People<\/p>\n

People line up waiting King Harald V’s bier to pass at Queen’s Park, in Oslo, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. The bier with King Harald will be driven in a cortege from the chapel at the National Hospital through Oslo and on to the Royal Palace. (Javad ParsaPool photo via AP)<\/p>\n

\"King<\/p>\n

King Harald V’s bier in Oslo, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. The bier with King Harald will be driven in a cortege from the chapel at the National Hospital through Oslo and on to the Royal Palace. (Ole Berg-Rusten\/Pool photo via AP)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The coffin of Norway’s King Harald V is driven in a cortege from the chapel at the National Hospital through Oslo and on to the Palace, Oslo, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Javad Parsa\/NTB via AP)<\/p>\n

\"Mourners<\/p>\n

Mourners gather in the pouring rain to watch as King Harald V’s remains arrive to the Royal Palace in Oslo, Norway, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Heiko Junge\/NTB via AP)<\/p>\n

\"Mourners<\/p>\n

Mourners gather in the pouring rain to watch as King Harald V’s remains arrive to the Royal Palace in Oslo, Norway, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Heiko Junge\/NTB via AP)<\/p>\n

After Harald V\u2019s death on Friday morning, the crown prince became King Haakon VIII immediately.<\/p>\n

He thanked the people for their outpouring of compassion and remembered what a loving father and husband Harald had been.<\/p>\n

Tens of thousands of mourners paid their respects, placing flowers and condolence cards outside the royal palace in Oslo, where the coffin arrived late Friday from the hospital.<\/p>\n

Across the country, churches and city halls opened specially so people could light candles, and write their thoughts about the deceased king in condolence books.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been a powerful and moving experience to see the Palace Square filled with people, flowers, messages of condolence, and candles. Thank you so much,\u201d 53-year-old Haakon said, sitting on a wooden desk next to his father’s portrait and two white candles.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs king, my father represented Norway and the Norwegian people with pride and joy, through visits around the country, at events here at the royal palace, and while working on Norway\u2019s behalf around the world,\u201d Haakon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to miss him. I\u2019ll miss his laughter. His good-natured way of dealing with people and situations,\u201d he added, trying to hold back his tears as he vowed to give everything for the country in the future as its new king.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that means \u2014 in the ultimate sense \u2014 being willing to risk everything, even one\u2019s life, for Norway\u2019s freedom and independence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Haakon adopted the motto \u201cAll for Norway,\u201d which dates back to his great-grandfather. His wife became Queen Mette-Marit, while his oldest child, Ingrid Alexandra, became crown princess and heir to the throne.<\/p>\n

Earlier on Saturday, the new king and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra welcomed Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr St\u00f8re and the presiding bishop of the Lutheran Church of Norway to the palace where King Harald’s coffin was lying in state, the royal palace said in a statement.<\/p>\n

On Sunday morning, the Church of Norway is holding memorial services across the country, with the royal family expected to attend the service at Asker Church, southwest of Oslo, the palace said.<\/p>\n

Haakon is well acquainted with his royal obligations. As his father aged and his health declined in recent years, Haakon stepped in as regent on several occasions.<\/p>\n

His tasks in the near future will include shoring up support for the monarchy following controversies over his wife\u2019s past contacts with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his stepson\u2019s rape conviction.<\/p>\n

A date for the funeral has not been set, but the country is officially in a state of mourning and some people decided to postpone celebrations such as weddings and baptisms until after the mourning period has passed, Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported.<\/p>\n

Norway\u2019s monarchy has old roots, tracing its origins to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. When Norway regained its independence from Sweden in 1905, three-quarters of voters in a national plebiscite approved restoring the monarchy.<\/p>\n

Today, the role is largely symbolic as power lies with an elected parliament, but the royal family retains celebrity and a role in promoting the wealthy nation around the world.<\/p>\n


\n \"Trondheim<\/p>\n

Trondheim 20260829. Flowers, candles and greetings are placed at Nidaros Cathedral following the death of King Harald V on Friday in Trondheim, Norway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Jan Langhaug\/NTB Scanpix via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"People<\/p>\n

People place flowers and flags at a memorial for Norway\u2019s King Harald V at Slottsplassen in Oslo, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Hanna Johre \/NTB Scanpix via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Flowers<\/p>\n

Flowers and cards laid at the Blue Stone in Bergen for Norway\u2019s King Harald V on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Silje Katrine Robinson \/NTB Scanpix via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Presiding<\/p>\n

Presiding Bishop of the Church of Norway Olav Fykse Tveit lays flowers at the Palace Square to pay respects to Norway’s King Harald V, a day after he died at 89, in Oslo, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Amanda Pedersen Giske\/NTB Scanpix via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Norway's<\/p>\n

Norway’s King Haakon at the palace in Oslo, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. (Heiko Junge, Pool Photo via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"People<\/p>\n

People line up waiting King Harald V’s bier to pass at Queen’s Park, in Oslo, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. The bier with King Harald will be driven in a cortege from the chapel at the National Hospital through Oslo and on to the Royal Palace. (Javad ParsaPool photo via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"King<\/p>\n

King Harald V’s bier in Oslo, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. The bier with King Harald will be driven in a cortege from the chapel at the National Hospital through Oslo and on to the Royal Palace. (Ole Berg-Rusten\/Pool photo via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"The<\/p>\n

The coffin of Norway’s King Harald V is driven in a cortege from the chapel at the National Hospital through Oslo and on to the Palace, Oslo, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Javad Parsa\/NTB via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Mourners<\/p>\n

Mourners gather in the pouring rain to watch as King Harald V’s remains arrive to the Royal Palace in Oslo, Norway, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Heiko Junge\/NTB via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Mourners<\/p>\n

Mourners gather in the pouring rain to watch as King Harald V’s remains arrive to the Royal Palace in Oslo, Norway, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026. (Heiko Junge\/NTB via AP)<\/p>\n

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