{"id":1182606,"date":"2026-09-02T14:27:26","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T14:27:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1182606\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T14:27:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T14:27:26","slug":"king-haakon-declares-an-official-month-of-mourning-following-king-haralds-funeral","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1182606\/","title":{"rendered":"King Haakon Declares an Official Month of Mourning Following King Harald’s Funeral"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated2 min read<\/p>\n

As Norway prepares for the state funeral of King Harald V<\/a> on September 9, his son and successor, King Haakon VIII<\/a>, has announced that the Royal House will observe an official period of mourning for one month following the service. The mourning period will run until October 9. This means that all previously scheduled official engagements and public appearances by the Norwegian royals will be canceled through that time. The exception will be any cabinet meetings as well as the opening of the Storting, Norway\u2019s parliament, which is scheduled for October 2.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring the Royal House of Norway\u2019s mourning period, the Royal Family and the Royal Court\u2019s staff will wear dark clothing or uniforms with mourning bands. Public activities at the royal properties will be closed during the period,\u201d the statement read<\/a>. \u201cAfter October 9, the Royal House will gradually resume its official program.\u201d All royal properties that are open to the public, such as the Royal Palace in Oslo and the summer residence<\/a> at Oscarshall, will also be closed to visitors during this time, according to Norwegian daily newspaper Aftenposten<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Norwegian royal family<\/a> has already been dressed in mourning since Harald\u2019s death last Friday, as seen at a memorial service on Sunday<\/a> and at Tuesday\u2019s oath ceremony<\/a> during which King Haakon formally assumed the throne before the Norwegian parliament. Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, for example, wore a long black dress and a veiled headband, which drew many comparisons to her grandmother\u2019s appearance at King Harald\u2019s own oath ceremony in 1991.<\/p>\n

\"NORWAY-ROYALS-MONARCHY-POLITICS-PARLIAMENT-CONSTITUTION\"<\/p>\n

Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

LISE ASERUD\/\/Getty Images\"NORWAY-ROYALS-HARALDINGE GJELLESVIK\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

This time, Queen Sonja once again chose a black dress, this time with a high neck and white pearls, while her grandson Prince Sverre Magnus was attired in a dark suit. The notable exception was King Haakon himself, who was in his military ceremonial dress uniform for the occasion.<\/p>\n

\"KingPer Ole Hagen\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Prince Sverre Magnus and Queen Sonja at King Haakon\u2019s oath ceremony.<\/p>\n

Since King Harald\u2019s death on August 28, Norway has been in a state of collective grief. Thousands of Norwegians gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo<\/a> in the days that followed, leaving flowers, candles, letters, and photographs in his memory. Tributes poured in from royal families<\/a> and world leaders around the world. On Monday, King Haakon, Queen Mette-Marit, Queen Sonja, and Princess M\u00e4rtha Louise stepped outside the palace to meet the mourners<\/a> gathered in the square, placing roses among the tributes and joining the crowd in singing the national anthem.<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Rachel King (she\/her) is a news writer at\u00a0Town & Country. Before joining\u00a0T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at\u00a0Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in\u00a0Forbes,\u00a0Observer,\u00a0Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and\u00a0Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at\u00a0@rk.passport<\/a>.<\/p>\n