Norway’s new king joined his family at a memorial service for his father today, as the country continued to grieve the death of its longtime monarch.
King Haakon VIII, who became monarch following the death of King Harald V at the age of 89 on Friday, attended the service at Asker Church, southwest of Oslo, alongside members of the royal family, including his mother, Queen Sonja, and his daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid.
The 53-year-old king fought back emotion in a live televised address last night, his first since taking the throne, paying tribute to his father and pledging to serve Norway with the same sense of duty.
“I’m going to miss him. I’ll miss his laughter. His good-natured way of dealing with people and situations,” King Haakon said.
He also vowed to be “willing to risk everything, even one’s life, for Norway’s freedom and independence”.
Tens of thousands of Norwegians have laid flowers, written cards and lit candles outside the Royal Palace, where the late King’s coffin arrived on Friday evening from hospital.
Though a date for his funeral has not yet been set, the country has entered a period of mourning, with flags across the country lowered to half-mast and some Norwegians choosing to postpone events including weddings and christenings.
Memorial services took place across Norway this morning as the dean of Oslo Cathedral said: ‘This Sunday is different. His Majesty King Harald is dead. A family has lost their spouse, father, grandfather, father-in-law.’
King Haakon VIII led his family with the Dean of Asker Church, near Oslo, at a memorial service for his late father King Harald V
King Harald, cousin of King Charles III, died at the age of 89 after a brief stay in hospital
Queen Sonja, Haakon’s mother, was also at the service after her husband’s death a day before their wedding anniversary
They were joined by Norway’s new Crown Princess Ingrid, 22, Haakon’s eldest child
As well as elevating Haakon to the Norwegian throne, the late King’s death after a 35-year reign made his daughter-in-law Mette-Marit, 53, queen.
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King Haakon’s wife has been the source of tumult for the royal family this year after revelations over her close friendship with the notorious American paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
And her son from a previous relationship Marius Borg Hoiby – who is not a royal – was convicted of two rapes and sentenced to four years in prison, though is appealing the sentence.
The scandals were a blow to public trust in the royal family though King Harald was largely popular and widely seen as the figurehead of an open and tolerant Norway.
Harald had been in hospital in Oslo since August 17 with haemolytic anaemia, a rare condition where red blood cells are destroyed quicker than they can be replaced, causing fatigue and shortness of breath.
King Haakon last night addressed the Norwegian people for the first time since his father’s death
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store seen looking at flowers laid outside the Royal Palace following the death of King Harald
New Queen Mette-Marit (pictured) has faced scrutiny after the Epstein Files revealed she stayed at Jeffrey Epstein’s Palm Beach residence in 2013 – after he was convicted for soliciting sex from girls as young as 14
In June, Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby (pictured), was convicted on two counts of rape and jailed for four years, a sentence he is appealing
The late King’s health forced him to scale back official engagements in recent years and Queen Sonja, also 89, was briefly admitted to hospital in May due to heart problems.
Queen Mette-Marit underwent a lung transplant in July after her pulmonary fibrosis, diagnosed in 2018, worsened.
The new King and Queen will not have a coronation – Norway abolished them in 1908 – but Haakon and Mette-Marit could have a consecration ceremony at Trondheim Cathedral, where Norwegian monarchs were crowned between 1814 and 1906.
King Haakon will also swear an oath of allegiance in parliament on Tuesday – the modern Norwegian monarchy is largely symbolic and power lies with elected representatives.
Tracing its roots to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century, Norway restored its monarchy after a referendum following its independence from Sweden in 1905, when Haakon VII – great-grandfather of the new King – was installed.