Norway woke to a historic jolt on Monday as the royal palace announced the death of King Harald at the age of 89, ushering in an immediate change on the throne and a wave of mourning across the country.
His 53-year-old son succeeded him automatically, with the new monarch declaring he will reign as King Haakon VIII. He inherits a monarchy often praised for its modernity and modest public image, even as it has been rocked by a series of scandals in recent years.
King Haakon arrived at the palace shortly after 9am Irish time alongside his 22-year-old daughter Ingrid Alexandra, who becomes crown princess, for consultations with the government.
In the meeting, he formally notified the cabinet of his father’s death and set out the details of his accession, including his regnal name and his royal motto — “All for Norway” — the same words used by Harald.
The new regent thanked “the government and Norwegian people for their support and sympathy for the Royal Family in this time”.
Crown Prince Haakon automatically succeeds Harald on the throne
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre offered condolences on behalf of the government and the Norwegian people.
“King Harald was a person we all grew fond of. We know that King Harald’s passing is a great loss for our new king and for the entire Royal Family,” Mr Store said, expressing gratitude for Harald’s “lifelong service”.
“An entire nation is in mourning and remains in profound gratitude,” he said in the statement.
The government also declared a period of national mourning lasting until the king’s burial.
The palace flag was lowered to half-mast in the morning, then raised again following Haakon’s arrival.
A separate flag on the royal balcony, as well as flags at other official buildings, will stay at half-mast until after Harald’s funeral, though the date has not yet been announced.
Outside the palace, thousands gathered as news spread that the king had been in “extremely serious” condition in hospital the day before. Hundreds of bouquets were laid on the ground in tribute.
People lay flowers, candles and Norwegian flags as they gather to pay tribute to King Harald
Among those paying respects was Vigdis Haug, 65, who said she admired Harald’s ability to bring Norwegians together.
“I think he has been such a down-to-earth king who has cared about all of us, and the words he always uses when he gives a speech are so wise and so valuable,” she told AFP.
Several people interviewed by AFP highlighted Harald’s address after neo-Nazi Anders Behring Breivik murdered 77 people in twin attacks on 22 July 2011, the deadliest massacre in Norway since World War II.
“He was someone who always seemed to find the words that brought us together and gave us a sense of security,” Caroline Vagle, a reporter for magazine Se og Hor, told AFP.
Tributes also arrived from abroad. Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf described Harald as “an outstanding representative of his country. He gave ‘All for Norway’,” referencing the royal motto.
Denmark’s King Frederik called the late king “an extraordinary man”.
Harald with his wife Sonja in 1987
Britain’s King Charles III said he mourned the death of his “dear cousin”, praising Harald as a “towering figure”.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee said it was with “deep sadness” that she learned of Harald’s passing, offering her “heartfelt sympathy to His Majesty the King, Her Majesty Queen Sonja and the Royal Family on what is a tremendous personal loss”.
“I offer also my deepest condolences to the people of the Kingdom of Norway,” she said.
“During his reign of 35 years, King Harald truly lived up to the official Royal Motto of “Alt for Norge” and his loss will be felt by all.”
Harald was on the throne when the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) were negotiated in the 1990s. Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he was “deeply saddened” by the king’s death.
Europe’s oldest reigning monarch, King Harald had been in hospital in Oslo since 17 August, where he was being treated for haemolytic anaemia — a condition involving an abnormally rapid breakdown of red blood cells that can cause fatigue and shortness of breath.
Crown Prince Haakon’s wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit has faced scrutiny for her correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein
Harald became king in 1991 and, throughout his reign, came to symbolise an open and tolerant Norway.
His final years were marked by worsening health, prompting him to cut back his official duties.
Even so, he repeatedly rejected calls to abdicate, saying he had sworn a lifelong oath before the Norwegian parliament.
The last year has also brought turbulence for the royal household.
Alongside Harald’s own health struggles, Queen Sonja — also 89 — was admitted briefly to hospital in May with heart problems.
Haakon’s wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has faced scrutiny over her connections to the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
In June, Mette-Marit’s son from a relationship before her marriage to Haakon, Marius Borg Hoiby, was sentenced to four years in prison for two rapes.
He has appealed the verdict.
Mette-Marit, 53, who suffers from a serious lung disease, underwent a lung transplant in July.
Despite the strains, the royals remain broadly popular in Norway, due in large part to Harald’s unifying role and the family’s unassuming, relatively modest way of life.
