Thousands of Norwegians gathered outside the Royal Palace in Oslo to mourn the passing of King Harald V, Europe's oldest monarch, who died earlier this week at the age of 89. Mourners laid flowers and paid tribute to the king, remembered for his sense of inclusiveness and tolerance.
The funeral cortege traveled from Oslo University Hospital to the palace on Friday, with many lining the streets in the pouring rain. Flags across Norway have been lowered to half-mast, and portraits of the late king are displayed in public spaces.
King Harald V, who became Europe's oldest-reigning monarch after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, had been treated for haemolytic anaemia and had contracted an infection that led to a deterioration of his health. He died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital on Friday, August 28, at 6:35 a.m.
Following the king's death, his son, formerly Crown Prince Haakon, was announced as the new monarch, now King Haakon VIII. He is scheduled to address the nation and take an oath before Parliament to defend Norway's constitution.
King Haakon VIII and his wife, Mette-Marit, have two children: Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who is now second in line to the throne and could become Norway's first female monarch in over 600 years, and Prince Sverre Magnus.
King Charles III of the United Kingdom extended his condolences to the Norwegian Royal Family, referring to King Harald as his "dear cousin." The two monarchs shared great-great-grandparents.
Among the mourners, many spoke of King Harald's impact. "He meant a lot to us immigrants... We felt really very included. So, thanks to him, I feel so Norwegian," said Veselina Vitanova, a Bulgarian teacher. Another attendee recalled the king's 2016 viral speech advocating for inclusivity.
Recent years have seen increased scrutiny for the Royal Family. Mette-Marit faced attention following the release of the Epstein Files, which detailed her stay at Jeffrey Epstein's residence in 2013. Additionally, in June, her son, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted of two counts of rape and sentenced to four years in prison. He was also found guilty of assaulting a former girlfriend and other offenses.
King Harald V was born on February 21, 1937, and was the third child and only son of King Olav V and Princess Martha of Sweden. He was a great-grandson of Edward VII.