Norway's new monarch, King Haakon VIII, led his family in a memorial service at Asker Church on Sunday as the nation mourned the death of his father, King Harald V, who died Friday at the age of 89.
King Haakon VIII, who ascended to the throne following his father's passing, was joined at the service by other royal family members, including his mother, Queen Sonja, and his eldest child, Crown Princess Ingrid.
In his first address as monarch on Saturday evening, the new King paid tribute to his late father, expressing his grief and promising to govern with the same commitment. "I'm going to miss him. I'll miss his laughter. His good-natured way of dealing with people and situations," King Haakon VIII, 53, stated. He further pledged to be "willing to risk everything, even one's life, for Norway's freedom and independence."
The country has observed a period of mourning, with flags lowered to half-mast and citizens laying flowers, writing cards, and lighting candles outside the Royal Palace. The late King's coffin arrived at the palace Friday evening from the hospital.
King Harald V had been hospitalized since August 17, receiving treatment for hemolytic anemia, a condition affecting red blood cell production. The late King, who had a 35-year reign, was a cousin of King Charles III.
As a consequence of King Harald V's death, his daughter-in-law, Mette-Marit, has become queen. The new King and Queen will not have a coronation, as Norway abolished the ceremony in 1908. However, a consecration ceremony at Trondheim Cathedral, a traditional site for Norwegian monarchs, may occur. King Haakon VIII is scheduled to swear an oath of allegiance in parliament on Tuesday.
While the monarchy in Norway is largely symbolic, with political power resting with elected officials, the royal family has faced recent scrutiny. Revelations emerged regarding Queen Mette-Marit's past association with Jeffrey Epstein, and her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, was convicted of rape, though he is appealing the sentence. These events have impacted public trust, though King Harald V was widely respected as a figurehead for an open and tolerant Norway.
Other members of the royal family have also experienced health challenges. Queen Sonja, also 89, was briefly hospitalized in May for heart issues, and Queen Mette-Marit underwent a lung transplant in July due to worsening pulmonary fibrosis.